A Hamilton-area parent suspended from her school council after objecting to a land acknowledgement is asking Ontario's education minister to stop political censorship by school boards.The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced that lawyers for Catherine Kronas have written to Education Minister Paul Calandra. They want him to introduce legislation preventing school boards from engaging in political censorship.The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board suspended Kronas in May 2025. She had respectfully objected to land acknowledgements during a public meeting at Ancaster High Secondary School, where she serves as an elected School Council member.Kronas was re-elected to her local council in October 2024. .During an April 9 meeting, she objected to including a land acknowledgement and asked that her objection be recorded in the minutes.The board responded on May 22 by "pausing" her participation in council activities. Officials said she had caused harm and violated a Code of Conduct policy.“I was taken aback by the Board’s decision to suspend me from the School Council after delivering a respectful objection, especially given assurances made at a previous council meeting and outlined in the Council bylaws that open dialogue and diverse perspectives are welcomed,” said Kronas. She pointed out that previous council meetings and bylaws had promised that open dialogue and diverse perspectives would be welcomed.Kronas lawyers sent a June 4 letter warning the board that its actions were unconstitutional and procedurally unfair. .The board acknowledged receiving the letter two days later but has not provided a substantive response.The detailed letter to Calandra asks for amendments to the Supporting Children and Students Act. The changes would ensure “that public school boards are not permitted to engage in political censorship. Such an amendment would protect the Charter rights of students and parents while focusing schools on their core mandate: education.”“There is no valid reason for school boards to engage in political censorship,” said constitutional lawyer Hatim Kheir.“It infringes on the constitutionally protected rights of parents and students, and distracts from their mission of educating youth.”Kronas warned that “the Council sends a troubling message to all parents that even respectful disagreement may be met not with dialogue, but with disciplinary action.”
