kcho@watdaisy.UUCP (03/21/87)
It is tax time again and with dismay I read in the back of
the Ontario Tax Credit form (T1C Ont.) of my Income Tax Return the following:
"The Property Tax Credit...[and the Sales Tax Credit] may be claimed
by all individuals residents in Ontario... except...persons from other
countries who have been admitted to Canada as visitors with Student
Authorization".
This law, lets' call it Credit Law, violates three important documents:
Article 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
the Supreme Law of Canada guarantees equality to all.
"Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to
equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in
particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin,
colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability."
So, this law discriminates against foreign students on grounds of
national origin by not allowing them to have equal benefit of the law.
The Ontario Human Rights Code, 1981 forbids discrimination on ground
of citizenship.
Again, this law contravenes this important document.
At last, the Draft International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and their Families of the
United Nations in article 48 says:
"Subject to agreements on double taxation, migrant workers and members
of their families shall not be liable to taxes, duties or charges of any
description whatsoever higher or more onerous than those imposed on nationals
in similar circumstances.
[They shall be entitled, under conditions no less favourable than those
applicable to nationals, to deductions or exemptions from taxes or charges
and to all allowances, including allowances for dependants]."
Many graduate foreign students support themselves with teaching or research
assistantships and could be considered migrant workers.
May I have your comments?
Is there a problem? Am I just dreaming?
Is it necessary to launch legal action? Are you interested? Do you care?
Must foreign students accept everything that comes from the government?
Does the Universities care?
Mariaurora Mota