A new twist in the ongoing spat between the Ford government and school board trustees. Education Minister Paul Calandra has been hammering school boards, accusing them of wasting money, but now it is his spending that is coming under scrutiny.

Trustees tell CityNews Calandra is using poor judgment when it comes to public funds, highlighting questionable expenses such as barbeques costing tens of thousands of dollars that could otherwise be spent in classrooms.

Since 2023, trustees cite $2,223 for pancake breakfasts and $11,863 for Santa Claus parade expenses. But the expense that is drawing the most criticism is a $23,000 community barbecue last year, an event that he holds annually.

“I do think he’s hypocritical,” says Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) trustee Maria Rizzo.

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