It has been nearly five months since we provided an update on this petition. We last shared news that an investigation into certain Trustees actions is underway. The public has yet to receive any conclusions from the investigation, however we are watching closely for feedback on specific matters including Del Grande’s ‘slippery slope’ speech, as well as the other Trustees that voted against the law, violating their own Code of Conduct.
Surprisingly, this investigation is not slowing Mike Del Grande down from trying to push his political agenda onto our vulnerable youth. On March 5th, 2020, Del Grande put forward a motion (pg.28) to have Trustees police the school board’s new inclusive Code of Conduct implementation, but it was later withdrawn. This brazen display of intended human rights violations and self-entitlement reinforces the urgency needed to address discriminatory behaviours running rampant within the board.
At last night's Regular Board Meeting, TCDSB Teacher/Human Rights & LGBT+ Advocate, Paolo Du Buono, was allowed to delegate after months of being denied. He submitted a presentation revealing research that clearly outlines some of the systemic barriers and discriminatory practices within the TCDSB that impact our marginalized youth and families. He requested that the board fulfill their 3 Year Equity Plan by declaring June as Pride Month. (The month of June is widely chosen for LGBT+ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969). Despite their overwhelming practice of “receiving” delegations; Mike Del Grande, Teresa Lubinski, Garry Tanuan, Nancy Crawford, Angela Kennedy and Joe Martino voted against "receipt" making the motion lose in a tie, which discarding his presentation from the agenda's public record, without discussion.
It is questionable whether this outcome is in accordance with Ontario's Education Act, and further violates the Trustee's Code of Conduct.
The world around us is changing daily, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health issues have been highlighted and basic human rights are increasingly being respected on a larger scale than ever before - here in Ontario, Canada, and across the globe. Please help protect our marginalized youth in Catholic education by sharing this petition update.
An informed general public really does have the power to direct the free world.