It’s time to push back against school boards that prioritize symbolic purges over education and historical understanding
Canada’s first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, is under attack by school boards determined to erase his legacy by stripping his name from schools. This misguided effort to judge historical figures by modern standards must be stopped, and the Ontario government is right to step in.
Naming a government building or school after someone is one of the best ways to ensure they are remembered. It’s an honour that often lasts generations.
Like other countries, Canada has many schools named after former political leaders. But unlike most countries, some Canadian school boards are actively working to erase the legacy of our first prime minister, John A. Macdonald. Earlier this year, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced plans to rename three schools, one of which currently bears Macdonald’s name.
They’re doing this because Macdonald, an imperfect 19th-century man, said and did things that don’t align with 21st-century standards. Critics cite his role in establishing the residential school system and policies toward Indigenous peoples as reasons to remove his name from public institutions. However, he also played a pivotal role in the constitutional negotiations that led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada. Without his efforts to unite diverse linguistic and religious groups, Canada as we know it might not exist today.
For that reason alone, Macdonald deserves to have his name on government buildings and schools. If Canadian patriotism is to mean anything, we must honour the man who not only helped found our country but also led it through its formative years. Under his leadership, Canada resisted U.S. expansionism and developed a unique national identity that endures today.
Despite this, Toronto trustees have pressed ahead with their renaming plans. Even public opposition from the Canadian Institute for Historical Education failed to change their minds. They remain determined to strip Macdonald’s name from public recognition.
That’s why all Canadians should welcome the Ford government’s decision to act. On May 29, Education Minister Paul Calandra introduced the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 in the Ontario legislature. This legislation gives the province the power to override school board decisions that are not in the best interests of students and taxpayers. Until now, school boards had the autonomy to rename schools without provincial approval, even when the proposed changes involved historically significant figures like Macdonald.
Significantly, the bill also requires school boards to obtain ministerial approval before renaming any school. This effectively halts the TDSB’s plans, particularly given Calandra’s stated opposition to removing Macdonald’s name.
Keeping Macdonald’s name is not only historically appropriate, it’s fiscally responsible. The Thames Valley District School Board, which recently renamed a school, estimated the cost at $30,000 to $40,000. That’s money better spent on textbooks and classroom supplies.
Renaming also comes with a large opportunity cost. Staff spend hours researching new names, and administrators must develop communication plans to inform the public. All of this diverts attention and resources from the board’s core mission: education.
It’s past time the Ontario government reined in rogue school boards. When trustees lose sight of their primary responsibility, supporting teaching and learning, the education minister must act in the interest of students. Trustees are not historians, nor should they undermine Canada’s foundational legacy.
This country didn’t come into being by accident. It was formed because leaders like Macdonald put aside differences and worked for a common good. They didn’t get everything right, and our country remains imperfect. But the nation that emerged is one Canadians can be proud of.
If you value being Canadian, you owe a debt of gratitude to John A. Macdonald. The least we can do is ensure his name remains on our schools. Let’s hope the Ford government stands firm.
Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Explore more on Canadian history, Cancel culture, Coercive progressivism, Patriotism
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