October 2008
Don't Tax Our Schools!
(check out this great article)
My fellow Trustees and I are trying to put a stop to the federal government taxing our public schools. Last year, the Toronto District School Board paid $10 Million in GST. Municipalities, provinces and even prisons are tax-free. Why not the education of our children?
In order for these unfair taxes to end, candidates in the federal election need to hear from you. Please send a quick e-mail to the party leaders and the major candidates in your riding telling them that public education should not be taxed.
You can find more information, as well as a sample e-mail to send to federal leaders, at www.donttaxourschools.org and on Trustee Davis’ Rick Mercer-style YouTube rant.
For your convenience, here is another sample e-mail which you can use to send to federal leaders:
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Dear:
There is a federal election issue that affects my school. I was very surprised
and outraged to learn that my child's education, my public school, supported
by my tax dollars, pays GST to the Federal government.
What makes me really mad is that cities don't pay GST. Towns don't pay GST.
The TTC doesn't pay GST. Police and fire departments don't pay GST. Provinces
don't pay GST. When a prison is built or repaired, no GST is paid –
but school boards pay GST every time we build a school, repair a window,
or buy a pencil or piece of paper.
Over the past three years, the TDSB has paid the federal government $21.7M
in GST. About $40,000 for each of our 55O schools over the past 3 years.
About $80 for each of our 270,000 students over the past three years. As
a parent and a taxpayer I don't understand why the Federal government is
taking money that was raised from Ontario taxpayers to pay to educate our
children.
I am joining with Toronto District School Board Trustees in asking all candidates
in this election to stop charging schools GST. I hope that you will ask
your fellow candidates and party officials to stop charging schools GST
too. For more information, go to the website at, www.donttaxourschools.org.
Our students deserve better. Not taxes.
Sincerely,
(your name)
