Catholic Board Trustees: where do they stand?

School Magazine – 2019-01-21

School Magazine wanted to find out more about the trustees for Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). These people will oversee millions of dollars in spending and are responsible for hiring their boards’ Directors of Education. So, we thought it would be good to know a bit more about their views on important current issues.

We got some information from trustees’ campaign websites and asked these questions:

What is your view of the consultation process set up by the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the sexual education part of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum? It has expanded to include many aspects of curriculum.
Do you believe that the Ministry of Education should resume the curriculum writing team for Aboriginal peoples’ history as specified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
What is your position on the Ministry of Education “pause” put on Parents Reaching Out (PRO) money for local school councils to hold information nights? (Note: this is the $1 000 per school for which local parent councils could apply to help them hold information nights about any number of topics like succeeding in school, homework, Mathematics and so on.)

Note: By the time of publication, it was announced that pause on PRO grants was lifted, though it wasn’t yet clear if it had been fully restored.

The Campaign Life Coalition lobby

Before going any further, something must be said about the efforts of the Campaign Life Coalition to put its stamp on trustee election candidates. This is a well-funded social conservative group that is virulent in its attacks on ideas more liberal than strict adherence to Catholic and anti-abortion dogma. Press officer Matthew Wojciechowski says that the lobby group is entirely funded by its “grass-roots” though money does come from Catholic dioceses to help fund its annual March for Life. However, according to a 2017 iPolitics article, Scarborough-Guildwood Liberal MP John McKay directed grants totalling $5 600 to Campaign Life between 2014 and 2016.

According to its website, Campaign Life is strictly anti-abortion, for nearly any reason, staunchly opposed to gay marriage and LGBTQ people in general whose existence is dismissed as the “result of attachment disorder with the same-sex parent in combination with having a shy, introspective temperament.”

Campaign Life opposed the Liberal government’s 2012 Bill 13 whose purpose was to reduce bullying in schools. Despite reams of material about reporting, handling, and training teachers to improve school climate, Campaign Life didn’t like it. This was because the bill required schools to permit Gay Straight Alliances, something it saw as “hubs for homosexual activism.” Among other complaints, it also contended that the “bill expects teachers to promote the concept of gender fluidity as early as kindergarten…” This was based on a section of the bill requiring school boards to put forward an “equity and inclusive education policy.” There was no mention in it of teaching kindergarten kids about gender fluidity.

The group regards trustees as the bulwark against the 2015 Health and Physical Education “homosexualist curriculum” claiming that schools “push condoms onto kids” and that many of them have “on-site condom machines.” Spokespersons for both the Toronto District and Toronto District Catholic Boards denied that such machines were in any of its schools.

Campaign for Life put out a very different questionnaire from School Magazine for trustee candidates. It rates their answers and/or voting and church attendance record on stoplight scale. Green means, candidates have its blessing, yellow means Campaign Life isn’t sure and red, means don’t vote for this candidate:

Campaign Life’s Questionnaire:

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an infection that is transmitted through sex. Will you therefore oppose HPV vaccination in schools because it sends the message to students, teachers and parents that obedience to Church teaching on abstinence before marriage is neither expected nor necessary?

Will you work to ensure that educational materials that enter the premises of Catholic schools (e.g., library resources, curriculum texts, awareness campaigns, flyers) and all approved school activities are consistent with and do not undermine the morality and teachings of the Church?

Will you work to ensure that Catholic schools do not invite guest speakers who have publicly expressed positions that contradict the morality and teaching of the Church, no matter how great their achievements in politics, business, sports, science or the arts?

Will you personally uphold and work toward the public promotion of total fidelity to the faith and moral teachings of the Catholic Church? (Current examples include the illicitness of abortion, contraception and homosexual practice)

Will you actively promote and defend the teaching of Catholic doctrine, the importance of prayer and a regular sacramental life?

Will you work against any attempt to expand the sex-ed program in the Catholic Schools which is contrary to Church teaching, such as the one which included oral sex, masturbation and homosexuality, recently offered by the Ministry?

Will you work to ensure that your Catholic school board enacts a policy requiring all agents and employees of the board to uphold the rights of custodial parents to direct and control the education of, and any medical treatment provided to, their dependent children attending its schools?

