Chapter 3: Canadian Approaches to the Financing of School Infrastructure

During the last ten years, governance and financial support for schools in Canada have changed. Most provinces have removed local school divisions’ access to property taxes, and these taxes are now collected centrally. The financing of elementary and secondary programs has moved from dependence on local dollars to almost total government support. The funding programs for school infrastructure needs have also changed to reflect the programs used to fund the basic operating grants to schools and the lack of access to property taxes. Methods of providing capital funding to the school divisions vary greatly. The underlying issue for each school division and its constituents remains the adequacy of funding to support the school infrastructure needed to sustain a vibrant educational program.