For immediate release
April 25, 2025
QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Bobbi Ann Brady is pleased Education Minister Paul Calandra has done right by ordering the Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) to repay the cost of a lavish July 2024 taxpayer-funded Italian junket undertaken by four Board members. In November 2024, Brady stood in the Legislative Assembly to ask Premier Ford how he planned to deal with the board members’ egregious misuse of taxpayer/education dollars.
“I originally questioned Premier Ford how he’ll be addressing this debacle,” Brady said. “I asked him to detail what the review process would look like and when taxpayers would find out the results of the review. Kudos to Minister Calandra for getting to the bottom of this and demanding payment for this insult to taxpayers.”
Ostensibly to purchase artwork, four trustees with the board racked up $190,000 in costs for a trip to Italy, based on a provincial governance review. That figure comprised $63,000 to manage the repercussions of the trip after it was originally uncovered by the Brantford Expositor. The board is to repay the cost of the trip plus the $100,000 cost of the art.
Last year, Brady was also disappointed instead of local artists, Italian artists were sourced to provide the art, which was destined for the new school, St. Padre Pio in Brantford. This was but one of the glaring so-called errors in judgement.
“Let’s not forget that Rick Petrella, Chair of the Board, said the trip was an error in judgement,” said Brady. “As I said at the time, 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. These people wanted to party hearty on taxpayer dollars.”
Brady further spoke about systemic problems in Ontario’s education system. She pointed out that our young people need funding directed where it will best serve their future needs and goals. Four rogue trustees jetting off to Italy gets a solid “F.”
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For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann Brady at [email protected] or 519-428-0446