RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL FOR FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS FUNDING

CBC News, Canada
Aug 28 2007

A newly formed group is calling on the Ontario government to fund
all faith-based schools that meet provincial standards.

Religious leaders from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Armenian
communities held a media conference Monday to announce the creation
of the Public Education Fairness Network.

The lobby group said it is unfair that the province funds the Catholic
school system without funding other faith-based schools.

"We all came to this country as immigrants at different times," said
Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, president of the Federation of Hindu Temples.

"Our Catholic brothers and sisters came maybe earlier than we did …

They fought very hard for the privilege they have today. We compliment
them for achieving this and we ask all to see that we equally deserve
similar treatment and privileges."

The group said it plans to launch an advertising campaign to make it
a prominent election issue, but denies that it will endorse any one
political party.

"Any advocacy that we undertake will be on the basis of the justice of
the issue and the importance of fairness in public education funding,"
said Howard English, spokesman for the United Jewish Appeal, which
is participating in the coalition.

The group’s demand is strikingly similar to a campaign promise made
recently by the Progressive Conservatives.

PC Leader John Tory said he would extend public funding to non-Catholic
religious schools that follow the provincial curriculum if he’s
elected premier on Oct. 10.

However, Premier Dalton McGuinty dismissed Tory’s plan, which he
said would only lead to increased segregation of people with diverse
backgrounds.

NDP pledges $100M for education, funding review Meanwhile, the New
Democrats said Tuesday they would invest an additional $100 million
in the education system and launch an immediate review of the funding
formula if elected.

Party Leader Howard Hampton said the review would include public
input and be completed by March 2008.

The funding formula would be reviewed every year so gaps in education
funding could be addressed before cuts are made at schools.

The pledged funding would flow through the Local Priorities Grant,
which would give school boards $200 per student to fund essentials
and supplies.

McGuinty has said the Liberals don’t plan a review of the funding
formula until 2010.

McGuinty said he wants to assess the impact of new recently announced
funding before calling a full review.