HALDIMAND—Mark Watson, Haldimand County’s representative on the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB), resigned from his trustee seat amidst ongoing public scrutiny over funds spent by four trustees in 2024 for travel to Italy and the commissioning of art for new schools in Caledonia and Brantford.
The board announced the resignation on October 24, 2025 – four days after Minister of Education Paul Calandra introduced legislation to remove Watson from his seat.
In April, Calandra ordered the four participating trustees to pay back approximately $12,500 each, with Watson reported to have paid $1,216.71 at the time. Trustees Richard Petrella, Dan Dignard, and William Chopp have since paid their shares back in full.
Bill 57, Respect for Taxpayers Act (Haldimand County Trustee Vacancy), 2025 was introduced on October 20. An excerpt reads, “The Haldimand County (BHNCDSB trustee) office is deemed to be vacated on the day the Act comes into force, if the specified member, as defined, holds the office on that day.” The legislation would also have barred Watson from running in the 2026 municipal election or from filling a trustee vacancy in Ontario until after November 14, 2030.
Calandra criticized the trustees in a press release issued that same day: “We expect every school board to direct resources to the classroom, not on luxury trips and wasteful spending. Despite clear expectations communicated to the trustee and a repayment deadline set out in April, one of the four (BHNCDSB) trustees has failed to reimburse taxpayers for his share of a trip to Italy that amounted to approximately $50,000 in travel costs, an expense that was both excessive and unjustifiable.”
Calandra said Watson’s refusal to pay is “exactly why” the province is reviewing the school board governance model, “because too often trustees lose sight of their responsibility to students.”
BHNCDSB Communications and Community Relations Manager Tracey Austin declined a request to comment on the legislation ahead of Watson’s resignation, stating only, “The Board will comply with all directives set out by legislation and the Ministry of Education.”
BHNCDSB Board Chair Carol Luciani shared in a statement following the resignation, “We respect Trustee Watson’s decision to step down from the Board and will move forward, collaboratively, with a continued focus on teaching and learning, student wellbeing, and the strategic priorities that guide our Catholic school system.”
Watson’s resignation took effect Tuesday, October 28. The board was set to discuss how his seat will be filled at a meeting this week, after publication.
The Press contacted Watson for comment but did not receive a reply.
