The Government of Saskatchewan is officially invoking the notwithstanding clause in order to maintain the current funding model for students attending public or Catholic separate schools, regardless of their religion.
This legislation is in response to the April Court of Queen’s Bench ruling that determined it is unconstitutional to fund non-Catholic students to attend Catholic separate schools. Both the Government of Saskatchewan and Christ the Teacher Roman Catholic Separate School Division have filed appeals on this ruling.
“The current system has served us well for more than 100 years, and parents and students wish to preserve it. This legislation will provide certainty for families so they can continue to attend Catholic separate schools,” says Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre.
The court ruling is set to come into force on June 30.
