A Burnaby man who ran for school board has been cleared of hate speech allegations made by a local teacher on behalf of a student.
The teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, complained to RCMP after an Oct. 25 school board meeting, when Gordon World spoke against Out in Schools, a film program for students on bullying and homophobia.
"I made a report to the police on behalf of a student," the teacher wrote in an emailed statement to the NOW. "The student believed there were comments made that constituted hate speech. Based on the student's report to me, I believed the student had some valid concerns. Evidently, what the student heard or perceived may have differed from what was actually said as the police found the comments did not meet the threshold for criminal hate speech."
The allegations were part of the ongoing saga between gay rights advocates and parents opposed to the school district's policy 5.45, designed to protect staff and students from homophobic bullying. However, the student in this case was not involved in the controversy around policy 5.45; he was attending the school board meeting for another matter.
The teacher does not want to be named because there have already been death threats made against at least two people in the school district regarding the policy.
World is planning legal action in response to the allegations.
"I will be making an announcement in the near future about my lawsuit. I will be pursuing legal action. I will also be asking for a full investigation into what is being taught by (the teacher). Clearly, some students are being used for political purposes and being indoctrinated with a false understanding of issues involving the law and free speech," World said. "There was nothing that was inflammatory in my remarks."
The Criminal Code prohibits advocating genocide, promoting hatred or publicly inciting hatred against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
RCMP spokesperson Brenda Gresiuk confirmed that police looked into the hate speech complaint, which they became aware of in early November.
"Police did receive a complaint. We have concluded it without any charges. We consulted with E-Division hate crimes and serious crimes, and it did not contravene any Criminal Code offense," she said.
Gresiuk also said that the RCMP's investigation into the death threats related to policy 5.45 was concluded and that there were no charges. Gresiuk would not provide any further details on either case.