Are there any circumstances under which you believe a woman should have access to abortion*? (*Note: a surgical or medical intervention designed to prevent the death of the mother but which results in the unintended and undesired death of the pre-born child, is not an abortion)

Here’s what we learned about your trustees elected to the Toronto Catholic District School Board:

Ward 1 Joseph Martino- Incumbent (City Ward 1)

Joseph Martino was re-elected to his position during the October elections. He didn’t respond to our questionnaire.

According to a Toronto Star article from 2008, Mr. Martino was involved in a dispute with the Toronto Catholic board that year over expenses. He paid back $1,783 he received for expenses considered to be ineligible including tax software, dry cleaning, shoe repair and car washes.

The Campaign Life Coalition gives him the red light as far as its retrograde criteria is concerned, citing him for not attending Mass and refusing to answer the questionnaire we noted above.

City Ward 1 has a population of about 118 000 with people new to the country making up about 58 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 10 percent and average household income is roughly $73 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 2 Markus de Domenico (City Ward 2)

Mr. de Domenico told School Magazine that the constituents in his ward were in favour of a reviewing the 2015 sexual education curriculum, but it should have stayed in place until the review was completed. As far as the cancellation of the Truth and Reconciliation curriculum writing team is concerned, he couldn’t find the information on the thinking behind it. He added that while a new government might want to review its policies, programs like this should stay in place until a new plan is developed.

On the so-called pause on grants for parent council information nights, Mr. de Domenico said that they had provided a good return for not much money, especially in light of the problems some schools have with raising funds. He believes the money should be reinstated while the government reviews the program.

In other areas Mr. de Domenico stands for expanding funding for special needs students, ensuring a safe learning environment and retaining full funding for Catholic school across the province.

Campaign Life gave him the green light to manage the affairs of local Catholic schools. He supported repealing the 2015 sexual education curriculum and agreed to uphold “moral teachings of the Catholic Church” such as opposition to” abortion, contraception and homosexual practice.”

Update: Mr de Demenico wrote to say that he supported “Gay Straight Alliance Clubs – in High Schools. My fundamental belief is that Catholic Schools need to be compassionate, loving and accepting of all.”

Ward 2 (City Ward 2) has a population of about 118 000 with people new to the country making up about 41 percent of this. The unemployment rate is about 7 percent and average household income is roughly $128 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 3 Ida Li Preti (City Ward 7)

Ms. Li Preti campaigned on a platform of keeping education dollars in the classroom, safe schools, transparency with the TCDSB and preserving programs like before and after school care and those promoting nutrition.

As far as School Magazine’s questionnaire is concerned, she sidestepped the specific question about returning to the 2015 sexual education curriculum commenting that the provincial government should focus on math and literacy. She supported bringing back the writing team to finish its work on aboriginal history. She didn’t quite come out and say the Ford government should just restore the money for parent engagement, but did say it was important and that there is a “solution to every obstacle.”

Campaign Life gave her a “yellow light” even though she didn’t respond to its questionnaire on Catholic values.

Ward 3 (City Ward 7) has a population of about 108 000 with people new to the country making up about 58 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 10 percent and average household income is roughly $65 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 4 Teresa Lubinski (City Wards 3 and 4)

Ms. Lubinski did not get back to School Magazine about the questions above but on her campaign website, presented herself as a fresh face to counter the “stagnancy at the TCDSB.” Aside from supporting the International Languages programs and improved facilities, she promoted her Catholic background and business experience as reasons to vote for her.

Campaign Life gave her a bright green light since she answered all of its questions perfectly, agreeing that she would oppose HPV vaccination in school because this sends the message it’s not necessary to obey Catholic Church teaching on abstinence before marriage.

Ward 4 consists of city wards 3 and 4:

City Ward 3 has a population of about 129 000 with people new to the country making up about 58 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 11 percent and average household income is roughly $105 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 4 has a population of about 109 000 with people new to the country making up about 32 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 7 percent and average household income is roughly $100 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 5 Maria Rizzo – Incumbent (City Wards 6, 8, 18)

A long-time trustee with the Toronto Catholic Board, Maria Rizzo was elected chair of the TCDSB at its inaugural meeting on December 4, 2018.

Her answers to our questionnaire, were short and to-the-point. She said that the Ministry of Education should return to the 2015 sexual education curriculum and reinstate the writing team developing an aboriginal peoples’ history. She referred to the “pause” on money for local school councils to hold information nights

as “irresponsible and abhorrent.”

