For immediate release:
November 27, 2024
Queen’s Park—Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady today stood to ask Premier Ford how he will be dealing with trustees from the Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board who travelled to Italy in July to purchase $100,000 in artwork and also spent $50,000 in travel and hotels and enjoyed a $1,600 dinner at a gourmet hotel and spa, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
“The Minister of Education announced in October that ministry officials had been asked to conduct a governance review of the trip,” Brady said. “Could the premier please detail what that governance review process looks like, how it’s unfolding and when taxpayers may be able to find out the findings of the review?”
Brady reminded the House that the majority of the artwork was purchased for a new ‘flagship’ school, St. Padre Pio under construction on Powerline Road in Brantford. Brady felt that a number of local artists would have been thrilled to provide art for the new school.
Brady informed the House that Rick Petrella, Chair of the Board, said the trip was an error in judgement; she pointed out that might be believable had the trip not come a month after the school board approved changes to its trustee expense policy — changes like a bump from economy class to business for travel outside North America, allowance of charges above the standard hotel room rate and the elimination of maximum rates for meals. She also mentioned the petition calling for the immediate resignation of Petrella, Dan Dignard, Bill Chopp and Mark Watson.
“Taxpayers deserve a review that is far more than a toothless tiger,” Brady responded. “It’s unacceptable, and it’s unconscionable that while parents are donating school supplies to their kids’ schools, four trustees are running around Italy spending money like drunken sailors,” Brady said.
Brady then asked if this government would pick up the phone, call the school board and tell these four trustees their service is no longer needed.
In place of Premier Ford, Billy Pang, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, responded with pat answers about funding and that school board trustees are responsible for those type of expenses and the government is investigating. No mention of updates on the situation, concrete sanctions, or dismissals.
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For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann Brady at [email protected] or 519-428-0446