TORONTO — Jewish, Muslim, and Christian parents have spoken out against an Ontario government plan to offer tax credits on private school tuition, saying the Tories are unfairly using faith-based groups to promote an assault on public schools.
Exactly one week after members from the same communities defended the plan as one that recognizes and supports diversity, parents from the three faiths denounced it Wednesday for stifling their children’s right to a well-rounded public education.
“The (Mike) Harris government tax credit will primarily benefit the wealthy but the religious community, especially the Muslim community, is being used to market this proposal,” charged Muslim parent Tarek Fatah, father of two daughters in the public school system.
“While the bulk of the $300 million will end up in the hands of the province’s elite, the Muslim community will be picking up the leftover crumbs and a damaged public education system which is home to 90 per cent of Muslim children in Ontario.”
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said the credit would return roughly $300 million tax dollars to Ontario families that send children to independent schools.
