By Julie Mutis, CELA Community Outreach Worker
The Ontario Ministry of Education has appointed supervisors to manage the administration of five school boards, including four that rank among the worst in the province for lead in drinking water.
The province says this decision was made in response to “growing deficits, depleting reserves and ongoing cases of mismanagement,” in the selected boards. The provincial government has previously cited these issues in response to questions about the ongoing issue of lead in school drinking water, stating that school boards should be using the resources they have to address this issue.
Now that the province is in the driver’s seat, will we finally see action on reducing lead exposure in schools?
In March 2025, CELA released a report that outlined the ongoing presence of lead in school drinking water that exceeds the provincial limit. It called for the province to prioritize and fund the removal of lead infrastructure and strengthen the outdated rules and regulations for identifying and addressing problems.
Three of the school boards that have been appointed a provincial supervisor – Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board – reported the three highest numbers of lead exceedances among school boards in the province in 2023/24. A fourth, the Thames Valley District School Board, is also in the top ten.
There is no ‘safe’ level of lead. Even at very low levels of exposure, it can negatively impact children’s developing brains, including:
- Decreased IQ
- Decreased Attention Span
- Motor skill weaknesses
- Behavioural problems
Ontario cannot prepare children for the jobs of tomorrow if they refuse to protect their health today. Now that the province is in charge of how school board funding is spent, it is their responsibility to ensure that they prioritize clean water for Ontario children.
CELA has written to the Minister of Education, Hon. Paul Calandra, urging him to ensure that the newly appointed school board supervisors take fast and meaningful action to protect children from the potentially life-altering effects of lead exposure.
Concerned community members can learn more about what they can do to get lead out of schools here:
CELA Letter Regarding School Board Supervisors and Lead
Report: Time to get lead out of school drinking water
Infographic: How YOU can help get lead out of school drinking water
Blog: Ontario assumes responsibility for school boards with lead in drinking water – What will they do now?
By Julie Mutis, CELA Community Outreach Worker
The Ontario Ministry of Education has appointed supervisors to manage the administration of five school boards, including four that rank among the worst in the province for lead in drinking water.
The province says this decision was made in response to “growing deficits, depleting reserves and ongoing cases of mismanagement,” in the selected boards. The provincial government has previously cited these issues in response to questions about the ongoing issue of lead in school drinking water, stating that school boards should be using the resources they have to address this issue.
Now that the province is in the driver’s seat, will we finally see action on reducing lead exposure in schools?
In March 2025, CELA released a report that outlined the ongoing presence of lead in school drinking water that exceeds the provincial limit. It called for the province to prioritize and fund the removal of lead infrastructure and strengthen the outdated rules and regulations for identifying and addressing problems.
Three of the school boards that have been appointed a provincial supervisor – Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board – reported the three highest numbers of lead exceedances among school boards in the province in 2023/24. A fourth, the Thames Valley District School Board, is also in the top ten.
There is no ‘safe’ level of lead. Even at very low levels of exposure, it can negatively impact children’s developing brains, including:
Ontario cannot prepare children for the jobs of tomorrow if they refuse to protect their health today. Now that the province is in charge of how school board funding is spent, it is their responsibility to ensure that they prioritize clean water for Ontario children.
CELA has written to the Minister of Education, Hon. Paul Calandra, urging him to ensure that the newly appointed school board supervisors take fast and meaningful action to protect children from the potentially life-altering effects of lead exposure.
Concerned community members can learn more about what they can do to get lead out of schools here:
CELA Letter Regarding School Board Supervisors and Lead
Report: Time to get lead out of school drinking water
Infographic: How YOU can help get lead out of school drinking water
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