A trustee with the Mountain View School Division in western Manitoba is heading to court after his colleagues voted to pause a directive requiring the singing of God Save the King in schools. Paul Coffey filed a legal application with the Court of King’s Bench on June 2, accusing six fellow trustees of violating the Public Schools Act by blocking the plan, which was based on a little-used provincial regulation.
Coffey names Scott Lynxleg, Gabe Mercier, Floyd Martens, Conrad Nabess, John Taylor, and Jarri Thompson as respondents in the case, set to be heard on June 23 in Dauphin. He alleges they acted beyond their legal authority, undermined the board’s legitimacy, and exposed it to reputational and legal risk.
The controversy stems from a January directive by board chair Jason Gryba requiring schools to include the royal anthem in morning announcements, citing Manitoba’s Patriotic Observances Regulation, which mandates O Canada at the start of the day and God Save the King at the end. The regulation, although still technically in effect, has not been enforced for decades, and the Manitoba School Boards Association notes few—if any—divisions continue the practice.
On January 27, the board voted 6-3 to stay the implementation of the anthem policy pending a legal review and public consultation. Coffey and Gryba opposed the motion, while trustee Kerri Wieler abstained. The six named trustees voted in favour. First Nations trustees Jarri Thompson and Scott Lynxleg led the charge against the anthem, citing colonial implications and reconciliation concerns.
In his court filing, Coffey argues the trustees are obligated to uphold existing legislation and cannot unilaterally suspend regulations. He says they were warned “at least 11 times” before the vote. He’s seeking authorization to challenge the board’s decision and obtain a legal declaration that the trustees violated the law.
The dispute is the latest in a series of governance crises within the division, including the controversial firing of its superintendent in 2023 and the provincial government’s appointment of a third-party panel to oversee board operations. The board has also faced resignations and quorum issues, and Coffey himself has sparked controversy over remarks minimizing the legacy of residential schools.
The Manitoba government has since introduced a bill to eliminate the Patriotic Observances Regulation altogether, along with a clause requiring the Lord’s Prayer in schools. However, the legislation remains stalled in the legislature due to procedural delays.
Swifteradio.com
