Canada: Petition launched to abolish Alberta's Roman Catholic, Protestant schools

A petition was launched by Alberta's former education minister Wednesday that calls for the Roman Catholic and Protestant separate schools to be abolished.

Written by ex-minister David King, the petition asks Albertans to decide whether such schools should exist when many religions go unrepresented within Alberta education.

"The Government of Alberta is in the process of updating our education laws for the 21st century," King said.

"It's important for Albertans to ask each other whether separate-but-equal schools for only two of many religious denominations belong in 21st century Alberta."

Separate schools don't just shut out students — they also deny learners of inclusion and diversity, said King.

"We should have children of different faiths and cultures learning together in the same schools," he said.

"We should also have adults of different faiths and cultures making decisions together through the same school board. This is how our school system should reflect Canadian values and pass them on to future generations."

Education Minister Dave Hancock said Albertans have a constitutional right to minority faith education.

"It provides choice for parents and students in the province," he said. "It's been, for the most part, very effective in terms of building a very robust education system.

"There are always challenges, particularly in smaller communities, where one would argue that maybe there's not enough room for two public boards. But by and large, Albertans have been very well served."

Hancock questioned why the petition was being brought forward.

"I'm not sure what the petition is attempting to accomplish, but the reality is we have a constitutional requirement and it would require a significant movement to change the constitution," he said.

"I don't see any political will, any real public groundswell saying that they don't want to have what we have now."

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