Ontario school boards record more deficits a year after supervisors sent in

Despite being placed under government-appointed supervisors for over a year, five major Ontario school boards have collectively posted significant budget deficits. This outcome challenges the narrative presented by Education Minister Paul Calandra, who in June 2025 removed elected trustees from the Toronto public, Toronto Catholic, Ottawa-Carleton, and Dufferin-Peel school boards, citing poor financial decisions and a failure to balance budgets.

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There are decisions that have been made in each of these boards, where they have chosen to avoid accountability. They’ve chosen not to bring their budgets into balance. Each board has a different challenge.

However, after a year of management by supervisors, all four boards, along with Thames Valley District School Board which has been under supervision for longer, are reporting deficits. The Toronto Catholic District School Board recorded the largest deficit at $39.5 million, only slightly better than the previous year's deficit overseen by trustees. Ottawa-Carleton reported a $3.5 million deficit, and Dufferin-Peel a $36.4 million deficit, despite claims of $3.4 million in savings.

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It just shows how the minister’s narrative about why he imposed supervisors has always been false. The supervisors have not eliminated the deficits even though many of them have made pretty significant cuts that will harm our kids.

Critics like Ontario NDP MPP Chandra Pasma argue that these continued deficits demonstrate the falsity of the government's claims about trustee mismanagement. Pasma contends that the supervisors have not eliminated the deficits and have implemented significant cuts that could negatively impact students. A spokesperson for the minister's office defended the supervisors, stating that nearly $150 million in savings have been identified across eight boards under provincial control, redirecting funds towards student achievement rather than non-essential expenses.

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Since supervisors were appointed, nearly $150 million in savings has been identified through responsible financial decisions that do not impact student learning in classrooms.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the provincial government and school boards regarding financial oversight and governance. The government's focus on school board governance since the 2025 election, coupled with the persistent deficits, raises questions about the effectiveness of the supervisory model and its impact on educational resources.

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This was always doomed to fail. This was never about properly managing our schools.