School board trustees still running for election despite having their power stripped

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board elections are happening in October, but those elected might find themselves with significantly less authority than previous trustees once they take office.

In June 2025, Ontario's education minister appointed Robert Plamondon as supervisor of the OCDSB, transferring control over governance, decision-making, financial management, and policy implementation to his office. The move came after the board reported financial deficits for three consecutive fiscal years and depleted all reserves — totalling $5.9 million — by 2023 and 2024.

The election must proceed because the supervision could be lifted at any point, according to current trustee Lyra Evans. "If elections were not held, you would not have a group of trustees to step into that role," she said. But trustee candidate Brandon Ray called it "a terrible decision," noting that while he and other community members would represent their zones, actual decision-making is being run from Toronto rather than by the community itself.

Ontario's opposition leader John Fraser criticized the broader approach, saying the Ford government has taken over eight school boards and is trying to run everything from Queen's Park. "There are 5,000 schools in Ontario, 2 million students, 72 boards. It won't work. It's never worked," he said.

The province has not yet provided comment on the October election timing or the conditions under which Plamondon's supervision might end.