OttawaAs the board bans livestreaming, Robert Plamondon says his job is to communicate directly with staff and parents, not to explain himself to journalists.Robert Plamondon says it’s ‘not my job’ to explain his policies to the pressCameron Mahler · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 11:16 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoRobert Plamondon, the provincially appointed supervisor of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, told a committee Wednesday that it’s ‘not my mandate’ to speak to media. (Cameron Mahler/CBC)The man appointed to supervise the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) says his job is to communicate directly with staff and parents, not to speak to the media.Robert Plamondon, who was appointed by Ontario’s education minister to oversee the board due to alleged financial mismanagement, has consistently declined to be interviewed, but he did attend a parent involvement committee meeting Wednesday night.He spoke briefly at the end of the meeting, telling committee members that it’s “not my mandate” to speak to journalists.”The official spokesperson for this board is the minister of education and the ministry,” he told the committee.Plamondon promised to be “in listening mode” as supervisor, and said he’s consulted with teachers, principals, parents and students since his appointment in June. He said he continues to receive “hundreds of very constructive suggestions” through a public email account. Plamondon also outlined his top four priorities for the board: student success, staff engagement, responsible spending and financial sustainability.Trustee Donna Blackburn, despite having no formal role on the board while it’s under provincial supervision, also attended Wednesday night’s meeting.She said she’s unimpressed with the board’s direction under Plamondon’s supervision.”I think supervisor Plamondon gave a really good political speech and told everybody in the room what they wanted to hear,” Blackburn told CBC. “But sadly, we haven’t seen any action on his part other than undoing decisions that a democratically elected body made last year.”The province appointed Plamondon to supervise the OCDSB in June, following allegations of financial mismanagement by the elected board. (CBC)’We lose our transparency’The vice-chair of the committee asked reporters not to record Wednesday’s public meeting due to privacy concerns, citing OCDSB policy rather than any law prohibiting recording.Blackburn said parents are frustrated by the new restrictions, including a ban on livestreaming public meetings.”If he’s doing such a great job, why wouldn’t [he] want to do a media interview?” she asked.The OCDSB’s special education advisory committee was among the bodies whose meetings were livestreamed. At a meeting last week, concerned parent Cathy Varette began livestreaming the meeting, but was told she wasn’t allowed.”If we don’t fight this, we lose our transparency,” Varette said. “Our transparency and our ability to participate has been taken away by the province, so that’s why I had to come, and that’s why I had to livestream.”Varette said she was eventually told she could resume recording the meeting, however a board spokesperson confirmed to CBC that livestreaming any meeting, either by the media or by members of the public, is banned.A ministry spokesperson clarified that media will not be prevented from recording board meetings, and said the new protocol only concerns livestreaming.The OCDSB is one of five Ontario school boards placed under provincial supervision.ABOUT THE AUTHORCameron is a journalist with CBC News. He’s worked with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo covering local news, municipal councils, and both the 2025 provincial and federal elections. Cameron also interned with CBC Toronto’s Enterprise Unit, helping to cover elements of the Greenbelt controversy. Contact Cameron with story ideas at cameron.mahler@cbc.ca. Follow Cameron on X @cam_mahlerWith files from Arthur White-Crummey
OCDSB supervisor refusing to speak to media as public meetings go offline
