Judge says he needs time to consider question of Catholic trustees conflict of interest
CBC
A London, Ont., judge said Friday he would reconvene next week to give himself time to carefully consider in what manner he would allow the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) an exemption to the province's conflict of interest laws to break a months-long impasse that has paralyzed the board's decision-making ability.
Seven out of eight trustees recused themselves from making decisions on the board's $312 million budget and collective agreements in December because of close family ties between the trustees, board staff and unions.
On Friday, lawyer Paula Lombardi, who is representing the school board, submitted a draft order to the judge in virtual court that would grant trustees an exemption to provincial conflict of interest laws unless the matter being discussed related "solely to a specific identifiable and individual employee" of the board.
Justice Spencer Nicholson said he would need time to carefully consider the draft order to ensure the trustees would still be held to account should they act in bad faith while exempt from conflict of interest rules.
"It can't be the intention of the act to paralyze boards like this," Nicholson said, noting he would likely render a decision on the exact language of the order early next week.
"You ought not to lose any sleep that you won't have a functioning board shortly," he told the trustees, some of whom were watching the virtual proceedings from the court gallery.
At one point in the proceeding, Nicholson questioned how so many trustees could have such close family ties to teachers and the unions representing education workers, before answering his own question.
"They all have family members that are teachers for a good reason. They're interested in education so they have family members who are educators," he said.
Court filings by the board outline list the conflicts of interest held by trustees in detail, which include:
Linda Steel, the board chair and a long-time trustee with the Catholic board, was the only person not to declare a conflict of interest on the board.
Under the Ontario Education Act, there must be at least two trustees to vote on a decision in order to make it valid.
The government of Saskatchewan has announced plans to reduce the length of non-resident game bird hunting licences to combat illegal guiding.
An 87-year-old Alberta man is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical allegations of physical and sexual assault involving minors.
Eight casinos across southwest B.C. have been sold to First Nations in the last two years, with the province's gambling scene set to be reshaped as a result.
Hamilton hosts the Junos Sunday, and the musical awards show is bringing tourists, musicians, concerts and a ton of themed events to the city this week.
The multi-million-dollar deal at the heart of a high-profile fight between the Canadian government and one of the world’s biggest carmakers contains multiple clauses about the company’s footprint in Ontario, according to a copy obtained by CBC Windsor.
In recent months, Calgary police have carried out three day-long safety blitzes, parading out dozens of officers to flood an area with their increased presence — at least, temporarily.
A national organization is seeking people with experience in Canada's forestry sector as they put together a working group that will examine ways to improve forest recovery following wildfires.
Ella Heyder is bracing for a breakup, even though she already moved out decades ago.
Shawne Hopkins never saw it coming.
Politicians return to Queen’s Park Monday for a shortened spring session, as Premier Doug Ford prepares to unveil his eight budget amid heightened global economic uncertainty.
Despite a recent announcement that a water supply pipeline will be build in Oneida Nation of the Thames, some members of the community say that's no excuse for taking water for granted.
As scandal has swirled around former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, questions and curiosity have also focused on his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Friday may have been the first day of spring, but winter storms are not over yet for Newfoundland.