C-513853Elizabeth II2004An Act to provide financial assistance for post-secondary education savingsCanada Education Savings ActCanada Education Savings201112
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200412
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C-3.6262004Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:SHORT TITLE
Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Canada Education Savings Act.
INTERPRETATION
DefinitionsThe definitions in this subsection apply in this Act.Canada Learning Bondbon d’étudesCanada Learning Bond means the bond payable or paid under section 6.CES grantsubvention pour l’épargne-étudesCES grant means a Canada Education Savings grant payable or paid under section 5 or under Part III.1 of the Department of Human Resources Development Act, as it read immediately before the coming into force of section 19 of this Act.child tax benefitprestation fiscale pour enfantschild tax benefit means a deemed overpayment under Subdivision a.1 of Division E of Part I of the Income Tax Act.first thresholdpremier seuilfirst threshold for a particular year means the dollar amount referred to in paragraph 117(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act, as adjusted under that Act for the particular year.national child benefit supplementsupplément de la prestation nationale pour enfantsnational child benefit supplement means that portion of a child tax benefit determined under the description of C in subsection 122.61(1) of the Income Tax Act.prescribedVersion anglaise seulementprescribed means prescribed by regulations.primary caregiverresponsableprimary caregiver meansin the case of a beneficiary who is a qualified dependant in respect of whom a child tax benefit is payable, the eligible individual in respect of the beneficiary; andin the case of a beneficiary in respect of whom a special allowance is payable under the Children’s Special Allowances Act, the department, agency or institution that maintains the beneficiary.second thresholddeuxième seuilsecond threshold for a particular year means the higher dollar amount referred to in paragraph 117(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act, as adjusted under that Act for the particular year.Income Tax Act expressionsUnless a contrary intention appears, in this Actthe expressions “adjusted income”, “eligible individual” and “qualified dependant” have the meanings assigned by section 122.6 of the Income Tax Act;the expressions beneficiary, contribution, designated provincial program, promoter, registered education savings plan, subscriber and trust have the meanings assigned by section 146.1 of the Income Tax Act; andany other expression has the meaning assigned by the Income Tax Act.
  • 2004, c. 26, s. 2;
  • 2010, c. 12, s. 30.
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PURPOSE
PurposeThe purpose of this Act is to encourage the financing of children’s post-secondary education through savings, from early childhood, in registered education savings plans.
Informational and promotional activitiesThe Minister shall take measures necessary to carry out the purpose set out in section 3, including making known to Canadians, through informational and promotional activities, the existence of CES grants and Canada Learning Bonds and any terms and conditions.
DESIGNATION OF MINISTER
Power of Governor in CouncilThe Governor in Council may designate a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada to be the Minister for the purposes of this Act.
PAYMENTS
CES grantsSubject to this Act and the regulations, on application to the Minister in a form and manner approved by the Minister, the Minister may, in respect of any contribution made in 1998 or a subsequent year to a registered education savings plan by or on behalf of a subscriber under the plan in respect of a beneficiary under the plan who is less than 17 years of age at the end of the year preceding the contribution, pay to a trustee of a trust governed by the plan a CES grant for the benefit of the trust. The payment is to be made on any terms and conditions that the Minister may specify by agreement between the Minister and the trustee.Amount of grantThe amount of a CES grant that may be paid for a particular year at any time is equal to the lesser of20% of the contribution, andthe amount, if any, by which the lesser of$1,000, unless the particular year is any of 1998 to 2006, in which case, $800, andthe beneficiary’s unused CES grant room for the particular year at that timeexceedsthe total of all CES grants paid before that time — other than those amounts paid under subsection (4) — in respect of contributions made in the particular year in respect of the beneficiary.Unused CES grant roomThe unused CES grant room for a beneficiary for a particular year at any time isif the beneficiary was 17 years of age or older at the end of the preceding year, nil; orin any other case, determined by the formula$400A + $500B - CwhereAis the number of years after 1997 and before 2007 in which the beneficiary was alive, other than a year throughout which the beneficiary wasan ineligible beneficiary in accord-ance with the regulations, ornot resident in Canada,Bis the number of years after 2006 in which the beneficiary was alive, up to and including the particular year, other than a year throughout which the beneficiary wasan ineligible beneficiary in accord-ance with the regulations, ornot resident in Canada, andCis the total of all CES grants paid before that time — other than those amounts paid under subsection (4) — in respect of contributions made in a preceding year in respect of the beneficiary.Additional amount of grantThe amount of a CES grant that may be paid for a particular year at any time is increased by the lesser ofthe amount that is20% of the contribution, if the beneficiaryis a qualified dependant of an eligible individual whose adjusted income used to determine the amount of a child tax benefit in respect of January in the particular year is the first threshold for the particular year or less, oris a person in respect of whom a special allowance under the Children’s Special Allowances Act is payable for at least one month in the particular year, and10% of the contribution, if the beneficiary is a qualified dependant of an eligible individual whose adjusted income used to determine the amount of