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Ontario teachers to lose licence if found guilty of sexual touching

Ontario teachers found guilty of sexually touching a student will now automatically lose their licence. File / Getty Images

TORONTO – Ontario teachers found guilty of sexually touching a student will now automatically lose their licence.

The provincial government has amended the legislation that regulates teachers, broadening the scope of when their licenses must be revoked.

READ MORE: Toronto teacher charged in alleged sexual assault incidents at east-end high school

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Previously, the Ontario College of Teachers would only automatically revoke licences when members were found by the disciplinary committee to be guilty of certain types of sexual abuse: sexual intercourse, masturbation, and genital-to-genital, genital-to-anal, oral-to-genital, or oral-to-anal contact.

It also automatically revokes their licenses when teachers engage in acts involving child pornography.

READ MORE: Female teacher, 27, charged with sexually assaulting student in Mississauga

Tuesday’s amendment adds “touching of a sexual nature of the student’s genitals, anus, breasts or buttocks” to that list.

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A statement from the Ministry of Education says the legislation aligns standards for teachers with those for health professionals.

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