McNaughton says TVDSB Trustees wrong to consider shifting balance of power to London

A power struggle at the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) threatens to inflame the urban-rural divide in the region.

A power struggle at the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) threatens to inflame the urban-rural divide in the region.

On March 22, the public school board will consider shifting its balance of power by stripping Middlesex County of its ‘Low Population Area’ status and shifting one of the county’s seats to the City of London.

“Six-six equitable distribution is extremely important,” argues Kelly Elliott, deputy mayor of Thames Centre. “What’s going to happen is the rural vote is automatically two votes behind (7-5).”

Currently, the board consists of 13 elected trustees representing:

Now a provincial cabinet minister whose riding overlaps part of the TVDSB’s territory is adding his voice.

“As the local MPP for a rural riding, this is totally unnecessary,” Labour Minister and MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex Monte McNaughton tells CTV News. “For 25 years the make-up of the board has been what it is.”