Following a recent Court of Queen’s Bench ruling that, if allowed to stand, would force about 10,000 non-Catholic students out of Catholic schools, CCSTA had made a statement on the Theodore Case decision.

“The Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association strongly believes an appeal in the Theodore case is warranted. While pleased that Premier Wall is invoking the not-withstanding clause to allow non Catholics to attend Catholic schools and receive funding, the SCSBA feels they have good grounds for an appeal. At this time they are waiting to see if the Saskatchewan government will appeal the ruling. If an appeal goes ahead CCSTA will in all likelihood seek intervenor status,” says Executive Director Julian Hanlon.

The CCSTA response is to an April 20 Court of Queen’s Bench ruling on a legal challenge by the Good Spirit School Division of Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools’ right to receive provincial funding for non-Catholic students.  The Court ruled that the government must stop funding non-minority faith students to attend separate schools.

The Background

In 2005, York School Division (now Good Spirit School Division #204 (GSSD)) filed a legal complaint against what is now Christ the Teacher Roman Catholic School Division #212 (CTRCSD) and the Government of Saskatchewan.

The complaint alleged that the creation of the new school division after the closure of Theodore Public School did not meet the criteria of being a separate school—serving Catholics who are the minority religion in the region. They alleged it was created merely as a means to prevent the school from closing and children being bussed to a nearby town, and they are challenging the legal status of the division.

Their argument was that per student grants paid to a Catholic school division for non-Catholic students is discriminatory against public schools under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

What does this mean? Essentially, that non-Catholic students attending a Catholic School shouldn’t be allowed to do so. Instead, the GSSD argued these students shouldn’t be allowed to choose whether they should attend a public or separate school; rather, the government should only allow these students one choice: the public system.

After years of attempting to reconcile this complaint, the case came before the provincial court.

The 12-week trial took place in Yorkton and started in November, 2015. Following a five-week trial, they re-convened in May, 2015 for another seven weeks (with breaks integrated throughout). When the trial wrapped up in mid-July, one thing was for sure: there was significant information presented from all three sides involved – the public school board (the plaintiff), the Catholic school board (the defence) and the provincial government (the defence).

Following the 12-week trial, the Judge, Justice Layh, had to review the 7,000 pages of transcripts as well as the submissions made by both the plaintiff and the defendants.

On April 20, the Court ruled that the government must stop funding non-minority faith students to attend separate schools.

SCSBA Set to Appeal

On April 28, the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association (SCSBA) announced that an appeal of the recent decision in the Theodore court case will be filed on behalf of Christ the Teacher School Division. The decision to appeal has been unanimously endorsed by all eight Catholic school boards in the province.

“The legal team representing Christ the Teacher School Division in this case has carefully reviewed the trial judge’s lengthy decision, and we believe that there are several strong grounds for appeal,” said SCSBA spokesperson Tom Fortosky.

The Government’s Response

On May 1, Premier Brad Wall announced the government will protect school choice in Saskatchewan by invoking the notwithstanding clause of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The move comes in response to a recent Court of Queen’s Bench ruling that, if allowed to stand, would force about 10,000 non-Catholic students out of Catholic schools.  The ruling could also risk provincial funding of 26 other faith-based schools including Luther College, Regina Christian School, Saskatoon Christian School and Huda School.

“We support school choice including public, separate and faith-based schools,” Wall said.  “We will defend school choice for students and parents.  By invoking the notwithstanding clause we are protecting the rights of parents and students to choose the schools that work best for their families, regardless of their religious faith.”

Section 33 of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives provincial legislatures the authority to override certain portions of the Charter for a five year term.  Invoking the notwithstanding clause requires an Act of the Legislative Assembly.

“I have asked the Ministers of Education and Justice to begin preparing legislation to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect choice in our school system,” Wall said.  “We wanted to announce this now to provide clarity and provide parents with the assurance that they will be able to continue to choose the kind of school they want their children to attend.”

