Ontario Takes First Step to Merge Public and Catholic School Boards

The following article appeared in the June 2023 edition of Critical Links, the monthly newsletter from the Centre for Inquiry Canada. 

Ontario Takes First Step to Merge Public and Catholic School Boards

Of course, the Conservative provincial government doesn’t describe its actions as a merger of the public and separate school systems. But with the introduction of Bill 98, section 195.1 gives the Ontario Education Minister the power to “direct two or more boards to enter into an arrangement” to share “use of a school site, part of a school site or other property of a board.”

This is a tacit admission that having a distinct Catholic school system leads to waste on a scale sufficient to warrant a legislative fix. The financial argument against a fully funded separate school system is compelling on its own: Ontario spends approximately $10 billion each year on Catholic schools, and could save $1.5 billion annually by having a single publicly funded school system for each official language. CFIC also objects to the separate school on ethical grounds: It is inherently discriminatory, violates secular principles, hampers students’ quality of life, and worsens educational outcomes. 

The Ontario government clearly understands that the status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable. Bill 98 is a small, tentative step in the right direction. Write to Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, and tell him the bill does not go far enough. When the province holds consultations in your community, ensure your voice is heard. Public and separate school boards should share not just their buildings, but also their curricula, oversight, and administration. The Ontario public and separate school systems should be merged.