Ontario paramedic shouldn’t have been fired over Israel comments: union, law experts
Global News
The Centre for Free Expression is calling for the reinstatement of a York Region paramedic whose union says she was fired over a social media post.
The Centre for Free Expression is calling for the reinstatement of a York Region paramedic whose union says she was fired over a social media post criticizing Israel’s military operations in the Middle East.
An open letter from James L. Turk, the director of the centre at Toronto Metropolitan University, and a group of lawyers and professors, expresses “deep concern” that the dismissal of Katherine Grzejszczak violates her Charter right to freedom of expression.
The letter, addressed to York Region Paramedic Services and several Regional Municipality of York officials, says the municipality has an obligation to uphold that right – even if it disagrees with the paramedic’s comments.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees says Grzejszczak, who has been a paramedic since 2010 and is a member of CUPE Ontario’s executive board, was fired on June 20 over a Facebook comment that criticized Israel.
A screenshot of the comment on a union post shared by CUPE shows Grzejszczak criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, and accused the country of starving Palestinian children and killing health-care workers. The post also hailed CUPE for organizing a demonstration against Israel’s bombing of Iran.
Patrick Casey, a spokesperson for the Regional Municipality of York, says officials launched an investigation into an employee’s “concerning comments on social media” on June 19 and that person is no longer working for the municipality as a result.
“York Region remains committed to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities, as affirmed by the Inclusion Charter for York Region,” Casey wrote in a statement.
But Turk said people should not be losing their jobs for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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