Fredericton — A Progressive Conservative leadership candidate has put forward a concrete policy aimed at making private schools more accessible to families by offering a provincial tax credit, a move that private-school operators in New Brunswick have publicly supported.
Policy details and claimed savings
Don Monahan, the MLA for Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, is proposing a non-refundable tax credit of $5,000 per child to reduce taxable income for families who enrol children in private schools. Monahan estimates that the measure would reduce a family's provincial tax bill by between $470 and $1,015 per child, depending on individual income and the marginal tax rate.
The proposal is one of the more tangible planks in the PC leadership contest and is being presented as a way to expand parental choice while addressing pressures in the public system, including classroom crowding and student absenteeism, according to Monahan.
“Number one is providing access and affordability. Number two is parental choice. Number three is fiscal restraint, and number four is simplicity.”
Reaction from private school operators
Private school administrators welcomed the announcement. Operators say demand for independent schooling has grown in recent years but high tuition remains a barrier for many families.
- Kara Angus, who operates East Coast Leadership Academy in Fredericton, said increased interest does not always translate into enrolment because fees can be prohibitive.
- Sussex Christian School’s head of schools, Marsha Boyd-Mitchell, also expressed support for measures that lower the cost of private tuition.
Angus told reporters her school charges around $10,500 per student and that discounts are offered for families with multiple children enrolled. East Coast Leadership Academy opened two years ago and has about 75 students, she said.
Context: rising private-school enrolment
Provincial figures show an increase in private-school registrations over recent years. According to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the number of students in private schools rose from 1,687 in 2021–22 to 2,339 in 2025–26.
| School year | Private-school enrolment |
|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 1,687 |
| 2025–26 | 2,339 |
Questions about public dollars and equity
The plan is likely to rekindle debate about whether public funds should be used to subsidize private education. Critics of similar policies elsewhere argue such measures can divert resources and public support away from the public system and deepen inequities, since private schools often charge substantial tuition.
Proponents counter that tax credits expand parental choice and ease pressures on the public system by offering alternatives for families who seek different programming or smaller class sizes.
Fiscal and policy considerations
Monahan described the credit as a way to balance parental choice with fiscal responsibility, framing it as a straightforward measure that reduces costs for families. Detailed costing, projected uptake, and whether the credit would come with conditions—such as accreditation, reporting or limits on eligible schools—have not been released.
Without costing estimates from the candidate or the PC party, it remains unclear how much revenue the province would forego if the credit were adopted, and whether the measure would affect funding allocations for the public school system.
What families and parents should know
For families considering private schooling, a proposed tax credit could lower the net cost but would not eliminate tuition fees. Eligibility rules, claims procedures and whether the credit is refundable or non-refundable would determine the actual benefit per household.
- Proposed credit: $5,000 per child (non-refundable, per candidate)
- Estimated provincial tax saving: $470–$1,015 per child, depending on income
- Private-school tuition example: $10,500 per student at one Fredericton school
Any change to tax policy would also require scrutiny from the next PC leader and, if adopted into a government platform, further analysis by the province’s finance officials.
Next steps
The PC leadership campaign will continue to feature competing policy ideas. If Monahan’s proposal gains traction within the party, it could shape debate over education policy ahead of the next provincial election. Meanwhile, private schools that have seen growing enquiries say a tax credit would make their programs attainable for more families.
As discussions unfold, parents and educators will be watching for details about eligibility, cost, and the broader implications for New Brunswick’s education system.
