Ontario teachers fired for honouring their conscience; Justice Centre provides lawyers to take action
Dear friend of freedom,Teachers are among the most trusted figures in our society. Parents rely on teachers to model professionalism, fairness, and compassion. Educators, in turn, deserve a teaching environment that respects their fundamental rights and freedoms. That’s why the story of Matt and Nicole Alexander from Cobden, Ontario, is so important.
Matt and Nicole Alexander (Photo courtesy of the Alexander family)Fired for exercising their Charter-protected freedoms, then abandoned by their union
Matt and Nicole Alexander were long-serving, dedicated schoolteachers employed by the Renfrew County District School Board in Ontario. In 2023, both teachers were abruptly suspended and later terminated under very troubling circumstances, simply for following their conscience. “It’s hard to describe the magnitude of what’s happened in our family,” said Matt Alexander. “After dedicating more than two decades to my students and school, it seems to me, there is no room for Christians to be Christian in the education system.”The Alexanders’ ordeal began in late 2022 when their teenage son, Josh Alexander—a student at an entirely different school board, began to challenge publicly his school’s policy of allowing biological males who identify as female to use girls’ washrooms.
Josh Alexander (Photo courtesy of the Alexander family)Josh began attending and also organizing peaceful demonstrations in the wider community, and heading a group called Save Canada, which opposes gender ideology in schools and drag queen story hours for children. On April 17, 2023, the school suspended Matt Alexander from his grades seven and eight teaching position in relation to social media posts that were made about him. Matt did not even have any public social media accounts at the time.On May 5, 2023, Nicole Alexander discovered a pride poster taped to the front door of her kindergarten classroom, without her consent. Before class, she moved the poster into a classroom cabinet. Later that morning, her principal summoned her to a meeting where she was abruptly suspended pending an investigation – an investigation that dragged on for six months.
Matt and Nicole Alexander (Photo courtesy of the Alexander family)On October 26, 2023, the Renfrew County District School Board terminated both Nicole and Matt Alexander for not celebrating and affirming LGBTQ issues. As teachers, the Alexanders had always created a welcoming environment for all students. Matt and Nicole went on to file a grievance under their collective agreement, but their union refused to argue that the Alexanders’ freedom of conscience and religion – protected by section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – had been violated. The Alexanders’ experience is a chilling reminder that Canadians who express their honest opinions in public spaces often face severe consequences. These courageous Canadians are frequently abandoned by the unions that are supposed to protect them. “What we’re seeing is a culture where if you don’t actively affirm certain views, you’re at risk,” Matt Alexander explained.“We’ve been financially devastated, but we won’t back down,” Matt said. “We sold our family home rather than lose it, and the pension we paid into for over 20 years has been decimated. It put a black mark on us, effectively ending our careers in public education. Retraining for new careers has been necessary,” Nicole explained.In short, the Alexanders needed a champion. The Alexander family has found hope and a voice Constitutional lawyer Darren Leung is one of several lawyers representing the Alexanders. He is taking several steps to defend the family. “There are currently two legal actions underway. The first is a human rights complaint against the Renfrew County District School Board, alleging that the board discriminated against the Alexander family because of their religious beliefs,” explained Mr. Leung.“The second is a complaint filed with the Labour Relations Board against the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario for failing to support the Alexanders properly.”
Constitutional lawyer Darren Leung (Photo courtesy of Darren Leung)Mr. Leung points out that both teachers have an “unblemished disciplinary record throughout their employment.” A free society depends on a culture in which diverse views are expressed and debated. As Mr. Leung explains, “Our constitutional democracy is built on a culture of tolerance and mutual respect of diverse ideas, beliefs and points of view. The law should strive to accommodate as many viewpoints as possible.”“What is happening here is the use of government power to enforce only one viewpoint and punishing those who diverge from total acceptance of this viewpoint, especially when there is no evidence of any harm,” he remarked.Mr. Leung explained that more information will be revealed as the complaint works its way through the system. This matter will take time, but these teachers deserve the support of all Canadians who value the freedom of conscience and religion.
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