Ontario OKs Funds for Catholic Schools

TORONTO — The Ontario legislature has passed into law a controversial bill extending full public grants to Roman Catholic high schools.

The legislation was passed on its third reading Monday by a near unanimous vote. Passage came more than two years after then-Premier Bill Davis shocked the province by reversing longstanding Progressive Conservative Party policy and announcing plans for full funding of the schools.

The bill was signed into law by Lt.-Gov. Lincoln Alexander shortly after the vote.

Education Minister Sean Conway, who introduced the bill within weeks of taking office last summer, called the vote “an historic and important chapter in Ontario history.”