a child tax benefit in respect of January in the particular year is more than the first threshold for the particular year but not more than the second threshold for the particular year, andthe amount by which$100, in the case of a beneficiary referred to in subparagraph (a)(i), or$50, in the case of a beneficiary referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii)exceedsthe total of all amounts paid under this subsection before that time in respect of contributions made in the particular year in respect of the beneficiary.No determination for JanuaryIf there has been no determination of eligibility for a child tax benefit in respect of January in a particular year, the adjusted income to be used for the purposes of subsection (4) is the adjusted income used to determine the amount of a child tax benefit for the first month in the particular year in respect of which eligibility has been established.Beneficiary born in DecemberIn applying subsection (5) in respect of a beneficiary born in December, the reference to “the first month in the particular year in respect of which eligibility has been established” in that subsection is to be read as a reference to “January of the next year”.Change in careIf, in a month following January in a particular year, an individual who was not the primary caregiver of a beneficiary in January of that year becomes the beneficiary’s primary caregiver, then the adjusted income to be used for the purposes of subsection (4) in respect of contributions made to the trustee of the trust designated by that individual is the adjusted income used to determine the amount of a child tax benefit for the first month in the particular year in respect of which the individual’s eligibility for the child tax benefit has been established.Change in care in DecemberIn applying subsection (6.1) in respect of a beneficiary for whom the individual becomes the beneficiary’s primary caregiver in December, the reference to “the first month in the particular year in respect of which the individual’s eligibility for the child tax benefit has been established” in that subsection is to be read as a reference to “January of the next year”.DesignationThe amount referred to in subsection (4) is to be paid to the trustee of a trust designated, in the form and manner approved by the Minister, by the primary caregiver of the beneficiary at the time the contribution is made.More than one primary caregiverIf there is more than one primary caregiver of the beneficiary at the time a contribution is made, the amount referred to in subsection (4) is to be paid to the trustee of the trust designated under subsection (7) to which a contribution is first made.Additional grant less than maximum amountFor greater certainty, if there is more than one primary caregiver of the beneficiary and the total of all amounts paid under subsection (4) to the trustee of the trust to which a contribution is first made is less than the maximum amount that may be paid under that subsection, then amounts may be paid under that subsection to the trustee of a trust designated by any primary caregiver of the beneficiary.[Repealed, 2010, c. 12, s. 31]RestrictionSubsection (4) applies only to contributions made in 2005 or a subsequent year.Lifetime capNot more than $7,200 in CES grants may be paid in respect of a beneficiary during their lifetime.
  • 2004, c. 26, s. 5;
  • 2007, c. 29, s. 37;
  • 2010, c. 12, s. 31;
  • 2011, c. 24, s. 148.
Previous Version
Canada Learning BondsSubject to this Act and the regulations, on application to the Minister, in the form and manner approved by the Minister, the Minister may, in respect of a beneficiary under a registered education savings plan who was born after 2003 and is less than 21 years of age at the time of the application, pay to a trustee of a trust governed by the plan a Canada Learning Bond for the benefit of the trust. The bond is to be paid on any terms and conditions that the Minister may specify by agreement between the Minister and the trustee.Amount of bondThe amount of a Canada Learning Bond is equal to the sum of the following amounts:$500 in respect of the first benefit year in which the beneficiaryis a person less than 15 years of age at the beginning of the month immediately before the benefit year, oris born during the benefit year or during the month immediately before it,and in respect of whom a national child benefit supplement, or a special allowance under the Children’s Special Allowances Act, is payable for at least one month in that year, and$100 in respect of any subsequent benefit year in which the beneficiary is a person less than 15 years of age at the beginning of the month immediately before the benefit year and in respect of whom a supplement or an allowance referred to in paragraph (a) is payable for at least one month in that year.Meaning of “benefit year”In this section, “benefit year” means the period that starts on July 1 in one year and ends on June 30 of the next year.DesignationThe amount of a bond in respect of a benefit year is to be paid to the trustee of a trust designated, in the form and manner approved by the Minister, by the primary caregiver of the beneficiary or, if the beneficiary is 18 years of age or more, by the beneficiary.Additional paymentWhen the Minister pays the amount under paragraph (2)(a), the Minister may, in prescribed circumstances, pay into the trust an additional amount determined in accordance with the regulations in recognition of the cost of administering registered education savings plans.
ConditionsNeither a CES grant nor a Canada Learning Bond may be paid in respect of a beneficiary under a registered education savings plan unlessthe Minister is provided with the Social Insurance Number of the beneficiary;the Minister is provided with the Social Insurance Number of the individual, or the business number of the department, agency or institution, that made a designation under subsection 5(7) or 6(4); andthe beneficiary is resident in Canada, in the case of a CES grant, at the time the contribution to the plan is made and, in the case of a Canada Learning Bond, immediately before the payment is made.
InterestThe Minister may, in prescribed circumstances, pay interest, determined in accordance with prescribed rules, in respect of CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds.
