Concerns Grow Over Provincial Control of Local School Boards

The leader of the union for elementary teachers at Ottawa’s English public school board warns that the province’s current bargaining approach could jeopardize the city’s unique status.

Brian Le Sage, president of the Ottawa Carleton Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, represents about 3,500 members who work within the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and are getting ready to return to class.

However, with the school year fast approaching, negotiations between education unions and the province have hit a snag.

Discussions have been stalled over what topics should be handled at a central level versus what should remain local, according to union representatives.

They mentioned that significant issues usually get addressed at the provincial level, but Ontario’s government seems eager to alter that practice.

“I was frankly shocked to see the list of things the government wants to take over centrally,” said Le Sage.

“It’s obvious that they want to almost completely strip power away from local boards, which is consistent with what they’ve done in stripping power from trustees.”

‘Zero faith’ in Queen’s Park controlling Ottawa staffing

This is where Le Sage draws his unicorn analogy.

He cited staffing as an example of something typically negotiated between boards and local unions.

Posting job openings and transferring teachers among schools is particularly vital in Canada’s capital where bilingualism and access to French instruction are key factors, he noted.

“We are really a unicorn in the province,” Le Sage stated, adding that Toronto bureaucrats wouldn’t necessarily grasp Ottawa’s specific educational needs.

“I have zero faith in the ability of Queens Park to be able to staff Ottawa schools in a way that our parents and our community would want them to be staffed,” he expressed.

Brian Le Sage is the president of the Ottawa Carleton Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, which speaks on behalf of roughly 3,500 members who work in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). (Courtesy Brian Le Sage)

Minister says schools will open ‘as usual’

The Education Minister Paul Calandra brushed aside those worries during a press conference on Thursday.

He acknowledged there’s a “bit of an impasse” regarding what should be negotiated centrally but insisted “this is certainly not new.”

“You can’t negotiate wages; you can’t negotiate classroom sizes if you don’t know exactly what you’re negotiating centrally and what you’re negotiating locally,” Calandra remarked.

The minister remains hopeful about reaching a negotiated settlement and added he’s confident “school[s] will open as usual.”

Education Minister Paul Calandra, left, told reporters on Aug. 20, 2026 he’s optimistic about negotiations and expects schools to open in September as usual. (Andrew Lupton/ )

NDP critic says province is looking for a ‘fight’

MPP Chandra Pasma from Ottawa West-Nepean took a different view last week regarding bargaining progress as NDP opposition critic.

“It’s really frustrating that here we are, mere weeks away from the start of the school year with no certainty, no timeline for negotiations,” she told CBC during an interview on Aug. 13.

Pasma feels Calandra sees this situation as “an opportunity to have a fight,” rather than focusing on achieving a fair agreement.

Chandra Pasma is MPP in Ottawa West-Nepean and the NDP’s education critic. (Submitted)

Le Sage commented that teachers aren’t typically confrontational but will stand up when necessary.

“If we can’t get the government to agree to do what needs to be done-funding schools or reducing class sizes-then teachers are going to have to take action,” he warned. “Education is too important; if we don’t do it.. no one else will.”

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