Langara College instructor reinstated after arbitration ruling, then steps down

A former instructor at Langara College who described the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel as an “amazing, brilliant offensive” was reinstated following an arbitration ruling — but later resigned from her position.

Natalie Knight’s employment was terminated in January 2024 after remarks she made during a public speech at the Vancouver Art Gallery were circulated online. In the video, Knight praised the Oct. 7 attack during a rally and identified herself as a member of a group called United in Struggle.

The dismissal prompted a grievance from the Langara Faculty Association, backed by the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C. (FPSE), which represents instructors at post-secondary institutions across the province.

In a decision issued Nov. 19, arbitrator Randy Noonan ruled that Langara had failed to strike a proportionate balance between workplace expectations and the protections afforded to instructors under collective agreements and Canadian law. He ordered that Knight be reinstated retroactively, with compensation for lost wages.

The arbitrator acknowledged that Knight’s comments were offensive to many but concluded they did not provide sufficient legal grounds for dismissal. He found that the college’s response escalated after public controversy rather than being based solely on employment-related conduct.

Following her reinstatement in January, Knight attended another pro-Palestinian rally where she publicly stated she had done nothing wrong. Langara later argued that this conduct violated expectations laid out when she returned to work and further damaged the employment relationship.

Despite the arbitration ruling, Langara confirmed that Knight resigned from her position shortly after being reinstated. The FPSE also confirmed her resignation.

The federation described the arbitrator’s ruling as a significant affirmation of freedom of expression and academic freedom in post-secondary institutions.

FPSE executive director Michael Conlon said the case was not about endorsing Knight’s views, but about whether her speech was legally protected.

“You can strongly disagree with what was said and still defend the principle that academic staff have the right to express political views without fear of losing their jobs,” he said.

The case drew sharp criticism from Jewish organizations and community leaders, who had earlier welcomed Knight’s dismissal and said her comments contributed to an unsafe environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

Former B.C. post-secondary education minister Selina Robinson had also publicly criticized Langara for allowing Knight to remain employed at the time. The arbitrator found that political commentary did not directly influence the college’s termination decision, though he noted the situation was mishandled in public communications.

Knight declined to comment directly on her resignation but, in a statement released through the FPSE, thanked those who supported her grievance and said she hopes the ruling will protect others who express solidarity with Palestinians.

The arbitration decision stands, even as the employment relationship itself has come to an end.