Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, the Edmonton Islamic Academy openly states on their website that they will not enrol students with behavioural difficulties or students with special needs.

In Airdrie the Koinonia Christian school requires a confidential pastor’s report before it even considers enrolling students, and in Lethbridge a Christian school states on their website that their sole purpose is to instruct their children – and get this – in the fear of the Lord.

To the Minister of Education: how can you persist in defending these exclusive and elite schools when they openly state that they do not offer inclusive educational environments?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear over the last few days to this particular member. In Alberta parents are given choice in what schools they enrol their children in. We have a public education system that offers options, which is fully paid by the taxpayers of Alberta. We’re making a great investment in education. However, some parents choose to opt out and put their children either in charter or private schools at a higher cost to themselves. They pay tuition fees, registration fees, and it costs them a great deal of money. If they choose to do that, we allow for that choice to occur.

Mr. Hehr: Given that public money funds these institutions, will the minister change the legislation to make these schools inclusive by obligating them to enrol special-needs students and students with disabilities?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, it is common that taxpayers do partially fund private schools. That is correct. Alberta Education in its commitment to all children in Alberta will fund the cost of instructing the core curriculum of Alberta. However, if schools choose to deliver additional or enriched programs, be it religion or be it any other academic programming, that’s what the parents are on the hook for. There is nothing elitist about it, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Hehr: Well, given that the Premier has openly expressed her concern over the rise of private and chartered schools, why does this government insist on committing taxpayer dollars to institutions that are not interested in offering an open and inclusive environment?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Going further, Mr. Speaker, to the second part of the member’s question, if there was a situation that was to arise where a parent wanted to send a child to a private school and was ready and willing to pay whatever fees the private school has and the child had disabilities and the child was refused attendance at that school purely on the basis of the child’s disability, that would be something that my office and I personally would be interested in looking into. I am not aware of such cases right now where parents are being refused enrolment simply because their child has a disability.

Alberta Hansard, November 29, 2011

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