Report Finds that Per-Student Spending in Public Schools Has Increased in 6 out of 10 Provinces Over the Past Decade

August 23, 2024 TruthUSA

According to a recent report, over the past decade, education spending in Canadian public schools has increased from $61.5 billion to $82.5 billion, representing a 34.1 percent growth rate. The authors of the report used data from Statistics Canada spanning the last 10 years, adjusting for inflation.

“Contrary to common beliefs, spending on public schools is actually increasing in most provinces across Canada,” noted Michael Zwaagstra, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and one of the report’s co-authors. The report emphasizes that compensation is the largest and most expensive part of education spending, seeing the most significant growth nationwide.

When it comes to spending, the report identified Quebec as the top spender, allocating $17,374 per student for the 2021/22 academic year—a 61.5 percent increase since 2012/13 when it was at $10,758 per student, ranking as the province with the lowest per-student spending at the time.

Prince Edward Island followed Quebec with a 50 percent increase in spending per student, while Nova Scotia saw a 36.8 percent rise to $16,045 per student. British Columbia experienced a 31.9 percent increase to $14,767 per student, ranking as the eighth-highest spender in the country.

Meanwhile, Ontario and New Brunswick noted a 24.9 percent and 25.5 percent increase in spending per student, respectively. Alberta observed a 17.2 percent decline in inflation-adjusted per-student spending to $13,421, transitioning from the third-highest spending province to the lowest per-student spender.

Saskatchewan also experienced a 14.9 percent decline in inflation-adjusted spending to $15,216 and Newfoundland and Labrador saw a 9.8 percent decrease to $14,307 per student. Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick maintained mid-range spending at $16,186, $15,702, and $17,172 per student, respectively.

Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador witnessed spending increases of 24.3 percent and 10.2 percent per student, respectively, over the past decade. Zwaagstra stressed the importance of accurate information for parents and policymakers about public school spending.

The authors also noted that Ontario leads in dollar terms for spending, with Quebec experiencing the largest percentage increase in nominal spending at 71 percent.

Following Quebec, Prince Edward Island saw a 54.8 percent increase in nominal spending, and Nova Scotia observed a 39.6 percent increase in nominal spending.

Enrolment Numbers

The report highlighted a 5.1 percent increase in student enrolment nationwide since 2012. Despite this overall growth, some provinces experienced declines in student numbers.

Three provinces—Newfoundland and Labrador (5.8 percent decrease), New Brunswick (1.8 percent decrease), and Ontario (0.1 percent decrease)—observed drops in student enrolment over the past decade. On the other hand, Alberta saw the most substantial growth with a 14.2 percent increase in public school enrolment.

Moreover, Saskatchewan and Quebec both saw increases in student enrolment by 8.4 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

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