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The province has appointed an administrator to oversee the operations at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ont., after finding “evidence of serious financial and governance mismanagement” at the school.
Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn announced the move Thursday. It also means the board of governors have been relieved of their duties “effective immediately.”
“Our government’s record-setting funding for colleges must be used to drive student success; anything less is completely unacceptable,” Quinn said in a media release.
“Under the administrator’s oversight, I expect that responsible fiscal decision-making will return to Conestoga College, setting the college on the right path to producing the graduates Ontario needs.”
Linda Franklin, the retired CEO of Colleges Ontario and who has chaired and served on several public sector boards, has been named the administrator for Conestoga College.
In an email to students, staff and faculty, interim college president Norma McDonald Ewing said they were informed of the move Thursday afternoon.
“This decision follows a ministry-led audit that raised serious concerns about the board’s ability to ensure strong governance, fiscal accountability and a sustainable future that is focused on student success at Conestoga College,” McDonald Ewing wrote.
“I want to reassure our entire community that Conestoga’s day‑to‑day operations will continue as normal. Students, faculty, and staff should expect no disruption to programs, services, or supports.”
‘Numerous egregious financial decisions’
The province said the audit revealed “numerous egregious financial decisions” which “lacked appropriate oversight” by the college’s board members.
Those included:
Approval of a 55 per cent salary increase to over $636,000 in 2024 for former president John Tibbits.Termination payment for Tibbits “that totalled 83 times the president’s monthly salary.”A $23,000 trip to Italy taken by three senior leaders, and other similar trips, where the school paid for business class airfare, luxury accommodations and premium transportation.Repeated, ineligible hospitality expenses were approved without proper oversight, including a $1,300 dining expense for internal staff, where 50 per cent of the pre-tax total was alcohol.
“This pattern of irresponsible decision making has led to upheaval for students, staff and the local community, including the layoff of more than 500 employees, one of the largest layoffs in Ontario’s college sector to date,” the ministry said.
Tibbits was expected to remain on as president of Conestoga College until this upcoming December, but abruptly retired in January.
Union rep calls allegations ‘downright criminal’
Vikki Poirier, president of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 238, the union that represents support staff at Conestoga College, said the revelations about finances are “downright criminal.”
“I’m furious that when I see this information,” she said. “I’d like to see this audit. Where is this audit? How do we access it? How do we look it over?”
She said they had no idea the audit was happening or that the province was planning this move.
“It’s embarrassing and extremely disrespectful in the capacity of our roles with the college. We’re supposed to have a good labour relationship, but we have been kept in the dark while our bargaining units have been decimated. It’s disgusting,” she said.
Leopold Koff is president of local 237 OPSEU/SEFPO, the union representing faculty at the college, and is in Toronto for meetings this week. He said the news went through the room quickly.
“It was a shock,” he said of hearing the news. “The first part about the money, then the next part about the administrator being assigned. And so basically we’re all kind of thinking here as a meeting that is this the first domino?”
He says he’s concerned what appointing an administrator will mean for Conestoga and he hopes he and Poirier can meet with Franklin as soon as possible.
Koff said he can’t imagine how students are feeling in this moment.
“They are going to be in shock and I’m sure the students are going to be extremely nervous and their families will be nervous as to what is their future, considering what this could mean,” he said.
In a message to students, Poirier said, “I’m so sorry that this is how you are entering into your post secondary journey. This is not how it should be.”
Listen to CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition on Friday at 7:50 a.m. to hear more from Leopold Koff and Vikki Poirier about this news.