The Manitoba School Question

Public vs. Catholic ● Manitoba became a province with french leader Louis Riel ● French-Catholic schools were guranteed to the province ● English population became a majority, so Thomas Greenway, Manitoba's Premier, decided that it was too expensive to pay for these schools. ● French Catholic Schools ↓ Public English Schools

The Appeal to the Federal Government ● The French people of Manitoba didn't agree with this decision. They went to the federal government in an attampt to re-instate their schools. ● Unfortunately for them, under the British North America Act (BNA), education is a provincial concern. Therefore the french cannot get their schools back since the provincial leader took them away in the first place.

Laurier-Greenway Compromise ● Laurier, a French Catholic, became Prime Minister. He decided to make a compromise with Greenway to please both the English and French.

Compromise ● Catholics could have religious instruction, without disturbing the publics. ● The last half hour of the public school day (3:30-4:00) would be used for religious instruction as long as there was enough Catholics in a town or rural area to hire a qualified religion teacher. ● Classes in any language were offered at the parents' expense (if there were sufficient numbers)

Different Views ● English View ● Happy with compromise ● Why should they have to pay for French or Roman Catholic schools? ● French View ● Felt that their rights were being ignored ● Felt betrayed by the federal government ● Appealed to the Pope Leo XIII (but he sided with Laurier)

The Final Result Even though Laurier was French, the rights of the minority were reduced. In 1916, the guarantees of French as a language of instruction were dropped.

Bibliography Pictures 7.jpg way.png 9.jpg Information arams=A1ARTA