Ontario passes law waiving school fees

On May 19, 2005, the Ontario government passed legislation that will expand the list of newcomers to Canada who do not have to pay fees to receive a public education. The government estimates that some 250 immigrant children and their families will benefit from the exemption. This means they will no longer have to pay fees ranging from $7,000 to $10,000 annually.

The new amendments to the Education Act will extend publicly funded education to any person who has applied for permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship and whose parent or guardian is a Canadian citizen resident in Ontario, and to any person whose parent or guardian is in Canada and applying for permanent resident status. A person whose parent or guardian is authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to study at a publicly funded Ontario university or college will also benefit.

The legislation is tentatively scheduled to come into force on September 1, 2005.

For further information, please contact Paul Marshall at (613) 940-2754.