A Haldimand school board trustee could be removed from their position after refusing to repay $12k following Italy trip

Ontario’s Education Minister says he’s prepared to introduce new legislation to remove a Haldimand county catholic school board trustee from his seat if that trustee doesn’t pay back the money he owes from a lavish trip to Italy last year.

The ministry says trustee Mark Watson has not repaid the $12,370 he owes to the board, after he and three other trustees took a trip to Italy last summer to buy religious art for classrooms and racked up a bill of $130,000.

The MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk, Bobbi Ann Brady, is also calling on the ministry to direct the school board to withhold Watson’s honorarium.

Currently, the ministry is unable to “fire” the trustee, as he is an elected official.

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“Traveling all the way to Italy, using public funds to purchase artwork. Tax dollars were spent so that four trustees could enjoy fine wine and dining at a Michelin star restaurant. this is simply unacceptable,” Paul Calandra, the Minister of Education said.

Back in April, the Ministry of Education ordered the trustees to pay back their travel expenses, for the board to recoup the total funds spent on the art, and to submit a new plan to govern their finances.

A report from the ministry also shows trustee Watson had repaid a total of $1,216.71 by March 6 and had agreed to continue making payments until May of 2028, when the total $12,370 is paid. 

“I hope that we get to the bottom of this. I hope this is a wake up call to other trustees across the province to say ‘don’t change policy and try and pull one over on the tax payer, because you will get caught,” says Bobbi Ann Brady. 

CHCH News has reached out to trustee Watson and has not received a response.

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