Campaign Life Coalition certainly doesn’t like her religious positions much, saying that she was “not supportable” because she “voted in a manner that had the effect of undermining Catholic doctrine and moral teaching.” It cites her “terrible voting record” as evidence of this undermining though it didn’t print her responses to the questionnaire.

Ward 5 consists of city wards 6, 8 and 18:

City Ward 6 has a population of about 104 000 with people new to the country making up about 56 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 8 percent and average household income is roughly $87 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 8 has a population of about 114 000 with people new to the country making up about 39 percent of thisnumber. The unemployment rate is about 8 percent and average household income is roughly $162 000 per year compared to $102 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 18 has a population of about 119 000 with people new to the country making up about 61 percent of thisnumber. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $87 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 6 Frank d’Amico – Incumbent (City Ward 9)

Mr. d’Amico responded to School Magazine’s enquiry saying that he believed that the Ministry of Education and Training should not return to the 2015 curriculum. This position hasn’t endeared him to Campaign Life however, which posted a red light beside his name, claiming that he “missed most of the crucial votes which aimed to protect Catholic Teaching …” and “ cannot be relied upon to defend Catholic school against ongoing attacks by secular forces.” Because of that, Campaign Life didn’t post Mr. d’Amico’s responses to its survey.

According to the Globe and Mail, in 2011, Mr. d’Amico apologized for remarks made in an email to a social work student about undocumented immigrants seeking education for their child: “If you want to live in Canada, take our Canadian jobs, use our Social Programs and Health Care,,,I strongly suggest becoming a citizen. I am forwarding your concern to the RCMP and Immigration Canada.”

Mr. d’Amico believes in more funding for programmes to “enhance and promote indigenous peoples’ history and their contributions to Ontario and Canada.” He also supports funding for the Parent reaching Out Program. He also thinks that there should be more after-school fitness, homework and social clubs since this would give parents more time to pick up their kids after school and reduce the need for busing as well as traffic jams near schools during pick-up and drop-off times.

City Ward 9 has a population of about 108 000 with people new to the country making up about 41 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 7 percent and average household income is roughly $81 000 per year compared to $102 000 for the rest of Toronto.

Ward 7 Mike del Grande – Incumbent (City Wards 21 and 22)

Mr. del Grande cites his management background and knowledge of the classroom as important strengths, noting that he helped to reduce expenses and avoid cost overruns. He got a green light from Campaign Life for agreeing to work against expanding the sexual education program in Catholic schools to include topics like masturbation and homosexuality.

As far as our questionnaire was concerned, Mr. del Grande said that the 2015 curriculum should be revamped and agreed that the writing team for aboriginal studies should be restored. He also said that, while the provincial government needs to deal with the deficit, changes to programs like Parents Reaching Out “need lead times to adjust.” He commented too, that the school system has become too “teacher oriented”; that it needs to “come back to students first.”

Ward 7 is made up of City Wards 21 and 22:

City Ward 21 has a population of about 113 000 with people new to the country making up about 56 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $71 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 2) has a population of about 105 000 with people new to the country making up about 69 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 10 percent and average household income is roughly $76 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 8 Gary Tanuan – Incumbent (City Wards 23 and 24)

Mr. Tanuan didn’t respond to the questions we sent him, but on his campaign website, said that he worked tirelessly “with faithful stakeholders to form well-nurtured Catholic communities.” Campaign Life called him a “heroic defender of Catholic moral teaching in Catholic schools and obedient to the magisterium of the Catholic church.”

Such a strong endorsement was due to the fact that in 2013 Mr. Tanuan sponsored a motion to eliminate Gay Straight Alliances in TCDSB schools contravening Ontario’s Accepting Schools Act which said students could not be prevented from setting up a Gay Straight Alliance at any Ontario school.

Ward 8 is made up of City Wards 23 and 24

City Ward 23 has a population of about 99 000 with people new to the country making up about 67 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 10 percent and average household income is roughly $80 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 24 has a population of about 102 000 with people new to the country making up about 54 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 11 percent and average household income is roughly $72 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 9 Norm di Pasquale – Incumbent (City Wards 10, 11, 12, 13)

Mr. di Pasquale listed his past achievements as making it easier for parents to engage with their schools and community and improving safety for parents and students in their way to school. He supports the International Language program and seeking partnerships with public services.

