A newly formed group is calling on the Ontario government to fund all faith-based schools that meet provincial standards.

Religious leaders from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Armenian communities held a media conference Monday to announce the creation of the Public Education Fairness Network.

The lobby group said it is unfair that the province funds the Catholic school system without funding other faith-based schools.

"We all came to this country as immigrants at different times," said Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, president of the Federation of Hindu Temples.

"Our Catholic brothers and sisters came maybe earlier than we did … They fought very hard for the privilege they have today. We compliment them for achieving this and we ask all to see that we equally deserve similar treatment and privileges."

The group said it plans to launch an advertising campaign to make it a prominent election issue, but denies that it will endorse any one political party.

"Any advocacy that we undertake will be on the basis of the justice of the issue and the importance of fairness in public education funding," said Howard English, spokesman for the United Jewish Appeal, which is participating in the coalition.

The group's demand is strikingly similar to a campaign promise made recently by the Progressive Conservatives.

PC Leader John Tory said he would extend public funding to non-Catholic religious schools that follow the provincial curriculum if he's elected premier on Oct. 10.

However, Premier Dalton McGuinty dismissed Tory's plan, which he said would only lead to increased segregation of people with diverse backgrounds.

NDP pledges $100M for education, funding review

Meanwhile, the New Democrats said Tuesday they would invest an additional $100 million in the education system and launch an immediate review of the funding formula if elected.

Party Leader Howard Hampton said the review would include public input and be completed by March 2008.

The funding formula would be reviewed every year so gaps in education funding could be addressed before cuts are made at schools.

The pledged funding would flow through the Local Priorities Grant, which would give school boards $200 per student to fund essentials and supplies.

McGuinty has said the Liberals don't plan a review of the funding formula until 2010.

McGuinty said he wants to assess the impact of new recently announced funding before calling a full review.

With files from the Canadian Press