After meeting with MPs from around the country across the span of two days, CCSTA is confident in its support from political representatives at the federal level.

On Oct. 30 and 31, CCSTA Board of Directors scheduled meetings with MPs to discuss Catholic education in Canada and its long-serving role since the country’s earliest days.

They met on Parliament Hill, followed by an open reception for networking.

“In my view, overall, the day was a huge success,” says CCSTA President Marino Gazzola. “We were very well received and had many very positive comments.”

The first meeting included a sit down with the Leader of the Opposition Party, Andrew Scheer. Scheer – who is a Catholic school graduate – reiterated his support to the system.

“Mr. Scheer was unequivocal in his support,” says CCSTA Executive Director Julian Hanlon. “He said if we ever need his backing, don’t hesitate to call.”

The following day, CCSTA hosted several meetings individually with MPs including Charlie Angus, Earl Dreeshen and Peter Fonseca.

Read more: CCSTA Lobby Day a Success

CCSTA Board of Directors are set to meet with key political players from across Canada this week, including the Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer.

Scheer was elected as the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada in May, 2017. This comes after serving as the youngest Speaker of the House of Commons in the country’s history. He was elected within the Regina—Qu'Appelle riding in Saskatchewan.

The CCSTA Board of Directors will sit down with him for a 20-minute discussion on Oct. 30 about the importance of Catholic education within the Canadian education system.

The following day, CCSTA Board of Directors will split up to meet with other MPs from across the country including:

• Earl Dreeshen, CPC MP (Alberta)
• Peter Fonseca, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Chandra Arya, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Lloyd Longfield, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Harold Albrecht, CPC MP (Ontario)
• Todd Doherty, CPC MP (British Columbia)
• Marco Mendicino, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Charlie Angus, NDP MP (Ontario)
• Terry Sheehan, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Francesco Sorbara, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Omar Alghabra, LIB MP (Ontario)
• Chris Bittle, LIB MP (Ontario)

  Read more: Key MPs Set to meet with CCSTA at Oct. 31 Lobby Day

CCSTA is saddened to hear of the passing a great promoter and leader of Catholic education, Fr. Mario D’Souza.

A member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Toronto, Fr. D’Souza made a wide and deep contribution to Catholic education, in particular to its philosophical underpinnings in contemporary culture.

Fr. D’Souza was born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1956, and moved to Canada as a young adult. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1991, celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination last year. He began teaching at St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology in 1991, and, other than his time at Assumption (Jan., 2005-Aug., 2006), the Faculty remained his home until his death. He held the Basilian Fathers Chair in Religion and Education, and was named a Fellow of St. Michael’s College in October of 2014. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Theology from 2009 to 2014.

He died peacefully at the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre on Sept. 26 after a brief illness.

Read more: A Tribute to Fr. Mario D’Souza