In answer to School Magazine’s questionnaire, he said that the Ministry of Education should restore the 2015 Health and Physical Education curriculum because children need up to date information to protect themselves “in the online world” and from sexual abuse.

He supported a move to continue the Aboriginal peoples’ history writing group arguing that cancelling it “rolled back a promise by the Ontario government to teach all students about the legacy of residential schools and incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the provincial curriculum.”

He called the pause on Parent Reaching Out grants – “terrible news” for parents planning events to help create a sense of community and life skills learning at their local schools. He added a final comment: “I am honoured to be chosen by my fellow parents to represent Ward 9. I look forward to ensuring that Ward 9 is well organized, and that our Catholic community grows. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at norm@trusteenorm.ca”

Mr. di Pasquale did not answer Campaign Life’s questionnaire, but received a yellow cautionary light anyway.

Ward 9 consists of four city wards:

City Ward 10 has a population of about 116 000 with people new to the country making up about 35 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 5 percent and average household income is roughly $103 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 11 has a population of about 104 000 with people new to the country making up about 32 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 7 percent and average household income is roughly $171 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.

Ward 12 has a population of about 107 000 with people new to the country making up about 34 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 6 percent and average household income is roughly $155 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto. *

City Ward 13 has a population of about 104 000 with people new to the country making up about 40 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $75 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 10 Daniel di Giorgio (City Ward 5)

Mr. di Giorgio defeated chair of the TCDSB Barbara Poplawski. There was no campaign or contact information about him at the time of writing. He was given a yellow light by Campaign Life, which also had no information about him.

City Ward 5has a population of about 117 000 with people new to the country making up about 52 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $68 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 11 Angela Kennedy (City wards 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)

Ms. Kennedy is looking forward to hearing from parents about the Health in Physical education curriculum, but still thinks schools should stick with the one from 2015. She supports writing and including Aboriginal history.

Ms. Kennedy added, regarding the Parents Reaching Out grants, that pausing them doesn’t mean the end of the money, but “the beginning of parents engaging in their local school…”

She is currently working seat belts for school buses, identification badges for school staff, a communication plan for ratepayers and special education funding that matches the needs of students.

According to a 2016 article in Toronto Life, Ms. Kennedy opposed the 2015 sexual education curriculum and even led a campaign to put introduction of new material off for a year. She had a change of heart however, when her son revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child and asked her to reconsider her stance.

Though Campaign Life Coalition said she had “once been a heroic defender of the Catholic faith in the TCDSB”, it downgraded her to a yellow light because she changed her mind to support what it calls “Kathleen Wynne’s child-abusive, radical sex-ed curriculum.”

Ward 11, with five city wards, wins the Doug Ford prize for the most number of city wards stuffed into one school ward:

City Ward 14 has a population of about 107 000 with people new to the country making up about 31 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 7 percent and average household income is roughly $101 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 15 has a population of about 102 000 with people new to the country making up about 40 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 8 percent and average household income is roughly $216 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 16 has a population of about 95 000 with people new to the country making up about 53 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $81 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 17 has a population of about 110 000 with people new to the country making up about 63 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 9 percent and average household income is roughly $87 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

City Ward 19 has a population of about 109 000 with people new to the country making up about 32 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 8 percent and average household income is roughly $104 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

Ward 12 Nancy Crawford – Incumbent (City Wards 20 and 24)

Ms. Crawford didn’t reply to School Magazine’s questionnaire and there wasn’t any campaign information available. However, she does manage to get a red light from Campaign Life because she “repeatedly voted in a manner that had the effect of undermining Catholic doctrine and moral teaching.” Campaign Life didn’t post any answers she might have on its questionnaire, since it already decided she as “not reliable.”

Ward 12 consists of city wards 20 and 24

City Ward 20 has a population of about 110 000 with people new to the country making up about 46 percent of this number. The unemployment rate is about 10 percent and average household income is roughly $79 000 per year compared to $103 000 for the rest of Toronto.*

*Adapted from Statistics Canada, Census 2016, Available from the Toronto City Planning Website

If you’d like to get in touch with any of these trustees to ask them more about their views or if you have concerns about schools in the TCDSB, click here to find their contact information