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Two-Thirds of RDSP Money Goes Unclaimed: How Ottawa's $70,000 Disability Benefit Actually Works

  Published August 19, 2026 Of the 311,000 active Registered Disability Savings Plans opened since the program launched in 2008, Canadians have contributed $3.3 billion — and Ottawa has matched that with $5.1 billion in grants and $2.1 billion in bonds, according to figures reported by BNN Bloomberg on Wednesday. That sounds like a program working as intended. It isn't. The same report cites the latest Statistics Canada tally showing that two-thirds of the government money set aside for the RDSP goes unclaimed every year, largely because eligible Canadians don't know the plan exists. If you or someone in your family is approved for the Disability Tax Credit, this is one of the highest-value accounts the federal government offers — richer, dollar for dollar, than the RRSP, the TFSA, or the RESP. Here's how the math actually works, and what it takes to claim your share. Who qualifies Anyone approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) — via CRA Form T2201, certified by a medi...
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Are rate hikes over for Canada


The Canadian economy is expected to show a modest growth of 0.4% in the third quarter of 2023, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. This is lower than the 0.6% expansion in the previous quarter, and well below the 2.1% growth rate that the Bank of Canada projected in July.

The weak GDP numbers have fueled the speculation that the country may be heading into a recession, as global trade tensions, lower oil prices, and household debt weigh on the economic outlook. 

However, not everyone is convinced that the situation is so dire. Some forecasters argue that the third quarter slowdown was mainly due to temporary factors, such as a strike at a major auto plant, a drop in agricultural output due to drought, and a slowdown in housing construction. They expect that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter, as these factors dissipate and consumer spending picks up.

Moreover, some forecasters point out that the inflation rate remains within the central bank's target range of 1% to 3%, suggesting that there is no need for further monetary stimulus. They also note that the labour market remains strong, with the unemployment rate at a near-record low of 5.5%, and wage growth at a solid 3.2%.

Therefore, some forecasters believe that the Bank of Canada will maintain its wait-and-see approach, and keep interest rates unchanged until there are clear signs of either a sustained recovery or a prolonged downturn. They argue that the central bank has already done enough to support the economy, by cutting interest rates three times in 2022, and that any further easing could fuel financial imbalances and inflationary pressures.

In summary, the GDP numbers for the third quarter of 2023 are likely to spark more debate about the state of the Canadian economy and the direction of monetary policy. However, some forecasters are more optimistic than others, and think that the rate hikes are over for now, unless there is a significant change in the economic conditions.

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