Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said last week that he was leaning toward major changes in school board governance—possibly removing most roles currently held by elected trustees.
Speaking in Ottawa, where he announced more than $160 million in funding for new school construction and expansions, Calandra said he was unconvinced trustees were necessary to administer a $43-billion education system.
He noted that constitutional protections ensure trustees remain in place for Catholic and French boards, but English public trustees hold no such guarantees, adding that he had the power to eliminate those positions with “the strike of a pen.”
His comments drew swift criticism from opposition parties and education advocates, who argued that removing trustees would weaken community oversight, reduce parent representation, and place vulnerable students—especially those with special needs—at greater risk of losing essential support.