Increase take up rates of Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) by making registration easier.
What success looks like
Increased number of low and middle income families using Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and receiving Canada Learning Bonds so that more Canadians get access to post-secondary education.
Government's narrative on progress
In 2017, 142,778 children received the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) for the first time, bringing the total number of children who have ever received the CLB to over 1 million. In 2017, the CLB take-up rate was 36.5%, up from 34.7% in 2016. In addition, 290,410 children received the Canada Education Savings Grants (CESG) for the first time, bringing the total number of children aged 0-17 who have ever received the CESG to 3.69 million. The Government of Canada is exploring new and innovative approaches to increase awareness and take-up of the CLB. Of note, a Call for Concepts was launched in November 2017. Proposals are being considered for funding under three themes: Support for Indigenous Peoples; Facilitated Access; and Research and Innovation. Successful applicants have been advised. The findings from these projects will help inform additional efforts that the government could undertake to increase take-up of the CLB. The Government of Canada is making it easier for parents to open a registered education savings plan (RESP). The *Canada Education Savings Act* was amended, allowing the cohabitating spouse or common-law partner of the primary caregiver to request the CLB and/or the additional amount of the CESG on behalf of an eligible child. The Government of Canada collaborated with the Province of Ontario to integrate an “Education Savings Referral Service” into ServiceOntario’s online Newborn Registration Service, as announced in Budget 2018. As of March 2018, parents of newborns are able to request to be contacted by a participating RESP promoter of their choice to learn more about and start the process to open an RESP, and request the education savings incentives for an eligible child.
Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.