Response to the Education Tax Credit
Discussion Paper
"Upon the education of the people of this country, the fate of
this country depends."
Benjamin Disraeli
This response is submitted on behalf of the members of the Toronto
District School Board, its 300,000 students, and 1.4 million taxpayers. We would have
preferred to present to the task force directly but we were denied the opportunity.
Let us state clearly at the outset that the Toronto District School Board believes that
the provincial government should withdraw the Education Tax Credit and focus on restoring
adequate funding to the public schools of Ontario.
Over 150 years ago, Egerton Ryerson established the principle that every child deserved
an equal chance to succeed in school. The vehicle through which this would occur, was a
free and open public school system. Today, the public education system of this province is
the only school system that is open to all students regardless of their ethnic, racial or
cultural backgrounds, social or economic status, individual exceptionality or religious
preference.
Open and free admission to all students, unrestricted access to knowledge, and no
teaching of hate, violence or discrimination, and fair and equitable hiring policies are
intrinsic to a public education system.
We know that the Education Tax Credit is a $3,500 voucher for parents who choose to
send their children to private or religious schools. This is in addition to the other tax
supports and write-offs that most religious schools already enjoy such as income tax
deductions for the religious portion of the tuition fees. The government has stated that
this will cost Ontarians a total of $300 million annually once fully implemented. Premier
Harris even stated that a voucher program would remove from our existing public education
system at least $300 million per year, with some estimates as high as $700 million. This
tax credit will reduce the Toronto District School Board’s funding by approximately
$6,500 for every student leaving our system for private schools - a net saving to the
government of $3,000 per student.
Between 1997 and our projected 2003-04 school year, funding for our schools will have
been reduced by $400 million dollars, of which $126 million of reductions still have to be
found. This will represent a cumulative reduction in public education spending in the City
of Toronto during this period of over $1.4 billion dollars. The Board’s per pupil
spending will have been reduced by $1,500. How can the provincial government remove
hundreds of millions of dollars from Toronto public schools while giving private schools
tax credits? Our system has competed successfully with the best in the world, but to
continue to do so, major adjustments are required to the Funding Model to correct the lack
of recognition of the real current costs of salaries, benefits, energy and other areas
that are simply out of step with reality.
This government’s consistent message since it came to power has been the
oft-repeated call for more accountability in the schools of Ontario. Yet, with this tax
credit notion, the government has cast aside its convictions to permit public spending
with no public accountability.
As the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association noted, "No other Canadian
province provides tax relief directly to the parent. All other provinces provide their
funding to the institution on condition that the institution follow provincially mandated
rules…Ours is the only province proposing to use public dollars to fund private
schools with no strings attached." We believe this to be bad and dangerous public
policy.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has stated that the government
is threatening the viability of Ontario public schools by providing tax credits for
private education
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario believes that this private school
tuition tax credit is clearly designed to destabilize public education and pave the way
for significant expansion of private education in Ontario.
However, if the government’s intention is to proceed with this misguided proposal,
it must have in place specific criteria for private school funding, operation, and
accountability to the public. In a nutshell, private schools must at the very least meet
the minimum standards for the public accountability. Public support demands public
controls.
Eligible Fees
We concur with the position of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.
The tax credit must only apply to the operating costs of a private school. If the
intention is to subsidize the capital expenses of private schools – we’re
appalled. At a time, when public students in the Toronto District School Board are facing
a $350 million shortfall for critical building maintenance, we cannot conceive why the
government would support private buildings at the expense of public ones.
Our schools are community resources, owned and paid for by taxpayers. That’s why
for years, we kept schools open before and after school and on weekends to serve the needs
of community groups. Our schools were the heart of each neighbourhood where every resident
could benefit from their array of programs and services. In the past, we could do this at
a reasonable rate. The provincial funding formula took care of that by ignoring the costs
of community use of schools in the funding model. It would be reprehensible for the
government to fund private and religious buildings that are not open to the public.
