Based on interviews with 150 persons in departments of education and in national, provincial, and territorial education organizations in Canada's major capital cities, this paper discusses seven vital issues in Canadian education and briefly states seven others. The seven major issues needing resolution concern: (1) the appropriate balance between central and local control of education; (2) the amendment of provincial school legislation according to the principles outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; (3) the appropriateness of official language policies for any or all of the provinces; (4) native people's control of their children's education; (5) the amount of provincial resources directed to developing and maintaining multicultural programs in schools; (6) the manner of provincial funding for education; and (7) the justification of private educational alternatives. Other issues include curriculum relevancy and enrichment, school responsibiltiy for controversial issues such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), mainstreaming handicapped children, the aging teaching force, teacher preparation, and professional autonomy. Generally, Canadian educational objectives have shifted from anglicization and assimilation of immigrants to support of a cultural "mosaic" and gradual, evolutionary acculturation. Individual freedom and choice has gained in contrast to conformity to the predominant group. (MLH)