Kitchener MPP demands accountability for Catholic trustees’ choices, spending

A Kitchener MPP is asking the Education Minister to step in and demand accountability from trustees with a Waterloo Catholic school board.

In the Ontario legislature, a Kitchener MPP has taken aim at Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s (WCDSB) trustees.

Aislinn Clancy, the Green Party’s deputy leader, demanded more accountability for trustees and publicly asked the education minister to step in.

“Queer advocacy groups, Indigenous and ally community members, concerned staff and students came together to stand up against hate,” said Clancy, during question period on Tuesday.

After many meetings of debate, a WCDSB motion was defeated Monday night which would have banned identity-based flags, including the Pride flag, at local Catholic schools.

This comes after a substantial amount of resources was spent on legal fees.

“So I ask the minister, will you intervene and stop these trustees who are wasting time and taxpayer dollars fighting about what books should be in libraries and what flags should be on poles?” Clancy said at Queen’s Park.

Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged Clancy’s concerns.

“School boards should be put on notice. If you don’t start putting parents, teachers and students first, then I will do it for you,” said Calandra.

The request for accountability comes after she said data received from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed an alarming amount of money spent on in-fighting between trustees.

“The board has spent over $200,000 in the past two years to silence opposing trustees,” said Clancy during question period.

During an interview with CTV News on Wednesday, Clancy reiterated her concerns.

“To see $200,000 being spent on legal fees for malicious code of conduct inquiries, is really troubling,” said Clancy. “So we saw a trustee, for example, recently, who was kept from voting, kept from attending meetings, from speaking up. She was reinstated by a judge and attended this meeting when the vote took place.”

Clancy said that money should’ve been invested in students’ education rather than to divide the community.

The $201,080.83 during the two-year span does not include money spent on security for these heated meetings.

“That’s what troubles me most, is to see this divisive American style of politics where there is an effort to overtake things like school boards and small municipalities,” said Clancy.

Clancy, who previously worked for the Catholic board as a social worker, said this has been difficult, but said feels heard by Minister Calandra. She hopes he stays true to his word.

“Politics has no place in schools. At all. Unless you’re teaching politics, politics should not be in a school,” said Calandra at Queen’s Park.

CTV News did reach out to the Catholic board to give staff and trustees an opportunity to respond to concerns from Clancy. No statement or interview was given before deadline.