Ontario's Premier Accountability Dashboard · Queen's Park Watch
Martha George
Conestoga College (Board of Governors, former Chair)
Martha George served as Chair of the Conestoga College Board of Governors. As chair, she communicated the abrupt retirement of president John Tibbits to staff in January 2026. The board under her leadership approved a 55% salary increase for Tibbits in 2024 (raising his pay to $636,107) and a severance package of approximately $3 million — more than twice the legal limit under the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act. On May 7, 2026, the entire board, including George, was dismissed by the Ontario government following an audit finding "egregious financial decisions" that "lacked appropriate oversight."
Connected Scandals
Conestoga College's board approved a 55% salary hike for its president — pushing his pay to $636,000 — then handed him a $3 million exit package that was more than twice the legal limit. A provincial audit found a pattern of lavish spending including a $23,000 Italy trip for executives; on May 7, 2026, Ontario fired the entire board and appointed an administrator — the first time this has ever happened to an Ontario college.
As chair of Conestoga's board of governors, George presided over the approval of John Tibbits' 55% salary increase and the illegal $3 million severance package. She was dismissed along with the entire board on May 7, 2026, after a provincial audit found the board's decisions "lacked appropriate oversight."