Education Minister Paul Calandra presented a bill on Monday aimed at dismissing a single school board trustee. The move is linked to a trip to Italy last year by four trustees from the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, during which they purchased $100,000 worth of art for the board, costing around $45,000 in total.
Calandra had previously stated that three of the trustees reimbursed their expenses, but the fourth trustee refused to do so. Consequently, the introduction of the legislation was a direct response to this refusal. “We gave the ultimatum to pay back or face termination, and today marks the fulfillment of that commitment,” Calandra remarked.
The expenses incurred during the Italy trip, totaling approximately $50,000 in travel expenses, were deemed by Calandra as excessive and unwarranted. The bill’s preamble highlights that the trustee in question has not repaid their portion of $12,370.
Under the proposed bill, Mark Watson would be removed from his position and prohibited from seeking a trustee role in any school board during the 2026 municipal elections. Additionally, he would be ineligible to serve as a trustee in any Ontario school board until 2030. Watson did not provide an immediate response to the request for comment.
Calandra’s targeted legislative action coincides with his contemplation of broader changes in board governance. He has placed five boards under government oversight due to what he described as “mismanagement,” with the possibility of additional boards facing similar measures.
The Education Minister is considering the permanent elimination of the trustee position after engaging with various stakeholders across the province. A decision on this matter is expected by the year’s end. Calandra emphasized the need for improved results in the education system, as voiced by parents and teachers throughout his engagements.