Recently the Louis Riel School Board (LRSB) suspended Trustee Francine Champagne for three months for breaching the Board Code of Conduct specific to social media use and disregarding Policy AC: Respect for Human Diversity; the strongest sanction possible under the Manitoba Public Schools Act.

As parents, students and community members of Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) and beyond, we feel the current sanction that is available is insufficient due to the enormity of the situation and the potential outcomes of ideology that was publicly shared. Therefore, we are formally demanding her resignation based on the following thoughts and items:

a) Francine Champagne's recent Facebook posts which targeted the 2SLGBTQIA+ community demonstrates that she does not have the ability to fulfil this role. She has violated the trust of the students, parents, guardians, and staff who she is responsible to serve.

b) As mentioned in a) above the role of School Board Trustees is to serve young Manitobans and the community by ensuring all schools in LRSD offer programs and services that meet the needs of the entire community. Trustees have a responsibility to cultivate a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment and workplace, and to promote, enhance, and demonstrate respect for human rights and diversity on a daily basis.

c) The mandate of school trustees is one of responsibility and trust. All board members are accountable to all community members within the school division, not just a select few. Trustees must abide by the provisions of all federal, provincial and local legislation, including but not limited to human rights statutes.

It is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of their actual or perceived identity, without reasonable cause.

d) All members of the school community including all individuals accessing Divisional schools, workplaces, and other facilities have a responsibility to conduct themselves in ways that demonstrate respect for human rights and human diversity and that ensure safe, caring and inclusive learning environments and workplaces.

e) Francine Champagne's multiple social media posts not only contained anti-Trans hate speech, but also links to fear-mongering websites targeting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Francine Champagne has failed in her role as a Trustee and violated the trust of the students, parents and guardians as noted in a) above.

f) Bullying is defined as behavior that is intended to cause, or should be known to cause, fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another persons body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property. Bullying may take place via any form of electronic communication - also referred to as cyber-bullying including social media, text messaging, instant messaging, websites or e-mail. Francine Champagne published what is viewed as conspiracy theories and sensationalist content about the trans community on her public Facebook page, which is an example of cyber-bullying. 

g) Trustees as employees are to model inclusiveness and respect for human diversity and play a key role in communicating and reinforcing expectations of the Respect for Human Diversity policy. In the Louis Riel School Division Practices that Support Respect for Human Diversity, the Manitoba Human Rights Code prohibits unreasonable discrimination based on, but not limited to, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation and marital or family status. Trustees are also to refrain from expressing opinions and/or sharing information through social media that would discredit, undermine or compromise the integrity of the Board. 

In summary:

Francine Champagne does not represent the students of Louis Riel School Division. 
Francine Champagne does not represent the parents and guardians of Louis Riel School Division.
Francine Champagne does not represent the community members of Louis Riel School Division.
Francine Champagne is not a representation of the Louis Riel School Division Board of Trustees or Senior Leadership Team.

We formally request that Francine Champagne resign from her position of Trustee of Louis Riel School Division.