Demands for resignation of the head of the Lester B. Pearson school board

CTV Montreal: Resignation demanded A letter askes for the chair of the Lester B. Pearson school board to step down

People are asking the chair of the Lester B. Pearson school board to resign after learning she had violated the board's code of ethics.

Earlier this week CTV News confirmed that an ethics commissioner had ruled that Suanne Stein Day had breached the board's code of ethics on three occasions.

There is now a letter circulating among the school board community demanding Stein Day resign.

Retired teacher Chris Eustace, who ran for the LBPSB two years ago, is among those saying Stein Day should step down.

"I've asked for the resignation of Suanne Stein Day. In fact I asked for it last year," said Eustace.

Now CTV News has obtained documents showing that taxpayers are being billed more than $80,000 in legal fees for the investigation.

The first set of invoices relates directly to the ethics commissioner at the Lester B. Pearson School Board. It adds up to $28,111,89

The second series of invoices, for other legal fees related to the ethics investigation, totals $53,694.61.

Sources tell CTV News almost all the costs relate to the legal expenses for the board's chair, at $650/hour.

The ethics commissioner tabled his report with the school board several weeks ago.

That report determined that Stein Day had broken three articles of the board's code of ethics on three separate occasions.

A number of people who had filed complaints about Stein Day in the past 12 months have been either fired, demoted or reassigned.

At least one person has filed a wrongful dismissal suit with the Quebec Labour Board,

Part of the ethics commissioner's ruling is a confidentiality order that prevents anyone at the board from speaking about any of the details of the decision.

Sources also tell CTV News that all school board commissioners received legal notice from Stein Day's lawyer that they could face legal action if they breach the confidentiality order.

That order not to talk has outraged Eustace.

"I definitely do not agree with it and I question who gave that commissioner, the ethics commissioner, the right to make up that gag order in the first place," said Eustace.

The long-time critic of the board said he received a letter from a lawyer warning him not to talk about the ethical breach.

"When you have one person whipping out lawyer's letters - you can't talk, you can't do this - what kind of a democracy is this? It's a farce," said Eustace..

This week Stein Day told CTV News she could not discuss the case and considered it settled.

The school board's next public meeting is Monday night.

Eustace will be there -- demanding Stein Day step down.