CCLA TAKES ON CATHOLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ISSUE

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association added nuclear fuel to an already roaring fire in Ontario’s recent religious school funding debate. The organization called for an end to the public funding of Catholic schools.

CCLA, which has long opposed the use of public funds to propagate religious faith, disputed an election proposal to extend such funding to all religious schools in Ontario. The Association garnered a list of high profile individuals to sign a joint coalition statement against this proposal. The statement was published as a full page advertisement in the Toronto Star.

A few days later, CCLA, acting on its own, sent the education minister a brief which outlined not only its objections to the funding of additional religious schools, but also its objections to the current public funding of Catholic schools. Such funding, the organization argued, could undermine the public schools, which serve an important integrative function in our society.

The media response was overwhelming. CCLA General Counsel Alan Borovoy and freedom of expression Project Director Noa Mendelsohn Aviv were interviewed by numerous newspapers, television and radio programs, and appeared in several live and on-camera debates. This action provoked a storm of controversy. For the CCLA response, please see www.ccla.org