The Government of Alberta announced Monday that it will conduct a census in St. Albert, Morinville, Legal and parts of Sturgeon County to determine once and for all whether Catholics or Protestants are the minority faith among electors in those areas.
The decision to conduct the census follows parents’ concerns regarding the election of a school board that truly represents them in Morinville, especially if their children are attending the new non-faith-based school programs under the jurisdiction of Sturgeon School Division but still governed by Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional District (GSACRD).
“Determination of minority faith will allow government to consider all options to appropriately represent the interests of minority- and majority-faith electors in these communities and to develop a long-term solution to the issue of secular education in Morinville,” said Education Minister Dave Hancock.
Last May, a survey conducted by Pivotal Research Inc. asked Morinville families whether they would send their children to attend a non-faith-based school if one were available. The survey showed that more than one-third of Morinville residents were in favour of secular education for their children.
The survey was only conducted in Morinville, and does not answer questions about the populations of St. Albert or Legal.
“Our first priority was to provide a secular program in Morinville and it is in place and operating. But we need a long-term solution and the question,” Hancock said, as he explained that while parents may now send their children to the secular schools operated by Sturgeon School Division, they still elect their trustees to GSACRD.
“Those parents have said they want a public board to serve them,” Hancock said.
Presently, the jurisdiction for Sturgeon School Division includes all of Sturgeon County, excluding the towns of Morinville and Legal.
The census is estimated to cost $125,000. Questionnaires will be mailed to local households in late September and there will be follow-up communication conducted in October. Results are expected by the end of the year. It is limited to the areas where GSACRD is currently considered to be the public board.
Residents of those areas are asked to complete the form even if they do not have children of school age. Parents in Morinville whose children attend the secular education program offered by Sturgeon School Division are also asked to complete the form to help determine the number of children eligible to attend school in that area.
The census will ask residents to state whether they are Catholic, Protestant or “other.” The designation “other” includes all those who are neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant.
“The Constitutional Test asks only what is the minority Christian faith. The Consitution assures their rights are protected,” Hancock said.
Sturgeon School Division superintendent Michelle Dick welcomes the census.
“The census will provide information and numbers for us all, and once we determine answers about where the minority population resides, we can have participating conversation to meet the needs of all students,” she said.
