TORONTO, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers funded by the Justice Centre are defending Ontario teachers Matt and Nicole Alexander in an investigation by the Ontario College of Teachers (College) arising from events that led to their dismissals in 2023. The school board suspended Ms. Alexander after she removed a pride poster that had been placed on her kindergarten classroom door without her knowledge or consent. It suspended Mr. Alexander for concerns related to his religious beliefs on sexuality and gender.
This College investigation marks a new stage in the Alexanders’ legal battle. While their dismissals remain under challenge, the College is pursuing a separate process that could ultimately cost both teachers their Ontario teaching certificates.
The Ontario College of Teachers regulates the teaching profession and issues teaching certificates. Its disciplinary process can ultimately lead to restrictions on a teacher’s certificate, suspension, or revocation. The Alexanders are currently at the investigation stage. No finding of professional misconduct has been made.
Mr. and Ms. Alexander are both long-time educators from Cobden, Ontario. Mr. Alexander taught Grades 7 and 8, while Ms. Alexander taught kindergarten. Both had unblemished disciplinary records before the events that led to their dismissals.
The Alexanders are Christians who hold traditional religious beliefs concerning sexuality and gender. They treated all students with dignity and respect regardless of differences in belief or identity. Following an investigation, the school board terminated both teachers on October 26, 2023, for not “celebrating and affirming” LGBTQ issues. The Alexanders maintain that they were punished for acting in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs and that their freedom of conscience and religion was violated.
Constitutional lawyer Darren Leung said, “Professionals have the same rights as all other Canadians to express themselves, and should not be punished and threatened with a loss of their livelihood simply for expressing their views.”
“The Alexanders have already lost their jobs. They now face a separate professional regulatory process arising from the same events, with consequences that could extend to their ability to work as certified teachers in Ontario,” he added.
The Alexanders have 60 days to respond to the allegations. The College’s Investigation Committee will then decide whether to dismiss the complaints, issue a caution or reprimand, or refer the matters to the Discipline Committee for further proceedings.
The Justice Centre is Canada’s leading civil liberties organization defending Charter rights and freedoms in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion. Founded in 2010, the Justice Centre funds lawyers across Canada, relies entirely on voluntary donations to carry out its mission, and issues official tax receipts to donors.
