Tax Direction and Lease Information

Support Catholic Education

Help protect and preserve our Catholic education system by ensuring that you are registered as an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter. Like many Catholics, you may be surprised to find out that you are registered as a Public School supporter.

To verify that you are an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter:

1. Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice
OR
2. Check your Voter Information Card

By directing your tax support to the separate school system:

  • You may vote for separate school trustees in municipal elections
  • Your children may attend Catholic elementary schools
  • You show your support for the Catholic school system

Have you moved?

Even if you have been an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter in the past, the designation DOES NOT follow you when you relocate. Every time you move, it is essential that you register yourself as an English Separate Catholic supporter.

What is a Separate School Lease Agreement?

A Separate School Lease Agreement allows people who jointly own or rent a property to designate school support to the Separate School Board when one of the owners or tenants is non-Roman Catholic.

The Separate School Lease Agreement allows the Roman Catholic joint owner or tenant the right to designate the school support for the non-Roman Catholic. Otherwise, the English-Public designation applies as required by the Assessment Act.

Only one school support designation is allowed for each household (e.g., a self-contained residential unit) and only Roman Catholics may support a separate school board. If only one owner or tenant qualifies, please complete a Separate School Lease Agreement (see Downloadable Forms below or contact the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board at 519-756-6505 ext. 120 so one can be mailed to you).

What is a Lessor and Lessee?

Lessor = a person who leases property to another; a landlord.

Lessee = a person who holds the lease of a property; a tenant.

I’m Catholic but my husband is not. I’ve been asked to fill out a Separate School Lease Agreement but am not sure who is the Lessor and who is the Lessee.

In Ontario, the tenant has the right to direct school support.

If you are renting your place of residence, your landlord is the owner (who may or may not be Catholic) and you are the tenant. You may direct your support to Public-Separate. Please remember to indicate that your landlord does not live at the address on the form.

If you and your spouse co-own your residence, but your spouse is not Catholic, he must ‘rent’ the rights to direct the direction of tax support to you (the Catholic). This is done though a Separate School Lease Agreement.

Form Samples

The following samples include one owner as Catholic, the second owner as non-Catholic and two children. A Separate School Lease Agreement must accompany the Application for Direction of School Support form in this situation.

Sample: Application for Direction of School Support form

Sample: Separate School Lease Agreement form

Downloadable Forms

The Application for Direction of School Support and/or Lease forms are available for your convenience online, or from any Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board Catholic Education Centre.

Click here to download the Application for Direction of School Support Form
Click here to download the Separate School Support Lease Form

Help protect and preserve our Catholic education system!

Catholic ratepayers who no longer have children in school are important to the vitality of our Catholic education system.  School support direction should be made even if you don’t have children currently attending school.  It is an investment in our future and all Catholic ratepayers are partners with Catholic Educators in this investment.

Municipal elections are important to the future of Catholic education and to Catholic families

Your ongoing support of Catholic schools is instrumental in the preservation and enhancement of our system. When you direct your support to the English Separate (Catholic) system, you are sending the government a powerful message.  It says:

  • You support Catholic schools in your community;
  • You want to see Catholic schools continue to exist and flourish;
  • You want equitable resources for your Catholic schools.

Your record of school support is part of an assessment base that also serves other important functions:

  • It is used to determine the number of trustees elected to each Board;
  • It supports the Board`s population projections, which affects funding.

To register, check or change your Direction of School Support Designation, contact 519-756-6505 Ext 10120.

UNLESS you are identified as an English Separate School Supporter…

  • You CANNOT vote for Catholic school Trustees
  • You are NOT counted as a supporter of Catholic Education in Ontario

Show your support by directing your property taxes to the English Separate (Catholic) school system. Please note that English Separate School Supporter means the same as Catholic School Supporter.

If you require assistance filling out the forms, please contact your local Catholic school or call the Catholic Education Centre 519-756-6505 Ext 10120.

Completed forms may be returned to the school or mailed to:

Catholic Education Centre
322 Fairview Drive
P.O. 217
Brantford, Ontario
N3T 5M8