'Those responsible should be held accountable': Ontario education minister investigating TDSB field trip to rally
CTV
Ontario's ministry of education is now officially investigating a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) field trip at an Indigenous rights rally students participated in, where pro-Palestinian slogans were later chanted.
Ontario's ministry of education has launched an investigation into a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) field trip to an indigenous rights rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were chanted.
An undisclosed number of students attended the Grassy Narrows River Run in downtown Toronto on Sept. 18.
The TDSB has previously said that the event, which was focused on mercury poisoning within the northern Ontario First Nation, was meant to be an educational experience where students would hear directly from Indigenous voices about the challenges the people of Grassy Narrows face.
However, videos circulating on social media showed some young students taking part in the march and repeating the slogan, “From Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime,” after it was shouted by someone who appeared to be a protest organizer.
After the footage surfaced the TDSB apologized and promised to “review its field trip procedures.”
But in a statement issued on Tuesday night, Education Minister Jill Dunlop accused the board of not handling the matter properly.
"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. Those responsible should be held accountable," she said.
