Ten OCDSB trustee candidates call for stricter lead limits in school water
Candidates running for seats on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board have co-signed a statement asking Ontario to adopt a federal guideline on lead in drinking water.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ottawacitizen.com.
Ten candidates running for seats on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board co-signed a statement on October 25, 2026 calling on Ontario to adopt a stricter federal standard for lead in drinking water at schools, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
The Ottawa Citizen, in an article by Abyssinia Abebe, reported that the group is asking Ontario to adopt Health Canada's guideline on lead in tap water, which they say would make drinking water in OCDSB schools safer for students and staff. The outlet reported that parents and trustee candidates have raised concerns about the amount of lead in tap water in various OCDSB schools.
The OCDSB is the largest English-language public school board in Ottawa, with trustees elected from 12 zones across the city. Trustee seats are on the ballot today alongside mayoral, city councillor, and other school board races. The candidates who signed the statement come from Zones 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12, representing nine of the board's 12 zones. Zone 9 is the only zone with two signatories on the statement.
The Ottawa Citizen reported their names: John MacRae (Zone 1), Daniel Pershick (Zone 3), Emily Quaile (Zone 4), Natasha Lynn Mott (Zone 5), Chris Durrant (Zone 6), Hilary Clauson and Scott Dutrisac (Zone 9), Keelin Pringnitz (Zone 10), Brendan Ray (Zone 11), and Cathy Varrette (Zone 12). Zone 9 has two signatories.
The statement was co-signed on October 25, 2026, the day before the municipal election. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the article was written by Abyssinia Abebe, a breaking news and general assignment reporter. The full article is behind a subscription paywall; the candidate names and the subject of the statement were available in the article's public metadata.
Today is election day. Ottawa voters choose OCDSB trustees, along with a mayor, 24 city councillors, and trustees for three other school boards. Polls are open until 8 p.m. Find candidates for your OCDSB zone at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates.
Questions this story answers
Which OCDSB trustee candidates signed the water safety statement?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that 10 candidates from nine zones co-signed the statement: John MacRae (Zone 1), Daniel Pershick (Zone 3), Emily Quaile (Zone 4), Natasha Lynn Mott (Zone 5), Chris Durrant (Zone 6), Hilary Clauson and Scott Dutrisac (Zone 9), Keelin Pringnitz (Zone 10), Brendan Ray (Zone 11), and Cathy Varrette (Zone 12).
What does the statement call for?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that the group is calling on the province of Ontario to adopt a stricter limit for lead in drinking water at schools. The statement asks Ontario to adopt the federal Health Canada guideline, which the candidates say would make drinking water in OCDSB schools safer for students and staff.
Why are OCDSB trustee candidates raising water safety before the election?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that parents and trustee candidates on the board have raised concerns about the safety of drinking water in various OCDSB schools, particularly around the amount of lead in tap water. The candidates co-signed the statement on October 25, 2026, the day before the municipal election.
What does Health Canada's guideline say about lead in school water?
The Ottawa Citizen reported that trustee candidates are calling on Ontario to adopt a federal guideline from Health Canada, which they say sets a stricter limit for lead in drinking water than the current provincial standard. The Citizen reported that candidates described adopting this guideline as making drinking water safer for students and faculty.
How many zones does the OCDSB have, and which ones are covered by the statement?
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has trustees elected from multiple zones. The Ottawa Citizen reported that 10 candidates from nine zones signed the statement: Zones 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are represented. Zone 9 has two signatories: Hilary Clauson and Scott Dutrisac.
How do I find out who is running for OCDSB trustee in my zone?
You can find candidates for each OCDSB zone on voche.me at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates. Today is election day, and polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 369 locations across Ottawa. Bring one piece of ID with your name and address.
Is the Ottawa Citizen article about the water statement paywalled?
Yes, the Ottawa Citizen's full article published on October 25, 2026 requires a subscription. The headline, description, and candidate names were available in the page's public metadata. The facts reported here come only from information available in that public data.
Who wrote the Ottawa Citizen article about OCDSB water safety?
The Ottawa Citizen reported the story was written by Abyssinia Abebe, a breaking news and general assignment reporter at the Ottawa Citizen. The article was published on October 25, 2026 at 10:03 p.m. ET.
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