Students will benefit from new, modern classrooms that prepare them for good-paying stable careers
May 13, 2026
CARLETON PLACE – The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its plan to protect Ontario and ensure students have access to modern classrooms by investing $1.6 billion in 79 school construction projects across Ontario. The investments will support growing communities by creating over 29,000 new student spaces and over 1,900 licensed childcare spaces so students have the modern learning spaces they need to succeed in their studies and prepare for in-demand careers.
Locally, the province is investing $41.1 million for two new French language schools to create more student spaces and childcare spaces in the Town of Carleton Place. These projects will, when complete, deliver 268 new French public elementary spaces along with 73 new licensed childcare spaces and 322 new French catholic intermediate and secondary student spaces along with 49 new licensed childcare spaces for local families in the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario and the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est.
“The funding for École élémentaire publique and École catholique 7-12 is great news for the growing community of Carleton Place,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston. “Through these investments, we’re creating opportunities for students to thrive well into the future and to ensure that families that move into Carleton Place and surrounding areas have more opportunities for quality education, close to home.”
The Capital Priorities program supports the construction of new schools, permanent additions, renovations and school purchases. This year’s funding will support a combination of new school builds, expansions and retrofits across the province and is part of Ontario’s commitment to provide more than $22 billion over 10 years to support new school construction, renewal and improvements.
“Student success starts with having the right environment to learn,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We’re building the schools students need, and we’re making sure they get built quickly and on schedule. With stronger oversight and accountability through the Putting Student Achievement First Act, we are ensuring projects are delivered on time and focused on students, so that parents can be confident their children have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.”
“As part of our government’s historic capital plan, we are investing $236 billion in critical infrastructure to build and protect Ontario,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through these investments, we are helping deliver new and improved schools across the province to support students, local jobs and growing communities.”
“The CEPEO is proud to expand its family of schools by providing a new public elementary school to the Carleton Place community. The need for French-language education is evident throughout the province, and we are pleased to be able to meet that need by ensuring the growth and sustainability of our Francophone community. We would like to thank the Government of Ontario for its support and funding of this future school,” said Jacinthe Marcil, Chair of the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO).
“We sincerely thank the Government of Ontario and the Ministry of Education for this major support. Thanks to this investment, Francophone families in Carleton Place will have access to an enhanced educational offering, allowing students to continue their secondary studies in French, in a high-quality Catholic environment, close to home.” – Johanne Lacombe, Chair of the CECCE
“It is an important step forward for the future of French-language Catholic education in Carleton Place. This announcement meets the needs of a growing community and will provide students with an educational pathway rooted in their language, their faith, and their local community.” – Diane Burns, CECCE School Board Trustee
Two projects received funding in Carleton Place.
Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- École élémentaire publique Carleton Place will be located at a site to be acquired
- $16.7 million
- 268 new elementary student spaces
- 73 new licensed childcare spaces
Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
- École catholique 7-12 Carleton Place will be located at a site to be acquired
- $24.4 million
- 322 new intermediate and secondary student spaces
- 49 new licensed childcare spaces
- In addition to the 67 projects approved for $1.3 billion in provincial support in 2025-26, there is also an additional close to $300 million in funding provided through the 2026-27 program to approve 12 priority projects that are ready to proceed.
- For the 2025-26 school year, the Ministry of Education continues to provide $1.4 billion to school boards to renew and improve schools.
- In April 2026, Ontario introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, that would, if passed, bring greater accountability, consistency and modernization to Ontario’s education system through new and enhanced measures to further support student success. The legislation also provides the ministry with stronger tools to intervene in the capital planning process when boards are unable to deliver projects in the best interests of students and educators.
MPP John Jordan, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston
www.johnjordanmpp.ca
john.jordan@pc.ola.org
613-284-1630
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