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TORONTO, December 16, 2002 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty has vowed to scrap the Ontario Equity in Education Tax Credit, a tax credit available to parents who choose to educate their children in independent or religious private schools.  The measure was introduced as a partial compensation for those parents who, while paying full taxes towards public education, must pay again for the education of their children.  Many potential beneficiaries of the tax credit pulled their children from the public system recognizing serious moral and academic shortcomings within the public system or just wanting more of a choice in programs than the public system has been able or willing to provide.

In a press release, McGuinty said, “Now it’s time to cancel the $500-million private school tax credit,” in a bid to arouse fear that the credit would threaten public education.  Meanwhile, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Premier Ernie Eves has also backed away from the tax credit.  The Toronto Star reports today that the Tories passed legislation stalling the tax credit for one year.  However, Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation Minister Jim Flaherty, who introduced the credit in his former post as Finance Minister said he would fight for the credit.  “I’m firmly committed to the Equity in Education Tax Credit (for parents who send their children to private schools) and I fight for what I believe in,” he said.  Ontario’s very powerful teacher unions and education bureaucracy allies have lobbied strenuously against the tax credit which might weaken their monopoly stranglehold on education. As well, powerful interests are fearful of the religious and conservative social philosophies of many of the private schools, which increasing numbers of parents appear to prefer for their children.  See McGuinty’s release and the Toronto Star coverage:  https://www.ontarioliberal.com/2000/News/Releases/rozanski.htm https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035775473199&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154