The school they have created can flourish, develop and contribute as part of the educational matrix of the province. Providing tax credits in effect imposes a consumer model on education. Individual students and their parents can shop around for education and change schools as they please. The health of the school will be subject to the whims of individual parents rather than enjoy the support of a community of commitment and the financial resources of all of society. Instead, all taxpayers should pay taxes for all schools, including those with alternative perspectives and approaches.
Parents can then choose from a variety of strong schools, in keeping with their world view.
This is fundamental to the common good. It is important that fair and reasonable standards for all publicly-funded schools be developed, which allow for the genuine diversity intended by this announcement. Many schools have based their tuition on a per family basis. The refundable credit certainly is designed to do that, but there is limited information on how the credit will work and for whom. Alternative schools already exist within the public and separate systems across the province.