York Region paramedic fired over Israel comments speaks out, wants to know if politicians played role

A York Region paramedic who says she was fired over a social media comment that criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza says she wants to know whether politicians were behind her termination. 

Katherine Grzejszczak said 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 the preservation of life.

"What is hateful is the actions of the Israeli state towards Palestinians, not my descriptions of them," Grzejszczak said at a news conference on Thursday. 

The veteran paramedic, who was also a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario's executive board, was fired on June 20 after an online comment that criticized Israel's bombing of Gaza and several countries, and accused the country of starving Palestinian children and killing health-care workers. 

"In the last two years, Israel has bombed Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and now Iran. They have been occupying Palestine for 75+ years. They are luring starving Palestinian children to their concentration camp food aid depots so they can snipe them dead," Grzejszczak posted on Facebook on June 19.

"Any union or other organization that doesn't fight this is choosing to stay silent during genocide."

Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations of genocide, saying it has respected international law and has a right to defend itself after the cross-border Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.

Union chair says politicians 'thought it was OK to interfere'

Last month, Vaughan Coun. Gila Martow posted on social media that she contacted Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca after seeing Grzejszczak's post.

"On Friday, June 20, I was made aware of a paramedic employed by York Region who had allegedly posted a hateful message on social media," Martow posted on Facebook on June 22.

"Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca immediately reached out to the chair of York Region with the community's concerns. The matter was investigated, and we have received confirmation that the individual is no longer employed by York Region."

CBC Toronto reached out to Martow and Del Duca for comment, but hasn't yet heard back.

Grzejszczak's dismissal triggered concern among free speech advocates and lawyers, who said it was a violation of her Charter-protected right to freedom of expression.

She was joined by supporters at Thursday's news conference, where some said she was fired because the politicians didn't like her opinion. 

"It took less than 48 hours for York Region to fire Katherine at the request of politicians, who thought it was OK to interfere in personnel matters. Since when do politicians get to fire municipal workers?" said Krista Laing, the chair of CUPE Ontario Municipal Workers. 

Grzejszczak could be in limbo for years: union

Mary Unan, a spokesperson for CUPE, told CBC Toronto on Thursday that the union filed a grievance on Grzejszczak's behalf earlier this month seeking to reinstate her role and claiming wrongful termination.

Unan said the union had a meeting with York Region last week, which had until Tuesday to respond but denied the grievance.

Unan said the union will now begin arbitration with the region, but that could take years – leaving Grzejszczak in limbo.

Grzejszczak said she wants to understand what role politicians played in her termination. 

"I expect that through the arbitration process, when we get disclosure of all of the documents related to my termination, that we will have a better sense of what role was played by those politicians and the decision to terminate," she said at the news conference. 

An employment lawyer said York Region has every right to discipline or dismiss an employee who violates its internal policies, and terminations based on employees' comments on personal social media accounts are very common.

"People's behaviour on social media is not immune from workplace consequences," said Daniel Lublin, who has represented Jewish members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in Canadian Human Rights Tribunal complaints against their union over what the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has called "the union's ongoing one-sided advocacy concerning the Israel-Hamas war."

"Employers have the right to discipline or dismiss employees for what happens on their own personal time on their own social media accounts," Lublin said.

Public safety is of 'utmost importance': region

A spokesperson for York Region did not answer whether Grzejszczak violated a specific policy or specify how her posts could affect public safety.

"Maintaining public safety and confidence is of utmost importance to York Region," Patrick Casey said in a statement Thursday. "York Region remains committed to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities, as affirmed by the Inclusion Charter for York Region."

"We remain committed to a welcoming and inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and where everyone can develop to their full potential," said Casey.