Education (not a Municipal jurisdiction)...

I previously misunderstood how Catholic schools are funded in Ontario. They receive public funding through a combination of education property taxes collected by municipalities and a provincial funding formula that considers factors like student enrollment. This constitutionally protected system has been in place since 1867. Property owners can choose whether their education taxes go to the Catholic system or the public system, and if no choice is made, the taxes default to the public system.

I wasn’t aware this option existed because I don’t have kids in school. To me, contributing financially to the public education system is still contributing—until residents without children stop paying, it all feels the same (not advocating for btw). 

While I have my own beliefs about the separation of church and City (State)—which is completely separate from the education issue—I think the City should not fund religious charities, social services, or non-profits directly. Funds (grants) could instead go to a local society that decides how they are distributed (like homelessness and drug addiction rehabilitation programs for example).

Fortunately, education funding is a provincial responsibility, so it’s not within my purview nor will it be.

I also wasn’t aware of how Catholic school funding works outside Ontario. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, Catholic (or other separate) schools are publicly funded, often with similar protections allowing property owners to direct their taxes. In contrast, provinces like Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and British Columbia do not provide public funding for Catholic schools; religious schools there operate privately and rely on tuition and donations.

While I now understand Ontario’s system better, I’m still not entirely certain whether Catholic schools should receive public funding. They are religious, so is it fair to fund them and not the next dominant religious organization—whether it’s a Satanist school, a Scientology school, or another faith?

I can admit when I’ve made a mistake. Can our current Council members do the same about how they’ve voted on local issues? My guess is only during an election year, and even then, some will likely just try to distract. It’s one thing to make decisions; it’s another to be transparent and accountable when those decisions affect the community.

It’s a complex issue that deserves careful consideration, given its historical and constitutional context.