Payments out of CRFAll amounts payable by the Minister under this Act, the regulations or an agreement entered into under section 12 shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
WaiverOn application made by the primary caregiver of the beneficiary or, if the beneficiary is 18 years of age or more, by the beneficiary, the Minister may, to avoid undue hardship, waive any of the requirements of this Act or the regulations that relate to the payment of CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds and that are specified in regulations made under paragraph 13(g). The application must be in the form and manner approved by the Minister.RestrictionDespite subsection (1), the Minister may not waive any requirement related to the determination of eligibility for a child tax benefit or a national child benefit supplement, or for a special allowance under the Children’s Special Allowances Act.
GENERAL
Recovery of payments and interestAn amount required to be repaid to the Minister under this Act, the regulations or under an agreement entered into under this Act, other than an agreement referred to in section 12, and any interest due in respect of the amount constitute a debt due to Her Majesty in right of Canada and is recoverable as such in the Federal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
[Repealed, 2005, c. 34, s. 83]Previous Version
Authority to enter into agreements with provincesThe Minister may, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, enter into agreements with the government of any province to administer provincial programs consistent with the purpose of this Act.Fees and chargesAn agreement entered into under subsection (1) may include provisions respecting the fees or charges to be paid for a service provided by or on behalf of the Minister under the agreement.Amounts chargedThe amounts of the fees or charges referred to in subsection (2) may not exceed the cost of providing the service.Amounts receivedSubject to conditions imposed by the Treasury Board, any amounts received by the Minister for services may be used by the Minister for administering the provincial programs referred to in subsection (1).
Collection of informationIf the Minister considers it advisable, the Minister may, subject to conditions agreed on by the Minister and the Minister of National Revenue, collect the Social Insurance Number of any registered education savings plan subscriber as well as any prescribed information, for the administration of section 146.1 and Parts X.4 and X.5 of the Income Tax Act.
  • 2007, c. 35, s. 176.
RegulationsThe Governor in Council may make regulations for carrying out the purpose and provisions of this Act and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulationsrespecting any matter or thing that by this Act is to be or may be prescribed or otherwise determined under the regulations;establishing conditions that must be met by a registered education savings plan and by persons in respect of the plan before a CES grant or a Canada Learning Bond may be paid in respect of the plan;establishing the manner of determining the amount of a CES grant that may be paid in respect of contributions to registered education savings plans or the amount of a Canada Learning Bond that may be paid into those plans;specifying terms and conditions to be included in agreements entered into between a trustee under a registered education savings plan and the Minister relating to the terms and conditions applicable to the payment of a CES grant or a Canada Learning Bond and specifying, for inclusion in the agreements, in addition to any other conditions that the Minister considers appropriate, the obligations of a trustee under an agreement;prescribing the circumstances in which an additional amount may be paid under subsection 6(5) and establishing the manner of determining the amount of the payment;specifying terms and conditions to be included in agreements entered into between promoters of registered education savings plans and the Minister;specifying the requirements of this Act or the regulations relating to the payment of CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds that may be waived by the Minister to avoid undue hardship;governing or prohibiting the sharing of CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds, and the earnings generated on them;specifying circumstances under which all or part of any amount paid under this Act is to be repaid to the Minister;specifying circumstances under which the earnings generated on Canada Learning Bonds repaid under regulations made under paragraph (i) are to be repaid to the Minister and establishing the manner of determining the amount of those earnings;establishing, for the purpose of determining an amount required to be repaid under this Act in respect of CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds, the manner of determining the portion, if any, of an educational assistance payment made under a registered education savings plan that is attributable to CES grants or Canada Learning Bonds, as the case may be; andspecifying information that the Minister may collect under section 12.1.
  • 2004, c. 26, s. 13;
  • 2007, c. 35, s. 177.
Previous Version
TRANSITIONAL PROVISION
AgreementsEvery agreement entered into under Part III.1 of the Department of Human Resources Development Act that is in force immediately before the coming into force of section 5 of this Act is deemed to be an agreement entered into under that section and continues in force until it terminates.
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTSAccess to Information Act
[Amendment]
[Amendment]
Children’s Special Allowances Act
[Amendment]
[Amendment]
Department of Human Resources Development Act
[Amendment]
Income Tax Act
[Amendment]
[Amendments]
[Amendment]
COMING INTO FORCE
Order in councilThe provisions of this Act, other than sections 4, 12, 17 and 20 to 22, come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.[Note: Sections 4, 12, 17 and 20 to 22 in force on assent December 15, 2004; Act, other than sections 4, 12, 17 and 20 to 22, in force July 1, 2005, see SI/2005-51.]
RELATED PROVISIONS — 2010, c. 12, ss. 30(3), (4)
Subsection (1) applies to 2009 and subsequent years.Subsection (2) applies to the 2007 and subsequent years.
 — 2010, c. 12, s. 31(4)
Subsections (1) to (3) apply to 2009 and subsequent years.