Manitoba Launches Public Teacher Registry, Appoints Commissioner for Misconduct Complaints

Students observe a math lesson in a file photo. Manitoba has announced it has launched a public registry of teachers certified in the province, and has appointed a commission to handle professional misconduct complaints made against educators.Wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

Manitoba’s NDP government has launched a public, searchable registry of teachers certified in the province, and has appointed a commission to handle professional misconduct complaints made against educators.

The registry was first promised by the former provincial Progressive Conservative government and is similar to registries in place in Ontario and British Columbia.

The province made the announcement on Jan. 6, saying the measures aimed to assure parents that students are safe in their classrooms.

“Teachers have a great role to play in a child’s life and parents and caregivers are entrusting teachers with their children’s education and well-being,” acting Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt said in the news release.

“Our government is strengthening the teacher professional conduct review process through an online registry and the appointment of an independent commissioner, which will give parents and caregivers reassurance that reviews will be done in reliable, transparent way that keeps student safety at the centre.”

The public register will contain details such as whether a teacher is in good standing, has been suspended, or had their teaching certification cancelled, according to the release. The registry is now live and available to the public online.

Manitoba teacher’s professional conduct complaint review process will be led by independent commissioner Bobbi Taillefer, an education union executive and former Winnipeg school principal. The commissioner will receive and investigate complaints, facilitate consent resolution agreements, and refer cases to a hearing panel for adjudication, said the release.

A 12-member hearing panel will be made up of teachers, representatives nominated by the Manitoba School Boards Association, and members of the public.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), a national charity dedicated to child safety, says it “strongly supports” the new measures.

“We believe these positive changes will enhance the trust and confidence students and their families have in Manitoba’s school system,” director of education and support services, Noni Classen said in a Jan. 6 statement.

“C3P looks forward to working with and supporting the Manitoba government as it continues to finalize its work in setting teacher competency standards as part of this province-wide shift in how serious professional misconduct is addressed.”

C3P also said the changes mirror many of the recommendations its organization made in two reports on child sexual abuse and victimization by K-12 school personnel in Canada. The reports were published in 2017 and 2022.

Complaint Process

Anyone is able to file a complaint about potential misconduct by a teacher, the government said.

After a complaint is submitted to the commissioner, it is formerly acknowledged and a preliminary review held. After this, the commissioner will decide to either take no action, conduct an investigation, or defer a decision under the outcome of a court case or a separate investigation is done.

“The commissioner may also investigate, on their own initiative, the conduct of a teacher if it is in the public interest,” says a government fact sheet.

If an investigation is launched, the commissioner is required to notify the teacher being investigated, the person who made the complaint, and the teacher’s employer.

The commissioner can then decide to take no further action, resolve the problem with a consent resolution agreement, or send the matter to a hearing. If a hearing is to be held, the teacher and the person who made the complaint must be notified.

The commissioner has the authority to order the suspension of a teacher under investigation if it is deemed necessary to protect students from potential harm.

Registry

Only those who have a teaching or clinician certificate are included in the registry, the provincial government said. It does not include those who hold limited teacher permits or education assistants.

It will include teachers who have been certified since Jan. 1, 1960, and all discipline actions since Jan. 1, 1990, will be available publicly.

The government noted that active investigations and other interim discipline steps will not be included in the registry. Therefore, a teacher may appear in good standing while an investigation process is underway.