Private school tuition is not an added tax burden for parents; it is an additional
expense some parents have chosen to pay. All members of society are expected to support
basic public services such as police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and
public schools, whether they use them or not. People without children in the school system
still pay school taxes. This is because these services are beneficial to all members of
society and we all have a stake in ensuring that these institutions thrive.
The government’s tax credit scheme sets a dangerous precedent. If we acknowledge
the right of the private schools to receive public support, why stop at a tax credit? Much
like the separate system in the 1980s, the government will soon find itself embroiled in
polemics about the righteousness of full funding for private schools. Comments made by
some private and religious school groups have already stated this openly – that the
tax credit is only the first step in their quest to get full funding.
Qualified Teachers
Private school teachers must be fully qualified to teach in Ontario and must be
members in good standing of the College of Teachers.
The provincial government has introduced a mandatory re-certification program that
requires public school teachers to take professional development courses over five-year
cycles to maintain their certification. It is essential that private school teachers be
held to the same standard.
Teachers must be qualified and screened. Two recent media stories involved a private
religious school that hired a known terrorist and prestigious private boys' school that
harboured a pedophile for years. While these incidents are isolated and we fervently hope
infrequent, it underscores the need to have proper screening in place for hiring teachers
in private schools. Especially now that the government will be giving these schools a seal
of approval by deeming them eligible for tax credits.
Minister Ecker has announced that the new legislation protecting students from sexual
abuse will apply to school boards and any employer that hires certified teachers. All
children are entitled to this protection. The government must require private schools to
hire certified teachers. Surely this minimal measure would ensure that private school
children are protected by the new legislation.
Academic Program
Private schools should follow The Ontario Curriculum with approved
textbooks and learning resources. If those schools are issuing diplomas, they must comply
with credit accumulation and instruction time requirements articulated in the Education
Act. At the very least, the government must make sure the academic program is up to
standard.
Private schools should be included in all provincially mandated Education Quality and
Accountability Office (EQAO) testing programs. This will help ensure that these schools
are in fact meeting their academic responsibilities to Ontario’s students.
We believe that the government also must consider standards for private schools on
issues such as class size, the level of parent involvement, and the range of extra
curricular activities.
We don’t really need to remind the government of the scandal involving the St.
James Academy this summer. We trust that this one issue more than proves our point about
proper public controls for private schools. We hope that the government has learned
something from that debacle.
Eligible Schools
Frankly we’re appalled at the question, "Should schools have to provide
instruction in, or substantially in Ontario?" How could this even be a question? Is
the government seriously considering subsiding private schools who operate overseas?
We’re speechless that this is even up for discussion.
Eligible Taxpayers
Issuing a tax credit to individuals who are not parents or guardians will once
again punish public school taxpayers who cannot enjoy this tax advantage. Taxpayers should
not be disadvantaged because they support the public school system.
Eligible Child
Since the government has restricted funding for adult education, it would be
absurd to grant tax credits to students outside the age limits set for public schools.
Who We Serve
Toronto District School Board is the largest school board in Canada. We provide
high quality education to almost 300,000 elementary, secondary, and adult students in 560
schools. We are proud to serve one of the most diverse student populations in the world.
- Approximately 53% of TDSB secondary students do not speak English as their first
language. In elementary schools, 41% of students have a language other than English as
their first language.
- More than 80 languages are represented in our schools. Languages from all over the
world, such as Urdu, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, and Cantonese, are spoken by TDSB
students.
- More than 47,000 or 24% of elementary students were born outside of Canada in more than
175 different countries.
- More than 11,500 or 12% of secondary students have been in Canada for three years or
less
This extraordinary diversity enriches our school system but also presents many
challenges. These challenges must be met so our students can achieve success in school.
Along with parents and guardians, we are responsible for preparing tomorrow’s
citizens by ensuring that they can be productive and contributing members of society.
We celebrate diversity in our schools and work hard to instill a sense of tolerance and
respect for all cultures in our classrooms everyday. We have a proven record, developed
over many years, of successfully educating our diverse student population. And it is a
record of excellence.
