With the Federal Election quickly approaching, elected officials will be our voice on key issues. Here are some important questions to ask candidates to understand their stance on issues that affect Catholic education in Canada.

• Education: With news recently that schools in Ontario are poised to strike, how will your party work with provincial governments to ensure a vibrant school system?

• Post-Secondary: Tuition is on the rise and it seems like more students are struggling to get by.  How will you support our high school students looking to further their education at a post-secondary institution?

• Environment: The faith community also cares deeply about how we steward the environment.  What are your respective parties committing to, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet?

Read more: 6 Essential Questions for Election Candidates

 The CCSTA would like to officially welcome and introduce our new President Paula Scott and our new Vice President Patrick Daly. They took office in June 2019 at the CCSTA’s Annual General Meeting.

President Scott was a teacher for many years before becoming a trustee in Saskatchewan — the province that created the Toonies for Tuition Trophy Challenge, and was the winner every year up until 2018.

“Being from a province with funded Catholic education, I understand the gift of educating our students in faith,” she says. “Toonies for Tuition gives students that gift in provinces where they wouldn’t have the opportunity otherwise. It gives hope to families, which is so important to all of us as Catholics.”

President Scott has always been a staunch defender of Catholic education in Canada and believes that having a national voice is very important.

Read more: CCSTA Welcomes New President & Vice President

As the 2019-2020 school year begins, the CCSTA would like to welcome back new and returning students and staff. We hope everyone had an amazing summer full of friends, family, and love.  

As our classrooms are once again full of smiles, laughs, and learning, it’s important to reflect on how lucky we are in Canada — especially in those provinces that have publicly funded Catholic Education readily available. We should never take it for granted.

Read more: Welcome back!