Education Minister Paul Calandra introduced legislation on Monday aimed at addressing financial improprieties within the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. The bill focuses on the expenses incurred during a controversial $45,000 trip to Italy by four trustees, where $100,000 worth of art was purchased for the board.
Calandra emphasized that while three trustees had reimbursed their expenses, one trustee, Mark Watson, had not repaid his share of $12,370. As a result, the bill proposes removing Watson from his position and disqualifying him from running for trustee roles until 2030.
In a statement, Calandra expressed his commitment to holding trustees accountable for their actions, stating, “We said, ‘pay it back or we fire you,’ and today is the culmination of that promise.”
This move by Calandra reflects a broader effort to address governance issues within school boards across Ontario. With several boards already under government supervision, Calandra is exploring potential reforms, including the elimination of the trustee position entirely.