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The letter, following a CRA review, has prompted a flood of worry and confusion from parents, said Julius de Jager, the executive director of the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools, Canada’s biggest independent school organization.

“The negative scenario is that they would be taxed on some or all of those donation pieces and so a portion of that value would have to be paid back to the government as taxes if they were not properly defended,” he said, adding that the organization is looking into hiring tax accountants to help some OACS members craft a response by March 5.

One Ontario parent who received the letter but didn’t want his name published, said that when his children were in school, he cut one cheque every year to CEAF and another to the school for the actual tuition payments.

At tax time, he received a deduction of about $5,000 for the CEAF donation.

“This has struck a huge chord in the Christian school community,” he said. “There are people who, if this [review] ruling stands will have to a) pay back and b) can no longer use this get a deduction on a portion of their tuition would not be able to send their kids anymore.”

Longtime CEAF chairman Adrian Guldemond maintains his organization runs a “legitimate program” that helps families afford a Christian education for which there is little to no public funding. The school community appoints a development officer who raises money for the program, and the participating schools request grants. The School Support Program conforms to the CRA’s arm’s-length requirements because “the parent has no say over what happens to the money,” he said.