1. Publicly-funded separate schools violate democratic principles

Never, in the history of Ontario, has any government received a mandate from the people to retain or enlarge the publicly-funded separate school system.

Today, public opinion polls consistently show that an increasing number of Ontario citizens support one public school system. [See "School Referendum"]

2. Separate schools violate our rights

The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that the existence of a publicly-funded separate school system is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Also, Canada has signed, and has pledged to uphold, all articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a human rights document of the United Nations.

Article 26 of the Covenant ensures individuals equal treatment and prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion.

Civil Rights in Public Education takes the position that international law, which is binding on Canada, supersedes any discriminatroy provisions which may exist under the Canadian Constitution.

3. Duplicate systems increase total costs

A driving force behind the call to reform education in Ontario is a serious concern amongst the citizenry that the public school system is being diluted by the austerity measures adopted by the government.

The Ministry of Education admits that, each year, the extra costs of teaching one third of all Ontario students in separate facilities has reached over $200 million. All citizens share this extra cost through higher taxes or reduced social services. (Hospital services, for example.)

From 1985, to the end of 1993, the total cost of extending full funding to separate high schools, including new separate high schools, has cost Ontario taxpayers a total of $3,217 Billion!

THE SOLUTION

The Supreme Court has ruled that provinces have absolute authority over education and may legislate in this area as they see fit.

The province thus has the power to eliminate public funding to the separate school system by passing an Act to that effect in the Ontario Legislature.

Or, Ontario may choose to pass a bill to change the Constitution of Canada as it applies to Ontario.