The Ontario government is taking action at Conestoga College after an audit revealed significant issues with financial and governance management. The province assures that regular college operations will keep running smoothly, ensuring no disruption for students, staff, faculty, programs, or services.
In light of the findings from the audit concerning serious financial and governance mismanagement at Conestoga College, the government is dismissing the Board of Governors from their roles and has appointed Linda Franklin as Administrator for Conestoga College, effective immediately.
“Our government’s record-setting funding for colleges must be used to drive student success; anything less is completely unacceptable,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Under the administrator’s oversight, I expect that responsible fiscal decision-making will return to Conestoga College, setting the college on the right path to producing the graduates Ontario needs.”
Ms. Franklin will collaborate closely with Conestoga’s interim president, leadership team and staff to refocus efforts on student success while restoring financial responsibility and proper governance within the institution. This step follows a comprehensive audit that uncovered numerous inappropriate financial decisions made without adequate oversight by members of the college’s Board.
Among these decisions was the board’s approval of a staggering 55 per cent salary hike bringing a former president’s pay to over $636,000 in 2024. Additionally, this individual received a termination payment amounting to 83 times their monthly salary when regulations only allow up to 24 months’ compensation under the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act. The audit also highlighted a $23,000 trip to Italy taken by three senior leaders along with other similar excursions where business class flights and luxury accommodations were covered by school funds. Moreover, various ineligible hospitality expenses were approved without proper scrutiny-including a $1,300 dining bill for internal staff where half of it was spent on alcohol.
This trend of reckless decision-making has caused significant turmoil for students, staff and the local community-resulting in more than 500 job losses-one of the largest layoffs seen in Ontario’s college sector thus far.
With Ms. Franklin overseeing operations at Conestoga College moving forward, normal activities will persist uninterrupted. Students, staff and faculty won’t experience any service disruptions and can continue accessing all standard programs and services. Franklin will act instead of Conestoga’s Board of Governors while providing accountable and transparent guidance alongside developing plans aimed at restoring sound fiscal practices and effective governance.
Franklin comes with extensive experience in postsecondary leadership having served as president and CEO of Colleges Ontario-the association representing Ontario’s 24 public colleges-for over 15 years.
