People who want to denounce questionable methods or attacks on secularism through the new “single channel” of the CSSDM actually find themselves calling the reception of the head office, a “a bit crooked” process which has nevertheless already attracted 132 reports.
“Clearly, we want to show that we are doing something […]but it’s a mess,” says Simon Landry, a teacher from the metropolis who founded the Movement for a Professional Teaching Order.
In the wake of the Bedford affair, the Montreal School Services Center (CSSDM) announced, on October 29, that it had set up a “single denunciation channel”.
Anyone can report “inadequate actions and comments” that they witness or are victims of.
This may involve harm to the psychological health of students, inappropriate teaching methods or breaches of secularism, among others.
Since the announcement two weeks ago, 132 reports have been received, according to the CSSDM.
“It’s popular!” exclaims Sylvain Martel, spokesperson for the Regroupement des committees de parents nationaux du Québec. “It shows that there really is a need.”
Confidentiality
However, this “centralized access” actually corresponds to the central number of the CSSDM. You must dial “option 0” of the number which also leads to the head office of the organization.
This is also the case for the email address, “[email protected]”.
“It’s just a rebranding of the general line. There is nothing unique about it,” says Sylvain Martel astonished. “It seems like a public relations exercise.”
He took the test himself. It was indeed possible for him to speak to someone who was ready to take a report.
Sylvain Martel, spokesperson for the Regroupement des committees de parents nationaux du Québec.
Photo d’archives Chantal Poirier
“I was asked if it was for a complaint or a denunciation,” he reports. A question that is not always easy to answer when you are unfamiliar with the system.
A tip-off line, “It’s a good idea, but the execution is clumsy […] I apologize, but for confidentiality, we will come back,” remarks Mr. Martel.
Confidentiality is essential to protect the whistleblower, but also people unfairly targeted for revenge, he explains.
Simon Landry is not an employee of the CSSDM, but he can put himself in the place of a teacher who would like to denounce a colleague. He feels he would not be comfortable using this channel.
Simon Landry, founder of the Movement for a Professional Order of Teachers.
Photo d’archives Martin Alarie
“You talk to the secretary, so she knows. Then she transfers the file to someone else, who will also be aware.”
“It doesn’t make any sense […] But we are not close to an illogicality,” says ironically the one who is not surprised that this initiative is “a bit crooked”.
Truly unique?
For its part, the CSSDM explains that the central number is “the easy and accessible main entry point” for denunciations. Then, the call is routed to the customer service, which already existed, which will have to “situate the denunciation in the complaints processing process”, writes Alain Perron of press relations.
In addition to the new “single channel” and the complaints handling process, there has also been, since 2018, a form for reporting wrongdoing reserved for employees, which will be repatriated to the Public Protector on November 30.
THE FALLOUT OF THE BEDFORD AFFAIR
- 132 reports to the CSSDM since October 29
- 11 teachers suspended at Bedford school
- 4 Montreal schools under investigation
- 17 schools inspected for breaches of secularism across Quebec
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