Will Ontario parents lose their say in local schools?

On Tuesday, September 2^nd, 2025, Ontario students will return to classrooms under an uneasy shadow. The provincial government has placed five major school boards under the control of appointed supervisors, leaving: parents, teachers, trustees, and students uncertain about the future of education in this province.

The affected boards include the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB). With elected trustees sidelined, critics argue that democracy in education has been quietly dismantled.

One of the loudest voices of concern is Gregory Tomchyshyn of CitizenGo, who has launched a petition urging Education Minister Paul Calandra and Premier Doug Ford to restore democratic governance in schools. CitizenGo, an international advocacy network, describes its mission as “Defending life, family, and freedom across the world.” According to the group, nearly 19 million citizens worldwide have joined its campaigns.

Tomchyshyn’s petition, launched on July 28^th, 2025, frames the government’s move as an attack on civil rights. “Now decisions on education are being made by government supervisors instead of people you can actually hold directly accountable,” he writes. “Parents, families, and citizens have lost one of the only ways they can shape what happens inside their schools.”

The petition warns that this shift is not temporary. “If we stay quiet,” Tomchyshyn cautions, “Both public and publicly funded Catholic schools will be run by unaccountable insiders with no way for you to push back.”

Tomchyshyn argues that trustees play a vital role in public education. As the most local form of representation, they understand what is happening inside schools more closely than provincial politicians. “Trustees are our representatives at the lowest level of politics,” he explains. “They reflect the voice of families in their community. Their job is to ensure kids learn what matters most while keeping schools accountable to local priorities.”

He worries that replacing trustees with government-appointed supervisors cuts communities out of decision-making. “The boards are now run by government supervisors making all the critical decisions regarding your child’s school without public accountability,” he emphasizes.

According to Tomchyshyn, the loss of trustees means:

• Local knowledge disappears. Trustees live in the communities they serve, which makes them better equipped to understand the unique needs of each school.
• Accessibility vanishes. Parents can call or meet with trustees far more easily than with provincial politicians.
• Checks and balances weaken. Without elected trustees, communities lose their ability to challenge or redirect decisions that impact classrooms.

The result, he argues, is top-down control where the Ministry of Education dictates policy without local input.

While critics of school boards sometimes complain about inefficiency, or bureaucracy, Tomchyshyn stresses that the solution should not be to strip communities of their rights. Instead, he believes the provincial takeover sets a dangerous precedent. If these five boards remain under government control, more boards could follow.

“This isn’t just politics,” he warns. “It’s your children’s future, hijacked by bureaucrats.”

Tomchyshyn’s petition is gaining traction, but whether the government will respond remains unclear. For parents, teachers, and students heading into the 2025–2026 school year, the reality is that decisions about their schools are no longer in local hands.

Supporters of CitizenGo’s campaign say restoring trustees is about defending communities’ right to have a say in how children are educated.

Anyone interested in learning more about the petition can visit citizengo.org