Human Rights A Day

funding. Susie Adler argued what she felt was a legitimate case: If Ontario fully funds Catholic and Protestant schools, why are schools that are run by other religions in the province not entitled to the same support? Adler linked up with fellow Jewish parents and the Ontario Alliance of Christian School Societies to take the government of Ontario to court. Why? Because their charter rights had been violated, she claimed. While the group lost their cases at all levels of courts including the Ontario court of appeal, Adler and her colleagues were given a chance at the Supreme Court of Canada. They made their arguments there on January 23 and 24, 1996. Ten months later, the court weighed in, dismissing their case and ruling that the Ontario government is not obliged to give funding to these private schools. While Ontario and Quebec specifically protect their Protestant and Catholic minorities, the court stated, this is part of a compromise that need not be extended to other religions. Governments may choose t