TORONTO, December 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Ontario Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faced heavy opposition but came out the winner during intense Ontario cabinet discussions over the independent schools tax credit last week. The Canadian Press reports that at a closed cabinet meeting Wednesday, several provincial ministers attempted to attach restrictions to the tax credit including requirements that eligible independent schools hire certified teachers and follow the Ontario curriculum. However, CP reports that Flaherty was successful in fighting off those restrictions which would have negated much of the parental choice purpose of the independent schools.
Today’s government release on the Equity in Tax Education program states that independent school students will not be mandated to take provincial testing. Government requirements for the funding program are: 1) Employees of the independent schools who come into contact with students must submit to criminal record checks. 2) Eligible courses must be the same length of time as those for publicly funded programs under the Education Act. 3) Eligible schools must provide a statement of information to parents and guardians about the school’s operations, staff, policies and programs.
Explaining his position to reporters prior to the meeting Flaherty said, “The purpose of the credit is choice for parents, that’s why the credit flows to parents. My approach to regulation in that regard is to make sure that the choice is emphasized and maintained.” Tighter regulations would amount to having “a fifth public school system” and “interference by government in the operation of private schools,” said Flaherty.
See today’s Finance Ministry release with the details of the new program (Adobe Acrobat format) https://www.gov.on.ca/FIN/english/tb01e9.pdf