The Ontario government’s recently introduced Bill 33: The Supporting Children and Students Act has raised concern among parent advocacy groups, particularly around the role of parental voice and local accountability in education.
If passed, Bill 33 will grant the Minister of Education expanded authority to intervene in school boards where issues like financial mismanagement or governance failures arise. It also includes a mandate for school boards to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs where offered by local police—reigniting debate on the presence of police in schools.
Some parent organizations worry that these changes may shift too much power away from local school boards—where parents have traditionally had opportunities to raise concerns—and toward the provincial level.
OAPCE’s Response
Joe Perri, Co-Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE), emphasized the organization’s continued commitment to Catholic education’s faith-centered governance model, which is built on collaboration between parents, Catholic trustees, and clergy.
“Our ultimate aim is to make certain that Catholic schools are faithful to their mission—educating students in mind, body and spirit—and that local boards have the autonomy necessary to reflect the Gospel values at the centre of Catholic education,” Perri stated.
OAPCE remains committed to being an engaged partner in policy dialogue and consultations with the Ministry of Education, always advocating for the parent voice in Catholic education.
We encourage parents to stay informed, ask questions, and continue participating in meaningful dialogue about the future of education in Ontario.
