National· August 18, 2026 at 02:10 p.m.
Thinner Candidate Slate for School Trustees in Ontario's Provincially Supervised Boards
Key takeaways
- Number of school trustee candidates is lower in some Ontario boards
- Toronto District School Board has only 10 candidates for 24 positions
- Candidates are deterred by limited authority over local education decisions
In the upcoming municipal elections, the number of candidates running for school trustee positions in certain boards under provincial supervision is expected to be lower compared to previous years. This reduction is due to potential contenders being deterred by the prospect of assuming a role they may not be able to fully execute.
According to The Canadian Press, this situation arises from the Ontario government's decision to strip school boards of many powers and responsibilities, leaving trustees with limited authority over local education decisions.
One example is the Toronto District School Board, where only 10 candidates have registered for 24 positions. In comparison, in the 2018 election, there were 36 candidates vying for the same number of seats.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education stated that the changes aim to streamline decision-making and improve accountability, but critics argue that this could lead to a lack of local representation and expertise in education policy.
As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether more candidates will enter the race or if the trend of fewer contenders continues.
