BCCT Breaking News!

The college has called a press conference for 10am this morning, details are in the press release below. The council has not had time to consider the input from the public meeting, and without due consideration is asking for government intervention and is calling for a delay in elections.

BC College of Teachers Council broken: Council members call for independent investigator

A majority of British Columbia College of Teachers Councillors will today call on the BC government to appoint an independent investigator to examine self-regulation for teachers in BC and suspend upcoming Council elections.

“The council is dysfunctional. Even the President-elect of the BCTF agrees,” stated Council Chair Richard Walker. “This was the second meeting where the business of the College was held up by a determined effort by the BCTF to delay and thwart any discussions around the issue of governance. Clearly, there is something wrong when those who are supposed to be regulated are preventing the regulatory body from doing its work.”

According to Walker, the BCTF exerts its influence over the College by endorsing candidates for election to the Council and by promoting policies that influence deliberations at the Council table. “A majority of Council members has decided that only an independent investigator can bring resolution to the impasse.

Council vice-chair Norm Nichols agrees with Walker. “The last two public meetings have totally undermined public confidence that the BC College of Teachers is working in the public interest. No other regulatory body in the province is subjected to such overt attempts to influence its work.”

Tim Dunford is a 7-year veteran of the College Council, a lawyer, and one of two non-teachers on the College Council. “I was hopeful that a majority of Council would be able to achieve significant reform and that the College could take its place alongside the other self-regulating professions in the province. Concerted efforts by some College Councillors at the January meeting brought the College into public disrepute. The April meeting was much more restrained in tone, but clearly designed to delay any discussion about governance. We hope that an independent investigator will examine the College’s situation and suggest solutions for problems that the Council is unable to resolve.”

With council elections looming, and a significant change of the council composition expected, it would be impossible for the investigator to make a sound recommendation without access to those who have been working on these issues for some time.

A press conference will be held in the BC College of Teachers lobby at 2025 West Broadway in Vancouver at 10am on Tuesday, April 6.