OCDSB dismisses Trustee Kaplan-Myrth's appeal of conduct complaint
Ottawa's largest school board has upheld a code of conduct complaint against Trustee Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth after she filed an appeal, alleging the basis for the complaint was fraught with errors.
Last month, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees voted unanimously to declare Kaplan-Myrth violated the board's code of conduct(opens in a new tab) based on comments she made on social media and at a heated meeting in September, during which she was facing a different code of conduct complaint that was not upheld.
Trustees also voted 10-1 to sanction Kaplan-Myrth for the breach, barring her from the next board meeting on Jan. 30 and from sitting on several committees for a period of three months, starting Jan. 1.
Kaplan-Myrth appealed(opens in a new tab). Her lawyer said the integrity commissioner's report into her conduct was based on 'faulty or incomplete findings of fact' and 'fundamental errors.'
"The report can be seen to illustrate Trustee Dr. Kaplan-Myrth's central complaint that the Board has not taken seriously her concerns about antisemitism or its impact on her own safety so that instead of assuming any responsibility for these matters or of acknowledging any obligations of 'allyship,' it has instead sought to blame her for causing the problems and/or for making the Board look bad by raising these issues in public," the appeal said.
Trustees met Tuesday night after committee of the whole to rule on the appeal. The board unanimously confirmed the determination that Kaplan-Myrth breached the code of conduct. The board also confirmed its decision regarding sanctions.
"It is important for the Board to hold itself accountable to the standard of behaviour that the community expects," said board chair Lynn Scott. "Trustees have a number of important decisions to make concerning student learning in the months ahead. This has been a difficult issue and has distracted us from our primary work. With this matter fully addressed by the Board, we can re-focus our attention on student learning and well-being in OCDSB schools."
Kaplan-Myrth, a family doctor who was elected trustee in 2022, has been the target of numerous antisemitic and misogynistic threats for her COVID-19 public health advocacy and for her position on LGBTQ2S+ rights and accommodations. She has been vocal on social media about the threats she has received, but has also been critical of her fellow trustees and the school board's processes, which the integrity commissioner said was undermining public confidence in the OCDSB.
Speaking to CTV News Ottawa, Kaplan-Myrth accused the board of not listening to her.
"The fact that they will just double down and say, 'No, we're right; she shouldn't speak,' without even mentioning a word of the grounds of appeal, without even giving consideration to what my lawyer was saying was absolutely errors in terms of their legal opinions, as well as omissions — the double standard is pretty ironic," she said.
Kaplan-Myrth will not be able to attend the Jan. 30 board meeting or sit on the Committee of the Whole, Committee of the Whole Budget, Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee, Advocacy Strategy Committee, and Advisory Committee on Equity until after March 30.
Kaplan-Myrth said she is reviewing her options with her lawyer and considering further legal action.
The school board says that all trustees are available to provide support to students and families, regardless of electoral zone.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Shaun Vardon.
Must Watch
Top Videos
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
UPDATED | Champagne, Clark say they won't run to replace Trudeau as sources say Freeland, Gould to launch leadership bids this week
Christy Clark and François-Philippe Champagne announced Tuesday that they will not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. These announcements come alongside news that senior Liberals Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Mark Carney are expected to announce within the week their plans to run for the leadership.
58 min ago
Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman struck and injured by vehicle
Montreal Canadien forward Emil Heineman was struck and hit by a vehicle on Monday and will be out around a month.
3 hours ago
Princess of Wales says her cancer is in remission
The Princess of Wales revealed Tuesday that her cancer is in remission after an emotional visit to the hospital where she received treatment last year.
1 hour ago
'It's not going to be good': Ford says Trump's tariffs could cost Ontario 500,000 jobs
Premier Doug Ford says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs on Canadian goods could result in the loss of 500,000 jobs in Ontario, creating the need for billions of dollars in stimulus spending.
1 hour ago
Crest, Colgate lawsuits target fluoride in kids' toothpaste, mouth rinse
Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive are among the defendants in six new lawsuits targeting the sale of toothpaste and mouth rinse for young children because the products contain fluoride, which can be harmful if swallowed.
1 hour ago
UPDATED | Dozens of survivors and dead pulled from illegal South African mine as hundreds remain underground
Rescuers sent a cage-like structure down into one of South Africa's deepest gold mines on Tuesday to bring out survivors among hundreds of illegal miners trapped for months in an abandoned shaft.
29 min ago
'We can live our lives again without worrying': Ontario man relieved after insurance company agrees to pay $620,000 hospital bill
An Ontario man who received a $620,000 medical bill from a Florida hospital is now relieved that his insurance company has reversed its decision and decided to pay the bill.
UPDATED | Michelle Obama will not attend Trump's inauguration
Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, the second time in two weeks that she is not attending a gathering of former U.S. leaders and their spouses.
6 min ago
Mark Carney tells Jon Stewart the Liberal party has 'a chance' after Trudeau's resignation
Days ahead of his expected Liberal leadership campaign launch, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to step down boosts the party's chance in the next general election.
3 hours ago