Controversial Niagara Catholic board trustee hit with sanctions

The Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) has relieved Natalie Benoit of all duties and roles as a trustee with the board until June 30, 2024.

Additionally, she has been barred from attending all future board and committee meetings until the end of this school year.

The move comes after the NCDSB was asked to consider a report that found Benoit had breached the board’s Code of Conduct policy.

The NCDSB made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, citing an almost unanimous vote in favour of the move, with the only exception being Trustee Joe Bruzzese.

Following the vote, trustees were tasked to determine a suitable sanction.

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A five-month suspension was presented, which received support from all members.

Another vote followed, which condemned Benoit’s actions and worked to disassociate the board from her actions and statements.

All members supported — except for Bruzzese, who abstained.

Benoit attended the meeting virtually and did not speak. She has 14 days to appeal the decision.

“While I am sorry that we had to go through this process, I believe we made the correct
decision,” said Chair Danny Di Lorenzo.

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Benoit first came under fire in May for comments made about Pride month celebrations being conducted by the board.

Following an announcement from the board that the Progress Pride flag would be flown during Pride month, Benoit and Niagara Falls trustee Joe Bruzzese put forward a motion to reverse the decision.

A video would soon surface online where Benoit answered a question posed about the board choosing to fly the flag where she could be heard saying ““Well, any flag at all … Like the Nazi flag, we don’t want that up either, right?”

With files from Joanna Petropoulos.