"It was not my understanding that the prime minister was going to hold a press conference," she said. "I was shocked when that occurred."

Five weeks after the school visit, Trudeau was re-elected to lead a minority government. Liberal candidates swept all five local ridings.

Other boards including the Waterloo Catholic District School Board bar school visits by election candidates. The Catholic board says that "when elections are called, the school system must be seen not only as promoting but as acting in an ethical and impartial manner."

Board procedure states: "It is not appropriate ... to use students to deliver a political message home either during an election campaign or at any other time of the year. It is unethical to 'use students' in what are typically adult matters."

The Upper Grand District School Board in Guelph forbids the use of schools "for any election campaign-related purpose during an election period, unless the activity involves all candidates."

Public school boards in Toronto, Mississauga and York Region also ban campaign visits to schools.

As an exception, boards typically allow schools to host all-candidate debates during an election if all candidates are invited to attend.

It's proposed that public schools in this region would allow all-candidate meetings if two or more candidates can attend, and if the format allows equal opportunity for candidates to speak.

The proposed policy states: "This will afford students the opportunity to see a debate between at least two varying points of view. If only one candidate can attend, the event must be rescheduled or cancelled."

The proposed ban on school visits applies during municipal, provincial and federal election campaigns.

jouthit@therecord.com

Twitter: @OuthitRecord

jouthit@therecord.com

Twitter: @OuthitRecord