School board trustees in Pickering and Oshawa officially vacate seats because of residency rules

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Published September 7, 2022 at 3:27 pm

With just over six weeks before the municipal election, two Durham District School Board trustees have officially vacated their seats because of Education Act and Municipal Elections Act residency provisions.

At a Special Board Meeting held on Tuesday, the Durham District School Board confirmed the seats held by former Trustees Chris Braney and Michael Barrett have been vacated.

The vacancies were created by the residency provisions of the Education Act and the Municipal Elections Act which stipulate that, for eligibility purposes, a school board trustee may only have one residence at a time and that the residence must be in the school district they are serving.

Braney, who served one term as a Scarborough trustee in the 90s, has served as a Pickering trustee since 2006. Barrett, first elected in 2003, has served five terms as an Oshawa trustee. He is now running for a spot on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board school in Clarington.

“On behalf of the Durham District School Board, I would like to thank Chris Braney and Michael Barrett for their many years of service to students and families as school board trustees and former Chairs of the Board. We wish both of them well in their future endeavours,” said Carolyn Morton, Chair, Durham District School Board.

A report concerning next steps in relation to the two vacant seats will be brought forward to the next board meeting scheduled for Monday, September 19, though it is unlikely any action would occur with just six weeks to go before the election. There are 15 candidates vying for three seats in Oshawa and six candidates vying for two seats in Pickering.

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