In Fall 2008, the Ontario government's ability to maintain and enhance a school system was tested as the economy suffered one of its most extreme downturns. This paper discusses the action adopted by the government. The unique measures undertaken by the government to lessen the impact of the economic crisis on students' learning is highlighted.

The province of Ontario, Canada, has always claimed a stellar system of education. Unfortunately, this claim has gradually lost its validity as funding has slipped with the associated slide of quality. No longer can the province claim to enable an education system second to none. The discussion in this article is based on the reality that an…

Over the years, the financial support given for operating Canadian schools has shifted from a community-based burden to a legislated provincial government responsibility. Between 1816 and 1846, the school system moved from a clerical operation to a publicly controlled operation. Provincial government monies were then made available, although not…

In Canada, the Provincial Ministries of Education had mandated that everyone financially support education through property taxes. The rate of support is tied to property ownership, whether or not a family has a child enrolled in the education system, or is being educated through home-schooling, private schooling, or by other allowable means. On…

This paper provides an update of the financial reforms that took effect in the province of Ontario for the 1998-99 year. During the 1998-99 school year, a student-focused funding model for the distribution of money to elementary and secondary education was introduced. The model was based on students' needs rather than the local community's wealth…

Because contemporary society accepts inequalities in income and social privilege, its tolerance for the varied and divergent educational consumption of its citizens is understandable. However, the acceptance of a dual educational system by parents, local authorities, and governments has implications for government involvement and educational…

A study examined effects of early retirement plans (ERP) at Canadian Universities. In response to current conditions within Canadian universities and a Canadian Supreme Court decision upholding mandatory retirement requirements, many universities have sought to encourage faculty retirement through ERPs. In order to study the cost of such programs,…

Following a summary of Canadian equity policies and of specific provisions made by Alberta, a statistical analysis of the impact of the existing funding mechanism leads to the conclusion that the alternative models of power equalizing and percentage equalizing would generally increase the level of equalization. (MJL)

As the amount of money available for various publicly supported enterprises decreases, the relationship of money to purchases made intensifies as a concern. This question of input to output always has been an economist's focus of concern. However, the production function analyses carried out have been inconclusive, as the output for educational…

In Canada, provincial support of school systems has shifted from funding that addresses concerns of access to funding that addresses outcomes determined by the needs of influential societal groups. Despite this apparent priority shift, economic difficulties have resulted in funding mechanisms that are highly accountable in terms of spending but…

The role of the Canadian federal government in financing Canadian post-secondary education is described. Current policies have their origins in the 1967 establishment of a federal/provincial shared-cost arrangement. Later, a change in policy diminished the federal presence in post-secondary educational finance and placed institutions in…

In Canada, a local school system's budget is financed from provincial grants, a local school tax, and miscellaneous revenues. The bulk of provincial grant revenue is allocated to counteract inequalities in the wealth base. Two tables and one figure display information by province. (seven references) (MLF)

This paper discusses the funding status of Canadian universities which are referred to as "creatures of the provinces" as their principal funding comes from the provincial governments. Their other main source of funds is tuition and academic fees which are themselves subject to government regulations. Together, 78 to 89 percent of…

This study examines repercussions of the incentive nature of the Manitoba property tax credit plan in relation to local school systems' taxation practices during 1978 to 1981. Data from municipalities and province school systems were obtained from the Manitoba departments of education and municipal affairs. Investigation was carried out in five…

The financing of education in Canada involves a trilevel structure: federal, provincial, and local. The extent of governmental involvement at the federal and provincial levels is constitutionally determined, but there is no one accepted input scale between these levels. Particular funding formulae are provided for each province. Includes 11 notes.…