The Report That WRDSB Didn't Want You to See
After more than three years of secrecy, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) has been forced to release the Integrity Commissioner’s report on Trustee Mike Ramsay’s 2022 “Code of Conduct” censure. This document provides fresh evidence of the WRDSB’s pattern of silencing dissent – the same pattern at the heart of my defamation lawsuit against the Board.
The public naturally wondered what Mike must have done to warrant being barred from school board meetings for three months. Mike waived his right to privacy and asked the school board to make the allegations public. They refused.
One wonders why. Could it be that the school board wasn’t interested in protecting Mike’s privacy? Perhaps secrecy was their real goal.
What Mike Ramsay Actually Did
The answer, now revealed, is remarkable: Mike Ramsay was censured for publicly disagreeing with Chair Scott Piatkowski’s decision to silence ME at the January 17, 2022 meeting!
Let that sink in. An elected trustee was punished for defending a constituent’s right to speak.
The same Board that censured Mike is now fighting against my defamation claim. The pattern seems clear: the WRDSB uses institutional process to punish dissent rather than address legitimate concerns.
What the Report Reveals
The Integrity Commissioner’s report contains several striking findings. The Commissioner noted that trustees fell into two ideological camps. The majority held progressive, left-leaning views, while the minority – including Mike – felt marginalized in their opposition to the majority’s agenda.
This confirms what many have long suspected: the actions taken against Mike Ramsay were ideologically motivated, not procedurally justified.
Notably, the Integrity Commissioner found that Mike had not leaked any confidential information, despite this being one of the allegations against him.
Perhaps most telling, the Commissioner stated that the Code of Conduct and the Charter of Rights can “co-exist quite comfortably” and that there is nothing inherently inconsistent between them. Yet the board chose to interpret vague provisions – like the requirement that trustees “inspire public confidence” – to punish a trustee for exercising his democratic right to dissent.
The Man Who Uncovered the Truth
Enter our hero: Michael Teper, a private citizen from Toronto who doubted that Mike had done anything to warrant his removal from the school board. Teper filed a Freedom of Information request for the report.
It took three years of paperwork, fees, mediation, and legal hearings before the WRDSB was finally ordered to release the information. Teper’s persistence has given the public a rare glimpse into the inner workings of this school board and what it reveals is troubling.
Why the Secrecy?
It now seems clear that the board did not want the public to know why they were punishing Mike. Disclosure would not support their narrative. They could not publicly admit that Mike was censured for defending a teacher’s right to raise concerns about books in school libraries.
What Can We Learn From This?
Don’t believe everything you hear just because it comes from a person in authority. Do your own investigation before thinking ill of another person, and withhold judgment until they’ve had a chance to explain themselves. And remember, this could happen to you. Treat those who are being targeted the way you would want to be supported if you were in the crosshairs.
These lessons matter because we are watching institutional tools being turned against ordinary citizens:
“Human Rights Codes” are being weaponized to intimidate us from sharing our honest concerns.
“Privacy laws” are being weaponized to keep secrets from the public.
“Codes of Conduct”, with their vague requirements, are being weaponized to remove independent thinkers from positions of authority.
A Good Man and a True Public Servant
I am deeply grateful for Mike Ramsay’s support nearly four years ago. I wish he did not have to suffer for it.
Mike Ramsay is a good man and a true public servant. He stood up for my right to speak when it would have been easier to stay silent. He paid a price for that courage, but history is proving him right.
Thank you, Trustee Ramsay.
Carolyn Burjoski
Integrity Commissioner’s Report:
www.wrdsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/Integrity-Commissioner-Report-May-31-2022.pdf
Privacy Commission Adjudicator’s Report here:
https://decisions.ipc.on.ca/ipc-cipvp/orders/en/item/522150/index.do
CTV News Kitchener:
Waterloo Region Record:
Woolwich Observer:
https://www.observerxtra.com/school-board-finally-releases-report-of-trustees-suspension/