'It's disgusting': Ford calls for investigation into Toronto school field trip that ended at 'Palestinian rally'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) should investigate how some students on a recent school field trip ended up at a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.
“It's disgraceful… [The students] should be in the classroom learning about reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, the whole shebang, but instead, the TDSB and these teachers want to bring them down to a rally, a Palestinian rally, and it's ridiculous,” Ford said at an unrelated news conference on Monday.
On Wednesday, the TDSB said, an undisclosed number of students attended the Grassy Narrows River Run, which was organized to highlight the mercury contamination within the northern Ontario First Nation.
The field trip was billed as an educational experience, where students would hear from Indigenous voices about the challenges facing the people of Grassy Narrows.
However, videos circulating on social media showed some young students taking part in the march and repeating the slogan, “From Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime,” after it was shouted by someone who appeared to be a protest organizer.
In a statement, the TDSB apologized and said that, in general, students should “not” be participating in organized protests as part of a field trip and that that guidance would be shared within the school system.
A poster promoting the Grassy Narrows River Run in downtown Toronto is seen in this image. (CP/Joshua Freeman)
“The TDSB will also be reviewing its field trip procedures to provide guidance that upholds the safety and well-being of students,” the statement added.
Ford was asked about the incident Monday and called for an investigation into how the students ended up at the rally.
“We'll be all over this and make sure people are held accountable, and they think twice about bringing young little kids, without the parents' permission, on these school trips. It's disgusting,” he said.
Prior to Ford’s comments, Education Minister Jill Dunlop weighed in on the incident , saying she was “deeply disappointed” by Wednesday’s events.
“Compromising the security and safety of students is unacceptable,” she wrote. “I expect TDSB to conduct a thorough review of the situation and ensure accountability with parents and students to prevent future incidents.”
The incident was condemned by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The board did not say which school or schools participated in the field trip.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They're never going to see me cry': Michael Kovrig shares experience of more than 1,000 days in Chinese detainment
It's been exactly three years since Canadian Michael Kovrig returned to Canada after spending 1,019 days in a Chinese prison. Now, he's publicly speaking out about his arrest and detainment for the first time.
Lebanon sees deadliest day of conflict since 2006 as Israeli strikes kill 492
Israeli strikes on Lebanon Monday killed more than 490 people, including more than 90 women and children, Lebanese authorities said, in the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Police investigating sudden death of 2-year-old boy in Cambridge, Ont.
Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.
Number of CRA employees fired for inappropriately claiming CERB approaches 300
The Canada Revenue Agency has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is COVID XEC worse than other variants? Experts share what's known about the virus in Canada
While many Canadians no longer stress as much about COVID-19 as they did during its peak, health experts say a new variant has been spreading in some parts of the world and is now present in Canada.
House Speaker asks MPs to behave better in question period after incident
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus gave MPs a stern warning on Monday about improving their behaviour as they prepare for a fractious debate about whether the Liberals should continue to govern.
Thousands of bones and hundreds of weapons reveal grisly insights into a 3,250-year-old battle
A new analysis of dozens of arrowheads is helping researchers piece together a clearer portrait of the warriors who clashed on Europe’s oldest known battlefield 3,250 years ago.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland reveals dementia diagnosis, will soon play final Canadian show
Beverly Glenn-Copeland says he's been diagnosed with dementia and will play his final concert tour dates over the next two weeks.
Calgary men guilty in multimillion-dollar fraud case involving B.C. RV resort
On Sept. 20, Justice R.E. Nation of the Alberta Court of King's Bench found Craig McMorran guilty of fraud, money laundering and stealing a cottage from its rightful owners.