- In 2000 and 2001, almost one-third of our Ontario Academic Credit (OAC) graduates ranked
as Ontario Scholars for achieving an average of at least 80% in their top six OAC courses.
- TDSB students meet or exceed the provincial average in province-wide achievement tests
in reading, writing, and math.
Are we afraid of competition? Not at all. In fact our students can, and do, compete
with private school students. Our graduates are accepted at universities and colleges,
both here and abroad. Our students win awards and scholarships every year. Our students
can find employment in whatever field they choose.
Since its inception, the TDSB has been committed to ensuring that fairness, equity, and
inclusion are essential principles of our school system and are integrated into all our
policies, programs, operations, and practices.
Our Equity policy sets out clearly that we will ensure that: "The curriculum of
our schools accurately reflects and uses the variety of knowledge of all peoples as the
basis for instruction; that it actively provides opportunities for all students to
understand the factors that cause inequity in society and to understand the similarities,
differences and the connections between different forms of discrimination; and that it
helps students to acquire the skills and knowledge that enable them to challenge unjust
practices, and to build positive human relationships among their fellow students, and
among all members of the society."
The government must ensure that there is no teaching of hate or violence in any school
in Ontario, particularly now after the tragic events in the United States. Are we going to
tolerate discrimination in classroom programming based on gender? On sexual orientation?
On ethnicity or creed? How far will the government go to protect private institutions who
do not feel obligated to follow the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code or the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms?
The TDSB serves one of the most diverse student populations in the world. This includes
people from many different religious communities who come to study and work in our
schools. In a city as dynamic and diverse as Toronto, the public education system must
support the diversity of cultures and traditions of our student population. We know that
the best way to achieve a better society is a pro-active education system.
No matter who they are or where they come from, we give students the tools they need so
they can learn and succeed in school. This is our job and we do it well, better than any
other large diverse urban school board in the world.
Children are not widgets and education is not a corporation. If students don’t
come to public schools in perfect condition, we don’t throw them away and replace
them with better products. What will private schools do with students who need special
education? Throw those students out the door and hope that the public system is there to
catch them? Let’s hope we will be able to, because if we don’t, who will?
We agree with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario when it says,
"We do not want a two-tier education system. We want a strong, high quality public
education system accessible to all – to our children, to our grandchildren, to our
neighbours children."
Children learn by example. The provincial government ought to think about the lessons
it is teaching the children of Ontario. When society tells children that you’re not
worth it, that you’re too expensive, that we don’t value your education as much
as a tax cut, then don’t be surprised when they grow up without a sense of civic duty
or responsibility to their community. Don’t be surprised when they tell you in the
future that your medical costs are too high, that they can’t afford your pension
payments, and they don’t feel any obligation to care for the weaker members of
society. What you sow today, you will reap tomorrow.
Hatred breeds hatred and prejudice comes from ignorance. We live in a global village
where there is no place for age-old hostilities and fears among different cultures.
We are the secret weapon that society wields against ignorance – a free and open
school system brings together children from all backgrounds and teaches them to get along
with each other and more importantly, to respect and value each other. Segregation,
ghettos, the Berlin Wall, the caste system, apartheid– where, in the entire history
of humanity, has separating people into cultural, religious, or ethnic groupings ever made
society better?
This is not the time to fragment our society into divisions based on ethnicity,
language socio-economic status or creed. This is the time to recognize that our survival
as a free society depends on the education of our future citizens.
We’re your last best, chance. If we can’t instill tolerance, respect, and
understanding in our children, then there won’t be much of a future for any of us.
Withdraw the tax credit and restore stability and vitality to the public schools of
Ontario.
September 2001
- Toronto District School Equity Foundation
Statement, June 1999
- Ontario Public School Boards’ Association,
Response to the Tax Credit Discussion Paper, September 2001
- Ontario Secondary School Teachers’
Federation Submission to the Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Bill 45, May
2001
- Elementary Federation Teachers’ Ontario
Brief to the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee Concerning Bill 45 – The
Responsible Choices for Growth and Accountability Act Tax Credit for Private School
Tuition, May 2001
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