You may be eligible to claim a tax deduction if your child is using public transit transportation to go to school. 

To be eligible to claim a tax credit for public transit use, you need the following:
1) an indication that it is a monthly (or longer duration) pass;
2) the date or period for which the pass is valid;
3) the name of the transit authority or organization issuing the pass;
4) the amount paid for the pass; and,
5) the identity of the rider, either by name or unique identifier.

If the pass does not have all of this information, you will also need to keep receipts, cancelled cheques or credit card statements, along with your pass(es), to support your claim.

If you are a monthly pass holder,  print your name, and phone number on the back of your pass as applicable after purchase.

Only monthly and yearly passes are eligible for the Federal tax credits. So tickets, day passes, premium fees and cash fares are not eligible for the credits.

You do not need to submit any documentation to claim a tax credit for public transit use when you file for your income tax return but, you are advised to keep your passes and receipts in case the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) needs to verify your claim.

For more information on tax credit for public transit use, visit the Canada Revenue Agency web site.

FAQ’s:

1. What is the tax credit for public transit passes?
The tax credit for public transit passes is a non-refundable tax credit for the cost of buying a monthly (or longer duration) pass for commuting on buses, streetcars, subways, commuter trains and ferries.

2. How do I claim the tax credit for public transit passes?
You are able to claim the tax credit for public transit passes on your income tax return for the amounts you have paid for travel.

3. What will I need to support my claim?
At a minimum, you will need to keep your expired monthly transit passes to support your claim. If your transit pass displays all of the following information, the pass itself will be sufficient to support a claim for the tax credit:

a) an indication that it is a monthly (or longer duration) pass;
b) the date or period for which the pass is valid;
c) the name of the transit authority or organization issuing the pass;
d) the amount paid for the pass; and,
e) the identity of the rider.

You will not need to submit any documentation when you file your return, but you must keep it in case the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) asks for it in verifying your claim.

The School will not provide tax receipt for public transit transportation.  You must retain a copy of your monthly bus pass and proof of payment. 

4. How much can I claim?
You can claim the full amount paid for a public transit pass, or for the cost of passes for multiple transit systems.

The tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit, which means that the amount you claim is multiplied by the lowest personal income tax rate for the year and is then deducted from your tax otherwise payable.

5.  Can I claim the cost of a Yellow Bus Transportation? 

No.  Yellow Bus transportation is not considered to be Public Transit Transportation. 

6. I use more than one method of public transit to commute. Can I claim more than one type of pass?

Yes, you can claim the full amount of any combination of transit passes.

7. Can I claim the credit on behalf of my family?
Yes, you can claim the tax credit for public transit passes on behalf of your spouse, common law partner, and your children under the age of 19, to the extent that these amounts have not already been claimed.

8. Where can I get more information about this tax credit?
Additional information on how to claim the tax credit for public transit passes is available on the Canada Revenue Agency web site.

(Source:  Adapted from Calgary Transit Web Site)

The Fort McMurray Catholic Board of Education welcomes the announcement of Premier Redford to invest an additional $107 million for Education in the Province.  This reverts the cuts announced in the Spring Budget which led the Board to approve a deficit budget of $2.9 million in June 2011.

At that time, the Board decided against laying off teachers and made reductions in non-essential services outside the classrooms.  However, the projected deficit of $2.9 million was not sustainable and would have impeded investment in the future of education in our region.

Fort McMurray Catholic Schools will receive $1.06 million this year which will allow schools to address the most urgent shortfalls in instructional services and reduce their projected deficit.  More importantly, the Premier announced that the second phase of education cuts planned for next school year were cancelled which would have decimated eduction in Fort McMurray.

Fort McMurray Catholic Schools is excited to announce the expansion of the Father J.A. Turcotte Kindergarten program to a full day Kindergarten program in September 2011.

Fort McMurray Catholic Schools has designated extra funding beyond the 475 hours per year funded by Alberta Education to provide a full-day Kindergarten program in Father Turcotte School. This school has been identified as having many children who could benefit most from additional time at school to help them achieve the learning outcomes of Alberta Education’s Kindergarten curriculum. Many other Alberta School Jurisdictions currently offer the option of full day Kindergarten programs and these programs have demonstrated the documented researched benefits for children

Registration at taking place at the Catholic Education Centre during the summer and at Father Turcotte School starting on August 15th.  Priority will be given to students who live in the downtown area. A maximum of 22 students will be accepted into the program for September.  Although the program is open to children from anywhere in Fort McMurray, transportation can only provided to eligible students residing in the Father Turcotte designated area (downtown and Draper Road).