---
title: "New OCDSB trustees will be sworn in November 16, but the oath gives them no governance powers"
description: "Ottawa Citizen reported the 12 OCDSB trustees-elect were invited to take an oath of allegiance November 16. Education Minister Paul Calandra says the oath does not restore their powers while the board is under provincial supervision."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ocdsb-trustees-no-powers-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-06T17:51:50.722Z"
---

The Ottawa Citizen reported Friday that the 12 newly elected OCDSB trustees were invited to take an oath of allegiance at the board office on November 16. Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said the swearing-in does not restore their governance powers, Ottawa Citizen reported.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has been under provincial supervision since June 27, 2025. CTV Ottawa reported the province placed the board under supervision after four straight deficit budgets, including a projected $9.2 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year. Under supervision, Robert Plamondon holds full authority over the board's governance, including budgets, policies and operations. Trustees were locked out of their email accounts and devices when supervision began.

After being sworn in November 16, the new trustees will have no vote, no pay, and no access to board email, Ottawa Citizen reported. Their only formal role will be to forward inquiries to the board's chief executive officer. They will be subject to the board's code of conduct once sworn in.

[Emily Quaile](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/emily-quaile), elected trustee for Zone 4 (Bay/Kitchissippi), called the province's position overreach and said she is not afraid, Ottawa Citizen reported. [Cathy Varrette](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/cathy-varrette), elected for Zone 12 (Beacon Hill-Cyrville/Orléans West-Innes), said she plans to hold unofficial town hall meetings so she can stay connected with her community, according to Ottawa Citizen.

There is no published timeline for when supervision might end. Ottawa Citizen reported the board's 2026-27 budget projects a $3.5 million deficit, down from a potential $18.5 million shortfall that the supervisor's financial plan helped avoid.

The OCDSB is Ottawa's largest school board, serving about 77,000 students at schools across the city.

Ottawa residents who voted for OCDSB trustees on October 26 can follow developments on the board's own site at ocdsb.ca, where agendas and meeting minutes are posted. Trustee pages for the newly elected OCDSB members are at voche.me, including pages for [Emily Quaile](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/emily-quaile) and [Cathy Varrette](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/cathy-varrette).

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