Ontario paramedic fired for criticizing Israel on social media hopes to be reinstated
YORK REGION, ONTARIO, CANADA, JUL 31 – The paramedic was dismissed after condemning Israel's Gaza actions and accuses the country of targeting civilians, with a union grievance filed on her behalf.
- Following a Facebook post, Regional Municipality of York dismissed veteran paramedic Katherine Grzejszczak on June 20 after criticizing Israel’s bombing of Gaza and accusing it of starving children and killing health-care workers.
- Having just returned from a six-year union leave, Regional Municipality of York launched an investigation on June 19 into her social media comments, leading to her dismissal last month.
- Charter lawyers and free speech advocates say her firing violated her Charter-protected right to freedom of expression, and Krista Laing, chair of CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers, said the process took less than 48 hours without proper investigation.
- Soon, Katherine Grzejszczak hopes to be reinstated as she awaits the outcome of a grievance filed by Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario, with Daniel Paré calling for her reinstatement.
- The Centre for Free Expression reports growing penalties for political speech since the Israel-Hamas war, with Gaza’s Health Ministry saying Palestinian deaths surpassed 60,000 earlier this week, which Israel disputes.
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Ontario paramedic fired for criticizing Israel on social media hopes to be reinstated
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
'Chilling effect': Organizations say York Region paramedic firing impacting freedom of expression
CUPE, multiple groups are rallying behind the paramedic fired over a Facebook comment on Israel as the region denies reinstatement in the first part of the grievance process
Ontario paramedic fired for criticizing Israel on social media hopes to be reinstated – 105.9 The Region
A York Region paramedic who says she was fired over a Facebook comment that criticized Israel’s military actions in the Middle East says she is hoping to be reinstated soon. Katherine Grzejszczak says she loves her job and the comment she made was in line with her “professional obligations” as a paramedic to call for an end to human suffering and for preservation of life. The veteran paramedic was fired on June 20 after writing a comment that cr…
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