• Political Tensions Rise After Ad Criticizing Toronto Catholic School Board Trustee
• Trustee Calls Sponsored Political Ad a “Hit Job” After Air Conditioning Dispute
Toronto — A social media advertisement sponsored by a Progressive Conservative riding association has sparked controversy after targeting a Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee over a dispute involving cooling plans at a new Etobicoke school.
The ad, promoted by the Etobicoke Centre Progressive Conservative riding association, amplified a social media post by Kinga Surma criticizing Markus de Domenico.
In the post, Surma accused the trustee of having a “history of dishonesty and mismanagement” related to the school board’s finances. The sponsored ad ran for approximately three weeks on social media platforms and generated thousands of views.
Dispute Over School Cooling System
The controversy stems from concerns raised by de Domenico about the cooling system planned for the new Buttonwood Hill Catholic elementary school currently under construction in Etobicoke.
The school, expected to open in 2027 and serve approximately 600 students, was initially set to include a traditional air-conditioning system. However, a decision by the board’s provincially appointed supervisor proposed replacing it with a modern in-floor cooling system.
De Domenico publicly raised concerns about the change, warning that students and staff could face uncomfortable classroom conditions without full air conditioning. His comments generated reactions from parents and members of the local community.
Following growing pressure, the Toronto Catholic District School Board later confirmed that the project would proceed with full air conditioning.
Trustee Criticizes Political Attack
De Domenico has strongly criticized the sponsored ad, describing it as a politically motivated attack filled with misinformation.
He said the accusations regarding financial mismanagement were incorrect and pointed to previous audits that found no serious wrongdoing in the board’s spending.
The trustee also said the situation was unfortunate because the focus should remain on improving school facilities and ensuring proper learning environments for students.
Political Reactions
The ad was reportedly promoted on social media with a modest advertising budget but reached between 12,000 and 18,000 viewers during its run.
The Etobicoke Centre Progressive Conservative riding association ended its paid promotion of the post shortly after media inquiries were made.
The incident highlights growing political tensions surrounding education governance and public school infrastructure decisions in Ontario, particularly as school boards and provincial officials continue to debate funding, facilities and oversight of education systems.