$145K Italy trip ‘symbolic of deeper structural problems’ at Ontario school board: report
Global News
A $145,000 Italy trip by a group of Ontario school trustees is 'symbolic of deeper structural problems' within the school board, a new report finds.
A $145,000 Italy trip by a group of Ontario school trustees is “symbolic of deeper structural problems” within the school board.
That statement was made in the findings of a third-party review into the July 2024 trip by trustees of Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB), and released Wednesday as part of a group of reports into several school boards’ use of finances and resources.
The week-long $45,000 trip, which sparked intense scrutiny after reports of it surfaced in October, saw trustees buy $100,000 worth of artwork for a new high school under construction in Brantford, which is near Hamilton.
The costs incurred have since ballooned by $63,000 due to legal fees to manage the fallout, the government said Wednesday, bringing the total cost to $190,000.
“This review was prompted by intense public and media scrutiny around the four members of the board of Trustees’ trip to Italy, an event that quickly became symbolic of deeper structural problems within the BHNCDSB,” the report, authored by lawyer Aaron Shull, reads.
“While the Italy trip itself drew widespread criticism for questionable expenditures and insufficient oversight, the central finding of this review is that the board’s governance framework and practices are the core cause of the challenges facing the school board.
“In other words, the Italy trip was the symptom, structural governance practices were the cause.”
Shull’s review found what it called a “tale of two boards.” It read that the day-to-day operations of BHNCDSB were run “efficiently and positively” by an education director many interviewees praised.
Manitoba’s upcoming budget will include more child care funding and a smaller deficit, as the NDP government aims to balance finances by 2027.
A member of the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg has just been crowned the World's Strongest Firefighter, outlifting athletes from around the world.
Muslims across Canada are celebrating Eid al-Fitr while some reflect on conflict affecting loved ones abroad, as leaders highlight unity, charity and renewal.
The Iran war has raised the price of crude oil beyond US$110 per barrel in international markets, spurring affordability concerns in Canada and around the world.
The statement from Global Affairs Canada comes a day after U.S. intelligence leaders unanimously testified that reports denying foreign involvement should be retracted.
It may be the first day of spring, but Ontario’s long winter isn’t over, with more snow and icy conditions expected before a full warm-up arrives
The policy is something of a reversal from a government that killed a similar idea shortly after taking power. Back in 2019, the province said the policy would be unenforceable.
The recall states that 'the ovens in the ranges can experience a delayed ignition of the oven's bake burner, which can create a potential risk of burns.'
U.S. President Donald Trump is widening the cracks between the United States and European NATO members with his calls for allies to help him finish the war he started with Iran.
The legislation from U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker would launch a U.S. Trade Representative investigation into whether the Canadian law unfairly burdens American commerce.
The New York Islanders plan on moving their American Hockey League affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ont., for next season.
Mayor Michael Prue said Diageo appeared to lose steam in its attempts to quickly sell a facility in his town as soon as Doug Ford stood down his threat to ban Crown Royal.
Dillon Whitehawk has been found guilty of first degree murder in killing of Keenan Toto, but not guilty in killing of Jordan Denton.