An eastern Ontario teachers’ union is warning its members they could face discipline under the human rights code regulating student misbehaviour and expressing a series of opinions, ranging from socially conservative, to apolitical and seemingly innocuous statements.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation local for the Kingston-area Limestone District School Board (LDSB) sent its union members a “member update” warning of potential discipline for violating human rights if teachers use terms such as “blind spot” or tell a student to put their phone away. 

The email, obtained by True North and published in full below, was sent by the chief negotiator for Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation district 27, John Vince. It was sent to union members this past December.

In the email, Vince tells the union membership that some views commonly held in the United States and United Kingdom are not allowed in Ontario and that expressing forbidden views could result in discipline.