Ontario’s largest school board under ministry probe for Toronto protest outing
Global News
Ontario’s education minister has asked for an investigation into a Toronto field trip that saw students involved with a downtown protest.
Ontario’s education minister has asked for an investigation into a now controversial Toronto field trip that saw students involved with a downtown protest.
Education Minister Jill Dunlop said in a statement she is ordering the probe into last Wednesday’s field trip involving students with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) attending the day of action for Grassy Narrows First Nation.
“It is clear that the TDSB has failed to take swift and decisive action on this matter. As such, I have asked my ministry to initiate an investigation into the events that took place at the TDSB last week,” Dunlop said.
“Those responsible should be held accountable.”
The TDSB has been under growing pressure for the field trip, but said the plan was not for students to take part in the protest itself.
The board confirmed that a trip to the event was organized, but said it had been planned as an “education experience” for students to listen to the experiences of Indigenous people. Grassy Narrows First Nation’s community river was impacted by years of mercury poisoning.
Some parents and other groups, however, complained the trip veered away from education and into protest and activism.
The TDSB said in a statement Tuesday it welcomes the ministry’s probe, adding it has serious concerns about what happened.