An official government document contradicts the premier’s statement that Manitoba’s former teacher commissioner was fired.

“Bobbi Taillefer resigned as commissioner” of the office investigating inappropriate conduct by teachers on April 7, says the order-in-council, dated April 8 and now available online.

Education Minister Tracy Schmidt called it a resignation when speaking to the Winnipeg Free Press last week, but by Friday, Premier Wab Kinew told reporters Taillefer was fired, and Schmidt gave the former commissioner the opportunity to characterize her exit as a resignation.

The premier explained Taillefer was dismissed because she was spending some of her time working in Florida, which Kinew said he just learned about.

“We’re here, the kids are here, the teachers are here. The commissioner needs to be in Manitoba,” Kinew said at the time.

WATCH | How Premier Wab Kinew described Taillefer’s departure:

Manitoba cuts ties with education commissioner who worked from U.S.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew spoke with reporters Friday about the decision to go “in a different direction” and cut ties with Bobbi Taillefer, the province’s first teacher misconduct commissioner.

In a statement Tuesday, Taillefer said she voluntarily resigned. She added the premier’s insistence she was fired for working out of country is “blatantly false,” and that government officials knew long ago she was spending some time in the United States and had no issues with it.

She also said her contract contained no stipulations around her work location, which Schmidt confirmed to reporters on Tuesday.

Even still, Schmidt said Wednesday during question period the government is “dealing with a commissioner that needed to be dealt with.”

“It’s unfortunate the way that it’s played out in the media, but what we did, honourable Speaker, was in the best interest of Manitobans, and it was done to make sure that Manitoba kids are protected by a commissioner that lives and works in Manitoba. So sue me, OK?” Schmidt said, looking toward the Opposition Progressive Conservatives.

“The members opposite can get up and we can debate all day — it was a firing, it was a hiring, it was a termination. The fact of the matter is kids today in Manitoba are safer under this NDP government than they ever were under this failed PC mess of a joke.”

PCs want apology

The Tories had asked the NDP government to apologize to Taillefer and to Manitobans for characterizing Taillefer’s departure as a resignation.

The government’s order-in-council said Taillefer, a former educator turned teacher union executive, was appointed as commissioner on a five-year term, unless the contract was sooner revoked or extended.

Taillefer said Tuesday she signed a new contract with the province to provide transition support to the new commissioner until mid-July.

On Monday, the province announced veteran education bureaucrat David Yeo will serve in the role on an interim basis until a replacement is found.

The position was created to investigate reports of teacher misconduct made by the public, school boards or employers. The commissioner also issues penalties to teachers and produces disciplinary reports that are published online.