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Recent years have seen debate regarding the public funding of Catholic education, despite its longstanding history of academic excellence and contributions to Ontario society.
The notion that creating a single education system in Ontario would save money is unfounded. As amalgamation in the education, municipal and health-care sectors has demonstrated, bigger is not necessarily better or more efficient.
Funding in Ontario is based on per-pupil calculations. Amalgamation would not reduce the number of students – who would still require similar levels of teaching and support staff, classroom space and administrative support in the schools and board offices. Economies of scale have already been achieved, with Catholic and public boards co-operating in areas such as transportation, school financing, purchasing and energy management.
In fact, trying to amalgamate into a single system would cost more money – not to mention time – to sort out the complex details. It would also unleash a period of great upheaval for students, parents, teachers and administrators throughout the education system.
Catholic education is built on a strong foundation supported by parents, students, alumni, teachers, administrators, religious sisters and brothers, the clergy and the community. It is a proven success story. There is no justification for eliminating a system that is working so well.
Some contend it is unfair for only one faith to have publicly funded schools. Historically, Ontario’s Catholic education system was established to address the needs of Catholics, at that time a religious minority in this province. In 1867, the British North America Act guaranteed that all educational rights held by minorities at the time of Confederation would be constitutionally protected. Without this protection of denominational schools, Confederation would not have been achieved. The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld this pillar of our nation.
Whether other faiths should receive public education funding is a matter of public policy debate. Ontario governments throughout the history of the province have recognized not only the legal rights of the publicly funded Catholic education system to continue, but also the merits of keeping it in place.
The fact is, Catholic schools have maintained and enhanced their foundational place in Ontario’s public education system as it has evolved. It would be unfair to the Catholic community and the people of Ontario to dismantle a school system that has been an integral part of publicly funded education since 1841. It would also set a dangerous precedent for minority rights in Canada.
Catholic schools are fully or partially funded in six other Canadian provinces. Education is a provincial jurisdiction, and school governance in each province is unique – including Ontario, where the history, commitment and support for Catholic education are unlike any other province.