6 in 10 Provinces Have Increased Per-Student Spending in Public Schools Over Last Decade: Report

An elementary school classroom in Vancouver on April 13, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Over the last 10 years, education spending in Canadian public schools has gone from $61.5 billion to $82.5 billion—an increase of 34.1 percent, according to a new report.

Adjusted for inflation, per-student spending increased across Canada by just over 5 percent between 2012/13 and 2021/22, according to the report, titled “Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2024 Edition,” published by the Fraser Institute on Aug. 22.

The authors used data from Statistics Canada over the past 10 years to compare the numbers, adjusting for inflation.

“Contrary to what we often hear, spending on public schools is on the rise in most provinces across Canada,” said Michael Zwaagstra, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the report.

Compensation is the largest and costliest part of education spending, the authors said. It’s also the part that has seen the most growth across the country.

When it comes to spending, Quebec is at the top of the list at $17,374 per student for 2021/22. That is a 61.5 percent increase since 2012/13, the report said, when the province was spending $10,758 per student. At that time, Quebec had the lowest level of per-student spending in public schools, according to the report.

Prince Edward Island came in second with a 50 percent increase in spending per student from $11,203 to $16,800, the report said. Ten years ago, the province ranked ninth for spending on students’ education. They are now the third highest, the authors wrote.

In Nova Scotia, per-student spending rose by 36.8 percent to $16,045. B.C. saw a 31.9 percent increase to $14,767. The province saw the fourth highest growth in per-student spending, report authors said. It ranks eighth in spending across the country.

Over the past decade, New Brunswick’s spending per student went up 25.5 percent, and Ontario’s spending rose by 24.9 percent.

Three provinces saw a decline in inflation-adjusted per-student spending, including Alberta (17.2 percent), which now spends $13,421 per student. The province has dropped from the third-highest-spending province to the province that spends the least per student.

Saskatchewan also saw a drop in inflation-adjusted spending (14.9 percent) to $15,216. In 2012, Saskatchewan was spending the most per student and has dropped to seventh place overall.

Newfoundland and Labrador dropped inflation-adjusted spending to $14,307 (9.8 percent).

Spending in other provinces varied in the mid-range, including Manitoba at $16,186 per student, Ontario at $15,702 per student, and New Brunswick at $17,172.

Manitoba saw spending increases per student of 24.3 percent, while Newfoundland and Labrador saw a 10.2 percent increase.

“It’s important for parents and policymakers to have accurate information about spending on public schools where the majority of kids are educated,” Zwaagstra said.

Ontario has the highest spending in dollar terms, the authors wrote. However, Quebec saw the largest percentage increase in nominal spending at 71 percent.

Prince Edward Island ranked behind Quebec with a 54.8 percent increase in nominal spending. Rounding out the top three was Nova Scotia, which saw a 39.6 percent increase in nominal spending, the authors said.

Enrolment Numbers

Since 2012, student enrolment across Canada has increased by about 5.1 percent, the report said. However, not every province saw an increase in student numbers.

Three provinces saw a decrease in student enrolment over the past 10 years, including Newfoundland and Labrador with a 5.8 percent drop; New Brunswick at a 1.8 percent decrease; and Ontario with a 0.1 percent drop.

Manitoba saw the smallest increase in enrolment at 1.8 percent. Public school enrolment in Alberta increased by 14.2 percent over the past decade, the largest growth in the country.

Saskatchewan saw the second-highest increase in student enrollment at 8.4 percent, while Quebec saw a 5.9 percent increase.