A former Ontario premier criticizes Education Minister’s move to oust school board trustees
Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has raised concerns about Education Minister Paul Calandra’s decision to appoint supervisors at five Ontario school boards, citing alleged mismanagement. Calandra defended his actions by pointing to what he called questionable expenses made by Toronto Catholic District School Board chair Markus de Domenico, which he views as indicative of the need for governance reforms within school boards.
Wynne, a former trustee and Minister of Education, suspects a broader political motive behind these moves. In an interview with 680 NewsRadio, she expressed her belief that the minister’s agenda may involve centralizing control over school real estate and limiting the influence of local politicians in policy-making.
Calandra has indicated his reluctance to return supervision of the boards to trustees, even contemplating the elimination of the trustee position altogether. This proposal has drawn criticism from Wynne, who argues that local school trustees play a unique role that cannot be replicated by Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs).
Meanwhile, some Toronto-area trustees have accused Calandra of double standards, pointing out alleged questionable expenses on his part, including funds spent on events like pancake breakfasts and community barbecues. They argue that such resources could be better allocated to the education system.
In response, the Education Minister’s office reaffirmed its confidence in the scrutiny of Calandra’s expenses.