School board halts all travel to U.S.

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This article was published 12/03/2025 (239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon School Division board of trustees has passed a motion suspending all student and staff travel to the United States, as well as the booking of future travel, citing concerns over the ongoing Canada-United States trade war and safety risks.

The motion, introduced during Monday evening’s board meeting, passed with a 6-3 vote.

It was moved by vice-chair Duncan Ross and seconded by trustee Jim Murray. An extended back-and-forth debate ended when trustee Kim Fallis moved to stop further discussion and called for a vote.

Those in favour included board chair Linda Ross, vice-chair Ross and trustees Murray, Fallis, Lorraine McConnell and Kirk Carr.

Trustees Calistus Ekenna, Blaine Foley and Breeanna Sieklicki opposed the measure.

Ross, in introducing the motion, expressed strong opposition to U.S. policies under the Trump administration.

“The Trump administration is intent on destroying the economy of our nation and annexing our country,” he told the board. “I believe that all Canadians have a duty to respond as best they can to protect Canada.”

Ross also cited safety concerns, mentioning deteriorating human rights protections and potential health risks such as measles outbreaks and the possibility of a bird flu epidemic in the U.S.

“We cannot, in good conscience, support the U.S. economy when the U.S. is intent on destroying ours,” he said.

Murray agreed with Ross and said the trade war that was started by the U.S. has incited raw nerves on both sides of the border.

“Trump has a hatred for Canada, or at least a desire to annex it … I cannot, in good faith, put our staff or our students at risk of being targets of name-calling, belittling, intimidation, shaming, or even outright physical harm,” he said.

McConnell emphasized the difficulty in assessing risk given the evolving U.S. policies.

“I don’t feel that we as a board can make assessments and provide for the safety and well-being of the people that we are here to protect,” she said in support of the motion.

Fallis also supported the motion, adding Trump and his followers have been “inciting hatred” for other individuals who may not fit into the mould they expect.

“I would not want our students to go to the States and, you know, someone finding out not only that they’re Canadian but also find out that they’re a member of the LGBTQ-plus community,” she said. “We’re putting those individuals’ safety at great risk. It has been known for years and years in the States and sometimes in Canada, that individuals have been murdered just trying to be who they are, and I will not, in good faith, put any child, any student, in that situation.”

However, opposing trustees raised concerns over the wording and necessity of the motion. Sieklicki argued that the decision should not be linked solely to trade tensions.

“It’s sad that it takes a trade war for us to decide that our money should be spent in Canada,” she said. “We should have been Canadian proud before all of a sudden, trade wars started getting thrown here and there.”

Ekenna questioned whether the board was qualified to assess risks.

“I understand some of the perspectives shared by other trustees, but I don’t think we’re in that position to make assessments of risk. Some people are more equipped to do that,” he said, also challenging the phrase “suspended until further notice.”

He described the decision to suspend all school-related travel to the United States as “completely wrong,” adding while the board members hold different views, clarity was necessary regarding the issue.

“We want our dollars to be spent in Canada, but to say that now, even before anything was coming up, even before summer, that we suspend every activity going to the U.S. for our students is completely wrong,” Ekenna said. “But we all have our views, and I think that has been expressed.”

He explained passing such motion would affect student programs, such as those at the International Peace Garden where students stay for about four days, receiving one-on-one training on their musical instruments and learning about values, hard work and discipline.

“I volunteered at the Peace Garden with students who go there twice or three times a year because that program is tied to their curriculum,” he told the Sun after the meeting. “We can support locally made goods, but why should we deprive students of educational experiences?”

Foley did not provide any remarks on the motion before the vote.

While Ekenna debated amending the motion to specify that it applies only to staff, Ross insisted that it remain unchanged, stating, “I don’t want to support the U.S. in any way, whether it be staff, students, whatever. I’m happy with the motion the way it is.”

Chair Linda Ross closed the discussion by underscoring the board’s responsibility to protect students. “I would not send my children to the States right now. I cannot, in good conscience, allow the students at the Brandon School Division to visit that country.”

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