Ontario’s Minister of Education, Jill Dunlop, has announced that she will be conducting audits of discretionary spending by all school boards in the province following reports of extravagant trips taken by board officials. This announcement comes after news of expensive trips to locations such as Hawaii, Italy, Toronto, and St. Catharines by school board officials, raising concerns about how taxpayer money is being spent.
Dunlop expressed shock and disappointment at the misuse of funds meant for teachers and student supports, calling the spending appalling. She revealed that Premier Doug Ford had ordered her to start the audits immediately. The audits will investigate instances such as a $32,000 trip to Hawaii by the Lambton Kent District School Board, a $50,000 trip to Italy by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, and a $38,000 retreat to Toronto by the Thames Valley District School Board.
The school board trustees involved in the Italy art-buying trip have agreed to reimburse the $50,000 spent on the trip, which included lavish accommodations and fine dining. Premier Ford expressed his disapproval of the spending, calling it unacceptable and directing the Minister of Education to conduct audits on the school boards.
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association has stated that they are committed to transparency and accountability and will work with the province to prioritize resources that benefit students. The NDP education critic, Chandra Pasma, has raised concerns about the lack of details regarding the audits and the government’s follow-through on addressing the situation. They will continue to monitor the situation and push for appropriate action to be taken.
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