Ontario government takes over TDSB, three other school boards, citing 'mismanagement'

The Ontario government announced it will be appointing supervisors to oversee four school board districts in the province after an investigation raised concerns about the financial stability of the institutions. The affected boards are some of the largest in the province, including Toronto (TDSB), Toronto Catholic (TCDSB), Ottawa-Carleton (OCDSB) and Dufferin-Peel (DPCDSB). “Each of these boards has failed in its responsibilities to parents and students by losing sight of its core mission — ensuring student success,” Minister of Education Paul Calandra said in a news release Friday. The ministry’s press release said an investigation into the four school boards revealed “instances of mismanagement and poor decision-making that put its long-term financial health at risk.” The government said the TDSB has rejected nearly half of the cost-saving measures management has recommended over the past two years and the board relies heavily on proceeds from asset sales to balance its books. Toronto Catholic “is at risk of default in the coming years” after tripling its deficit, compared with the prior school year, the announcement reads. Meanwhile, Ottawa-Carleton “depleted its reserves, incurred an accumulated deficit,” the government wrote, noting that the board plans to offset the deficit “from asset sales to balance its books.” Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, meanwhile, is “at the brink of bankruptcy,” Calandra said. The audit of OCDSB and TDSB, according to the provincial government, was overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), while Deloitte conducted the investigation of TCDSB. Chandra Pasma, the education critic for the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP), condemned the move calling it “nothing short of a power grab.” Pasma blamed the Ford government which “has chronically underfunded our education system,” that will undermine the schooling of students. “Instead of fixing real issues — like the billions cut from education — the Ford government is playing political games with our kids’ futures. We need investments, not partisan appointments,” Pasma, the MPP representing Ottawa-West–Nepean, wrote on Bluesky. Calandra framed the announcement as a step toward financial propriety and a better long-term investment in local schools. “We’re strengthening oversight and accountability so that parents can have the confidence that every dollar is spent responsibly to directly benefit students. I have made it clear that if a school board veers off its mandate, I will take action to restore focus, rebuild trust and put students first.” In particular, the TDSB has found itself at a number of recent controversies, including over a push to rename schools bearing the names of historical — though sometimes-controversial — figures and allegations of rampant antisemitism in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. Calandra made the announcement on what is the last day of school at many boards across Ontario. Calandra signalled Friday that the takeover of more boards could be yet to come. “I think a broader rethink of the governance structure of boards is required,” he said. “This is an important first step, but it is certainly part of my thinking over the next little bit as well.” Calandra also announced Friday that he has paused several pending curriculum changes in order to bring more consistency and to give teachers more time to prepare. A new kindergarten curriculum with a focus on literacy, math and STEM was set to start this fall, as were changes to the history curriculum for Grades 7, 8 and 10. Teachers had previously complained about the timing of new curriculum announcements and rollouts, and the union representing high school teachers said Friday this pause is welcome. — With additional reporting by The Canadian Press

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