Ontario education minister promises ‘significant change’ still coming to school boards
Global News
Education Minister Paul Calandra, however, said he won't use the notwithstanding clause if he moves to eliminate trustees in Ontario.
Ontario’s education minister insists “significant change” is coming to the province’s school boards — but says he is working on legislation that will not rely on the notwithstanding clause to abolish trustees.
Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park on Monday, Paul Calandra said he was preparing to table education reform in cabinet “very soon,” suggesting speculation he may back down in his fight with trustees was misguided.
“I know there’s been some hot rumours that change isn’t coming,” he said. “People should expect significant change to the education system going forward.”
Since taking over as education minister last year, Calandra has mused about the future of elected trustees in Ontario.
He’s taken direct control of eight school boards — including the Catholic and public boards in both Toronto and Peel Region — citing mismanagement and infighting among trustees.
The education minister has suggested he could eliminate English public board trustees “in one fell swoop” because they don’t have constitutional protections as afforded to both Catholic and French representatives.
Calandra had previously indicated in December 2025 that he would have his plan to reform school boards ready by early 2026.
“Any legislative process that you do — not just on school boards — goes through a constitutional lens first,” he told reporters on Monday.
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