As the province pushes to have the Anglophone East District Education Council, members say they have no plans to back down.
Education Minister Bill Hogan is seeking permission from a New Brunswick judge to dissolve the elected council.
Hogan claims the DEC misused more than $400,000 by launching a legal battle over Policy 713, the province’s school gender identity policy.
Dr. Kristin Cavoukian said it is a “ridiculous assertion” and one that she and fellow members reject.
“A District Education Council oversees a district with, for example in our case, a $231-million budget,” Cavoukian told our newsroom.
“A lot of that budget goes toward keeping students safe and this is another thing that goes toward keeping students safe. We absolutely reject the accusation that we’re misusing funds.”
The Anglophone East DEC, which represents schools in the Moncton area, argued the controversial changes made to Policy 713 are discriminatory and endanger students.
Under the updated policy, schools now require parental consent if a student under 16 wants to informally use a different name or pronoun.
In a court filing, Hogan said senior Anglophone East DEC officials, including Chair Harry Doyle and Vice-Chair Dominic Vautour, could be held liable for legal spending in the case.
The education minister went on to say that he has plans to monitor spending by the council more closely.
Cavoukian described it as a case of “classic bullying” and “an intimidation tactic” by the minister.
“We are not going to be intimidated. We are doing the right thing for our students, and when someone bullies you, you stand up to the bully,” she said.
“This DEC is not dysfunctional. It does not mismanage funds. And we reject these claims in the strongest of possible terms.”
Cavoukian said looking to dissolve the council is another way for the Higgs government to centralize power in Fredericton.
She pointed to a previous attempt by the government to eliminate all anglophone district education councils and its decision to replace the health authority boards, which were a mix of appointed and elected members, with entirely appointed boards.
“I think that it’s really important that New Brunswickers see this move not just as a move with respect to Policy 713, but as part of a wider pattern that should be troubling to all of us,” said Cavoukian.
A statement from the DEC said the “unprecedented action represents a stark authoritarian power grab that places not only the integrity of our educational system but also the very fabric of our democratic society in jeopardy.”
In addition to fighting the dissolution, the DEC is appealing a Court of King’s Bench decision which ruled they do not have standing to argue that Policy 713 violates Charter rights.
“The students in our district depend on us and we not only have to defend their interests, but we also need to set a good example for them,” said Cavoukian.
