Over the last couple of decades, public education in Canada and other countries has come under attack. This has been fuelled in part by a general push to lessen the role of government and increase the role of business in all facets of public services. Coupled with this is an alarming trend towards valuing the importance of private decisions and advantage over public rights and goals. This represents a threat to public education as originally conceived.

Publicly funded education, which is universally accessible and inclusive, is a societal responsibility that was instituted to provide equal opportunities for all children. Funding for this public good is an obligation of provincial governments that set the mandate for schools through public policy. Sources other than public funding can divert or compromise the ability of public schools to fulfil the expectations established for them.

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement undertook a national survey to collect data on a range of commercial activities in Canadian elementary and secondary public schools.