In March 2024, the Provincial Council of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario passed a resolution authorizing the creation of a Task Force to draft a Provincial Misconduct Policy.  The Policy will create a process for the initiation and resolution of complaints of sexual misconduct, harassment, or other abuse by those who fall within the sole jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.  

The Policy will apply to the conduct of lay, clergy and episcopal members of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario that is not otherwise covered by the misconduct policies or canons of another ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Anglican Church of Canada.

The Provincial Council approved a: Mandate and Terms of Reference for the Task Force. 

The members of the Task Force are:

·       Canon Greg Tweney, Chancellor, Diocese of Niagara [Chair]

·       Rev. Canon Ken Brooks, Diocese of Huron

·       Ms. Caroline Chum, Diocese of Moosonee

·       Ms. Susan Everett, Diocese of Ontario

·       Rev. Canon Susan Haig, Diocese of Toronto

·       The Right Rev. Shane Parker, Bishop of Ottawa

The Task Force is in the early stages of its work.  As a draft policy begins to take shape, the Task Force will be inviting written submissions from any individual or group who wishes to provide input on the content of the Provincial Misconduct Policy.   The Task Force will maintain a confidential log of all submissions received and will include a list of contributors (but not the submissions themselves) in its final report to the Provincial Council. 

Watch this space for more information about the work of the Provincial Task Force, including draft material for comment and deadlines for written submissions.