‘Cheese slipped off the cracker’: Ford rips Ontario school trustees for Italy trip

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is ripping into a radical of schoolhouse trustees who are nether occurrence for expensing a $145,000 summertime Italy trip.

On Friday, Ford took purpose astatine the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) trustees, who person vowed to repay their expenses aft quality of their sojourn surfaced earlier this month.

“The food slipped disconnected the cracker with these guys,” Ford said.

“Like, I conscionable don’t get it.”

The BHNCDSB has been nether occurrence pursuing an Oct. 15 study successful the Brantford Expositor that revealed 4 trustees went connected a $45,000 week-long travel to Italy successful July to bargain $100,000 worthy of artwork for a caller precocious schoolhouse nether operation successful Brantford, which is adjacent Hamilton.

Rick Petrella, seat of the BHNCDSB, told the Expositor the artwork, which includes life-sized, hand-painted woody statues of St. Padre Pio and the Virgin Mary, was portion of a program to marque the caller schoolhouse a “flagship” instauration for the board. It is acceptable to unfastened successful September 2026.

The trustees travelled to South Tyrol, an country known for producing spiritual creation since the 1500s, the Expositor reported. Artists determination person supplied enactment to the Pope successful the past, the outlet indicated.

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Petrella issued an apology past week, and said successful a followup missive posted connected the board’s website Tuesday that the radical of trustees is committed to “making things right.”

He besides claimed respective donors are “very interested” successful footing the $100,000 measure for artwork it commissioned.

After Ford went disconnected connected those trustees, helium past targeted the Thames Valley District School Board, which besides made headlines past period for a $38,444.92 summertime retreat successful Toronto.

The interest for the retreat successful Toronto included transportation, a enactment astatine the Blue Jays stadium hotel, gathering spaces and nutrient expenses.

Both trips are being investigated by the Ministry of Education.

“We’re pouring wealth into the schoolhouse boards and they’re retired partying and acting similar a clump of yahoos,” Ford said.

“Unacceptable. You’re elected. You person to respect the taxpayer’s money.”