To learn more about the court case, decision and next steps, visit the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association website.

Each year, keynote speakers approach the podium at the annual CCSTA AGM and Conference, and they provide inspirational talks that lead to discussions long past the weekend activities.

And this year’s AGM is no exception. Coming to the 2017 CCSTA AGM and Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario is His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

Cardinal Collins will speak at the conference where he’ll be emphasizing the role of leadership in Catholic education as a way of showing Christian discipleship.

“Catholic education helps us to see the purpose of life and to deal with the deep questions which challenge us during our life in this world which is so often filled with violence and a lack of love,” he says.

Cardinal Collins says the CCSTA Conference is a good way to connect.

“It is always important for Catholic educators and trustees to come together so that they may draw closer to the meaning of the Gospel, which is the foundation for Catholic education, and to share with one another their insights into the sacred mission of leadership in Catholic education,” he says.

Biography

Cardinal Collins’ biography outlines his commitment to the Church and for serving others.

He was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, and is the only son and the youngest of three siblings.

In 1969 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (in English) from St. Jerome College in Waterloo. In 1973 he obtained two degrees, a Master of Arts (in English) from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Theology from St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. That same year he was ordained to the priesthood on May 5, 1973 in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Hamilton, by the Most Reverend Paul Reding.

While studying in Rome, specializing in Sacred Scripture with special focus on the Book of Revelation, he received his Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Bible Institute in 1978 and a Doctorate in Theology from the Gregorian University in 1986.

After holding various academic appointments, he was named Coadjutor Bishop of Saint- Paul, Alberta in 1997, and became Bishop of Saint-Paul three months later. Two years later, on February 18, 1999, he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton, and installed as Archbishop of Edmonton in September, 1999. In 2001, he was named Apostolic Administrator of Saint-Paul, and served as Archbishop of Edmonton and Apostolic Administrator of Saint-Paul until he was named Archbishop of Toronto in December, 2006. He was installed as Archbishop of Toronto on January 30, 2007.

In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI announced that Archbishop Collins would be elevated to the College of Cardinals. He was created Cardinal on February 18, 2012 during the Consistory in Rome. Thomas Cardinal Collins is the fourth Cardinal in the history of the Archdiocese of Toronto and the 16th in the history of Canada.

Cardinal Collins has been a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) since being ordained Bishop on May 14, 1997. As Archbishop of Toronto he is an ex officio member of the CCCB Permanent Council, Chancellor of the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and Chancellor of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, also in Toronto. He is the Chair of the Board of Governors of St. Augustine’s Seminary, and Chair of the Board of Directors of Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, both of which are also in Toronto. In 2008, he was elected President of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario.

Cardinal Collins has served as a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, as well as being named by the Holy Father as a member of the 2010 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. He has assisted the Holy Father as an Apostolic Visitor in Ireland and is the Delegate of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for Anglicanorum Coetibus. He also serves on a committee of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy that assists in preparing English-language translations of liturgical texts.

Register for the AGM

Cardinal Collins is one of four keynote speakers set for this year’s AGM. We'll also be welcoming Msgr. Paul-André Durocher, Rev. J Mulligan, CSC, and Sister Marie-Paul Ross.

Registration for the CCSTA AGM closes on May 31, and so there’s still a chance to be a part of this exciting event. To learn more about the conference and to register, visit the CCSTA AGM and Conference webpage.

How does your school or parish plan to celebrate Catholic Education Week?

The 2017 CEW theme and its five sub-themes are drawn from three contemporary Catholic documents that address the need for reconciliation and renewal – in our lives, with our families, in our relationships with others and in our relationship with our environment and our common global future.

With that, we know that you've got some memorable plans to honour Catholic Education and we want to hear from you! Please include the #CCSTA hashtag when you post your good news pieces to Twitter. We'd love to share the inspirational ways you're celebrating this week.

Read more: How will you Celebrate Catholic Education Week?