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That extra help came in the form of tax relief.

For example, independent non-profit schools with a charitable tax number can issue tax receipts for deductions against a portion of tuition. These schools are usually faith-based, in which tuition qualifies as a charitable donation. According to the Federation of Independent School Associations B.C., it can typically amount to about half of tuition costs, though examples exist where the limit is much higher. Former Sun education reporter Janet Steffenhagen found one Christian school in Terrace that stated in its tuition schedule that “nearly all of the tuition qualifies as a charitable donation, in effect reducing tuition cost by nearly 40 per cent.” And according to its website, the elite Vancouver College, a private Catholic school, issues a tax credit for about 80 per cent of the total cost of tuition.

Parents of special needs children in private schools may be able to claim tuition costs as a medical expense tax credit. The credit is available if the school’s facilities, equipment or personnel is required for a student’s special needs, and a doctor can substantiate those needs in writing.

Another tax aid, one potentially more valuable since it can be applied to reduce income and thus the marginal tax rate, is the daycare deduction available at private schools. Yes, daycare.

Sandy Garossino, an associate editor at the online National Observer, recently had a letter passed on to her that had been mailed out last year to parents from the elite St. George’s School for Boys (which presumably would include the premier, since her son attends St. George’s). It was sent out to parents to inform them of the benefits of — as the letter stated — the “child care expense deduction for day students.”