The Ontario Education Minister, Paul Calandra, introduced legislation on Monday aimed explicitly at the removal of a single school board trustee, Mark Watson. This move is a direct result of Watson's refusal to reimburse expenses related to a controversial $45,000 trip taken by four trustees from the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to Italy last year. During this trip, they reportedly acquired approximately $100,000 worth of art for the school board.
Calandra has publicly stated that three of the trustees have returned their expenses, yet Watson has not complied. The minister issued an ultimatum, making it clear that failure to repay his share of $12,370 would lead to his dismissal. “We said, ‘pay it back or we fire you’ and today is the culmination of that promise,” Calandra declared as he unveiled the new legislation aimed specifically at Watson.
The education minister characterized the travel expenses incurred on the trip as “both excessive and unjustifiable,” asserting that the total costs associated with the trip were around $50,000. The bill not only seeks to remove Watson from his position but will also prevent him from running for any trustee role in the upcoming 2026 municipal elections. Additionally, if the legislation passes, he will be ineligible to serve as a trustee at any Ontario school board until 2030.
As the situation unfolds, Watson has yet to issue a public response to Calandra’s actions. Meanwhile, Carol Luciani, the chair of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, has expressed a commitment to cooperating fully with the Ontario Ministry of Education and adhering to applicable directives during this process.
This bill represents a pivotal moment as Calandra considers extensive reforms in school board governance. Currently, five school boards are under government supervision due to what the minister described as “mismanagement,” and he hinted that more boards may face similar scrutiny. Calandra has conveyed skepticism about returning these boards to trustee control, suggesting that he may also explore eliminating the trustee position altogether. He indicated that he would make definitive decisions regarding this matter by the end of the year.
Throughout the summer, Calandra has actively engaged with parents and teachers across the province, gathering feedback on educational standards and governance. His takeaway from these discussions has been a common demand for improvement in school board performance. “The results that we’re getting out of the school board aren’t what we expect. You can fix it. You can do better, and we expect better,” Calandra reiterated, emphasizing the urgency for change in the education system.
