Ontario's education minister has announced significant funding for the construction of two new high schools in Ottawa. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for educational facilities in the region. Minister Paul Calandra revealed that the province will invest $77.7 million in the Half Moon Bay Secondary School, located on Cambrian Road in Barrhaven, for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Additionally, $74.7 million will be allocated for the Mer Bleu high school on Brian Coburn Boulevard in Orléans, which will serve the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Each school is expected to accommodate over 1,400 students. In a further commitment to education, the province will also provide $9.7 million for an expansion of l’École élémentaire publique Mamawi, which is part of the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. This addition will create 104 new student spaces and 39 new licensed child care spaces. "We’re helping boards move quickly, which means shovels can be in the ground as early as spring 2026," Calandra stated. He emphasized the increasing demand for French and Catholic education, as well as French immersion programs in Ontario. Under Bill 33, passed on November 19, Calandra noted that he has the authority to expedite the transfer of underutilized public English schools to French boards. This measure is intended to better align resources with the growing needs of the French education system. Calandra mentioned, "And we will do that. We’re doing that in the Parry Sound area. We’re going to be doing that in the Sturgeon Falls area. And we’re looking at that across the system." Enrollment figures indicate that the Ottawa Catholic School Board has seen an increase of 1,657 students as of October 31, while the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board reported an increase of over 200 students, falling short of projections by 1,130 students. The OCDSB is currently facing a $5.4 million deficit this school year. Calandra remarked that the province is closely examining the French school systems, both Catholic and public, due to their rapid growth. He highlighted that students in French schools have outperformed their English counterparts in standardized tests, further underscoring the need for investment in these educational institutions. "It shouldn’t matter which students are learning in them. As you see the French boards, they’re exploding and we’ve got to make sure that they have sufficient dollars to meet the demands," he said. Calandra also addressed the challenges related to transportation for students attending French schools, stating that in some areas, travel times are excessively long due to limited school space. In addition to funding announcements, Calandra discussed the governance of school boards. He noted that six school boards, including the OCDSB, are currently under provincial supervision. He described the traditional model of elected trustees as outdated, citing low voter turnout in trustee elections. While he has not yet provided recommendations on governance to the cabinet, Calandra expressed his intention to maintain the integrity of the French and Catholic school systems, which have constitutional protections. Regarding the controversial boundary review at the OCDSB, which was recently canceled, Calandra acknowledged the need for changes but emphasized the importance of community involvement in the process. "People were just horrified by the process, the lack of involvement and lack of consultation, and how it was really starting to split up communities," he said. Calandra concluded that modernization of school boundaries and the construction of new schools will continue to be a priority as the province adapts to the evolving educational landscape.