Photo: CTV

Four fired members of the Vancouver School Board are demanding a retraction and an apology from British Columbia's education minister, saying he made defamatory statements about them.

Mike Bernier dismissed all nine board members on Oct. 17 after months of allegations of bullying cited by six senior managers who went on medical leave at the end of September.

The four trustees alleging defamation are with the reigning Vision Vancouver party, while another four are members of the Non-Partisan Association, and one is from the Green party.

The Vision trustees say in a statement that they've hired a defamation lawyer because the minister accused them of creating a toxic work environment.

Bernier was not immediately available for comment but has said he fired the entire board because of the result of an audit that deepened his concerns over the lack of a balanced budget.

The statement says the Vision trustees are also seeking an apology from BC School Superintendents Association president Sherry Elwood, saying she was the source of the bullying and intimidation allegations.