Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop sits at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, on May 28.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Ontario’s Education Minister questioned the fiscal responsibility of a Catholic school board that spent $145,000 to send four trustees on a trip to Italy to buy art, including religious statues, for a new high school that is being built.
Trustees at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board in Brantford reportedly expensed $45,000 for their July trip to northern Italy, where they purchased about $100,000 worth of sculptures and statues.
Education Minister Jill Dunlop said the board “not only failed students and parents, but the community with a serious lack of fiscal responsibility and judgment.“
“School boards are expected to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, whether in a deficit or surplus situation,” Ms. Dunlop said on Wednesday. “I take this issue seriously and I have asked my ministry to explore all options available to investigate this matter.”
This is the second time in a month that the province has had to step in and review school board expenses.
Just last month, Ms. Dunlop ordered an audit of the financial operations of the Thames Valley District School Board in London amid revelations that senior staff spent nearly $40,000 on a three-day planning retreat that included a hotel stay inside the Rogers Centre baseball stadium. The Blue Jays were playing at home during their stay. The board’s education director was put on a paid leave of absence, and a former director is serving in the interim.
The Thames Valley school board had made cuts to schools and programs to balance its budget.
At the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic board, chair Rick Petrella justified the travel expenses and artwork. He flew to Italy, along with three other trustees. The board has a total of six trustees.
“Our board, through many years of growth, sound fiscal planning and record surpluses, is in [a] strong fiscal position that allows us to reinvest in our schools by increasing teachers, support staff and capital projects while we maintain a balanced budget,” he said in an e-mail on Wednesday.
He said that the new St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School opening in September, 2026, is an “exciting project.”
“We feel these investments will be a testament to Catholic education in our community for many years to come,” he said.
Mr. Petrella declined an interview and referred to a news article this week in the Brantford Expositor. He said that the details of the trip and its purpose were outlined in the story.
“Our statements are reflected in the piece, along with the answers to any questions you may have,” Mr. Petrella said in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail.
According to the article, the artwork that was purchased included life-size, hand-painted wooden statues of St. Padre Pio and the Virgin Mary, a bust of Pope Francis and sculptures depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Mr. Petrella was quoted saying that “nothing stood out” when the board looked to buy a sculpture “off the shelf.” Sculptors invited trustees into their studios to finalize the designs, he said.
A month before the July trip, trustees at the board approved changes to its expenses policy. The changes included allowing trustees to fly business class “or higher” if travelling outside North America and the trip is more than six hours, with approval of the board chair. Previously, flight upgrades would have been considered a personal expense and not reimbursed.
Mr. Petrella did not respond when asked if he and other trustees flew business class.
Carlo Fortino, acting president for the local Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said public funding should be used to improve the learning environment of students and the board should re-examine its priorities.
“While investing in art can be valuable, it’s difficult to justify these optional expenses when basic and urgent needs in our schools are being overlooked,” he said.