DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
Citation: Ontario College of Teachers v Morrison, 2016 ONOCT 37
Date: 2016-05-06
IN THE MATTER OF the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and the Regulation (Ontario Regulation 437/97) thereunder;
AND IN THE MATTER OF a discipline proceeding against
Karen Joanna Morrison, OCT, a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.
PANEL: Tom Potter, Chair
Wes Vickers, OCT
Marie-Claude Yaacov
BETWEEN: ) Ava Arbuck,
) McCarthy Tétrault LLP, ) for Ontario College of Teachers,
ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS ) assisted by Duane Crocker,
) Law Clerk
– and – )
KAREN JOANNA MORRISON ) Jerry Raso, Ontario English Catholic (CERTIFICATE #472386) ) Teachers’ Association,
) for Karen Joanna Morrison
) Erica Richler,
) Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc, ) Independent Legal Counsel
) ) Heard: May 6, 2016
DECISION ON MOTION
Counsel for the College brought a motion to seek leave from the Discipline Committee (the “Committee”) to withdraw the allegations set out in the Notice of Hearing (Exhibit 1) dated April 28, 2016.
Karen Joanna Morrison (the “Member”) was not in attendance but was represented at the hearing.
UNDERTAKING AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Counsel for the College advised the Committee that the parties agreed to withdraw the allegations of professional misconduct against the Member set out in the Notice of Hearing in exchange for the Undertaking and Acknowledgment of Karen Joanna Morrison (the “Undertaking”), which provides as follows:
I hereby resign as a member of the Ontario College of Teachers with immediate effect.
I undertake that I will never seek reinstatement of my Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
I undertake that I will never teach again in any public or private school in Ontario or work in any position which requires membership in the Ontario College of Teachers.
I understand that a breach of this Undertaking and Acknowledgment may constitute professional misconduct and that, should I breach this Undertaking, the Ontario College of Teachers will be at liberty to re-institute these proceedings.
I acknowledge that my status on the Public Register of the Ontario College of Teachers will be “Resigned-Cancelled” and the notation will read as follows:
“On May 4, 2016, the Member resigned her membership with the Ontario College of Teachers and has undertaken never to teach again in any public or private school in Ontario or to work in any position which requires membership in the Ontario College of Teachers. She has also undertaken never to seek reinstatement of her Certificate of Qualification and Registration. The member resigned her membership while a disciplinary proceeding was pending.”
All Discipline Committee decisions are available on the College website.
- I acknowledge my understanding about the scope, purpose and effect of my execution of this Undertaking and Acknowledgement and am executing same voluntarily, unequivocally, and with the advice of legal counsel.
DECISION
Upon the consent of the parties, the Committee authorizes the College to withdraw the allegations of professional misconduct against the Member set out in the Notice of Hearing in exchange for the Undertaking of the Member set out above.
REASONS FOR DECISION
The Committee has jurisdiction to make the order requested pursuant to Rule 13.13 of the Rules of Procedure of the Discipline Committee and of the Fitness to Practise Committee. The Committee finds that the withdrawal of the Notice of Hearing in exchange for the Member’s Undertaking in these circumstances is reasonable and serves to protect the public interest.
Date: May 6, 2016
______________________________
Tom Potter
Chair, Discipline Panel
______________________________ Wes Vickers, OCT
Member, Discipline Panel
______________________________
Marie-Claude Yaacov
Member, Discipline Panel