QUEBEC CITY - Education Minister Pierre Reid flatly denies a government decision to fully fund Jewish private schools in Montreal is linked to donations made to the Quebec Liberal Party.
A newspaper report suggests the decision to bump up funding for a number of schools came after record donations from members of the Jewish community.
"The law gives me the authority to take such a decision," he told reporters Tuesday.
Reid says he alone decided to offer full funding to five private Jewish schools in Montreal, and that he wanted to help build bridges after the United Talmud Torah school library was firebombed.
"I chose to announce that at the exact night where the new library was opened because of the symbol that was related to that decision," Reid explains.
Reid denies his decision had anything to do with party donations. A newspaper report says the Liberals received record donations from the Jewish community last year, and that the decision to fully fund the private schools is a kind of payback.
Political science professor Daniel Salé says there's nothing wrong with a government giving special treatment to a minority group.
But he says Jean Charest's Liberals have done a poor job justifying their decision.
"I think it lacks a certain vision, and it's basically acting on particular issues without looking at the bigger picture," Salé says. "In that regard, this is not necessarily well-advised."
Parents and teachers in public schools say they don't have enough money for basic supplies.
Salé says if the Charest government fails to persuade Quebecers it's okay to fully fund some private religious schools, it could cost the Liberals the next election.
This is higly suspiscious,the Liberal get money from the Jewish comunity,and then say its not related.
Jerry Orbach 1935 2004 Admiral Valdemar~You know you've fucked up when Wacky Races has more realistic looking vehicles than your own.
This is higly suspiscious,the Liberal get money from the Jewish comunity,and then say its not related.
Don't you understand that community groups donate to the Liberals out of the goodness of their heart and in appreciation of their policies? It has nothing to do with the fact they just happen to be in power.
