Vaughan’s Charline Grant files human rights complaint on provincial level

Former school trustee candidate doesn’t ‘trust’ York Region’s new human rights commissioner office

Yorkregion.com
March 25, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Grant filed a complaint with the tribunal on March 20 after what she saw as a “rushed” and “discriminatory decision” to hold an election on April 25 and not appoint her as a trustee following Anna DeBartolo’s resignation in January.

Grant was the runner-up to DeBartolo in the October election in Vaughan. She is also a community activist.

On her application to the tribunal, Grant said the board has “deviated” from “past practice” when appointing others in cases of a school board trustee vacuum.

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“Since 1991, every time there was a vacant seat, there is an appointment,” she told York Region Media. “Even with that, the decision wasn’t rushed, they had consultation and so forth.”

Soon after DeBartolo’s resignation, the board said it will hold a byelection, which will cost $177,000 at a time when the Tory government is waging a crusade to balance the books. The cost of the byelection has angered parents already reeling from the province's cuts to education funding, increases in class sizes and changes to autism funding. 

In its defence, the board said it has a surplus in its budget at the time, despite a February letter to the Ministry of Education showing the board’s concerns over reduction in services for the Ontario Autism Program affecting York Region's students.

When asked why choosing the tribunal over York Region’s new human rights commissioner, Grant said, “They are paid by the board, it’s a matter of trust.”

The parent emphasized that she needs a “tribunal judge, an adjudicator,” and not a “commissioner paid by the board.”

Grant, who is knocking on doors again to get ready for the April 25 byelection, said evidence so far points to the board discriminating against her.

“Just based on history alone and ... how everything has unfolded, that’s my conclusion.”

Grant, a mother of three, emerged as a critical parent voice in York Region, after taking board to the tribunal three years ago when then-trustee Nancy Elgie used a racial slur against her.

Grant’s experience with the board, added to other controversies, led the formation of a human rights office in York Region following orders from Ontario’s education minister at the time.

“Over the last two years, the York Region District School Board has made great strides in advancing equity, inclusion and human rights,” said the board.

It added, “It has become embedded as a priority for our Board and we have established and appointed an in-house arms’ length Human Rights Commissioner’s Office.”

However, the board said it “cannot discuss any legal proceedings in public at this time. We have not received any such complaint. Should the need arise, we will respond accordingly through the appropriate process.”

Also, the York commissioner's office told York Region Media that it’s “outside our jurisdiction” when asked about a comment.

“We are not involved or can comment on this matter.”

The board has previously said it can hold byelection as it’s part of its right under the Ontario Education Act.

The board can hold a byelection, appoint the first runner up, or begin an appointment process.