Multi Faith Coalition

The Story in Numbers

There are some 363 faith-based schools in Ontario. They are made up of faith groups such as Amish (17); Armenian (3); Christian (173); Islamic (28); Jewish (45); Mennonite (76); Roman Catholic (11); Seventh Day Adventist (10).
There are approximately 53,000 students enrolled in Ontario's un-funded faith-based schools. This represents about 2.5 percent of the total student population in the province.
According to Statistics Canada, between 1987 and 1998, the percentage of Ontario children attending faith-based and non-denominational schools rose by 30 percent. In the 2002-2003 school year 801 faith-based and non-denominational schools were registered to operate in Ontario. In the 2003-2004 year this number rose to 870.
Students in the fully funded public and Catholic schools represent over 95 percent of all school age children in Ontario. Of the remaining 5 percent, approximately 42 percent attend non-Catholic faith-based schools (e.g. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.). The remaining 58 percent attend non-denominational schools such as Montessori and Waldorf schools.
Nearly one-third of the children who attend private schools (which includes non-denominational and faith-based schools) in Canada come from families with household incomes of less than $50,000 per year.
Alberta provides 60 percent of full funding to faith-based schools as well as providing for a Roman Catholic separate school system. This diversity has only been positive. Alberta students consistently perform at the top or near the top of all Canadian students in national wide examinations in math, science and English.
The rationale for protecting the Catholic minority in 1867 is now applicable to Ontario's current day minorities. In 1867, religious affiliation of the population of Ontario was 82 percent Protestant, 17 percent Catholic and 0.2 percent of all other religions put together. The 1991 census indicates that the religious affiliation of the population of Ontario is 44 percent Protestant (non-Catholic Christian), 36 percent Catholic and 8 percent other religions.


		The Story in Numbers There are some 363 faith-based schools in Ontario. They are made up of faith groups such as Amish (17); Armenian (3); Christian (173); Islamic (28); Jewish (45); Mennonite (76); Roman Catholic (11); Seventh Day Adventist (10). There are approximately 53,000 students enrolled in Ontario's un-funded faith-based schools. This represents about 2.5 percent of the total student population in the province. According to Statistics Canada, between 1987 and 1998, the percentage of Ontario children attending faith-based and non-denominational schools rose by 30 percent. In the 2002-2003 school year 801 faith-based and non-denominational schools were registered to operate in Ontario. In the 2003-2004 year this number rose to 870. Students in the fully funded public and Catholic schools represent over 95 percent of all school age children in Ontario. Of the remaining 5 percent, approximately 42 percent attend non-Catholic faith-based schools (e.g. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.). The remaining 58 percent attend non-denominational schools such as Montessori and Waldorf schools. Nearly one-third of the children who attend private schools (which includes non-denominational and faith-based schools) in Canada come from families with household incomes of less than $50,000 per year. Alberta provides 60 percent of full funding to faith-based schools as well as providing for a Roman Catholic separate school system. This diversity has only been positive. Alberta students consistently perform at the top or near the top of all Canadian students in national wide examinations in math, science and English. The rationale for protecting the Catholic minority in 1867 is now applicable to Ontario's current day minorities. In 1867, religious affiliation of the population of Ontario was 82 percent Protestant, 17 percent Catholic and 0.2 percent of all other religions put together. The 1991 census indicates that the religious affiliation of the population of Ontario is 44 percent Protestant (non-Catholic Christian), 36 percent Catholic and 8 percent other religions.

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