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Start Saving Now for September: Your RESP Checklist Before the School Year Hits

  Canadian Money Brief · Family Finance September feels a long way off on July 1. That's exactly why now is the right time to look at your child's RESP — not in late August when the school supply list arrives and the grant math gets rushed. If you have a Registered Education Savings Plan (or you've been meaning to open one), here's what to check right now, and why the calendar year — not the school year — is what actually matters. Why July, Not August The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) — the government's 20% match on RESP contributions — runs on the calendar year , not the school year. Grant room for 2026 resets on a January-to-December basis, and it doesn't carry any special "back to school" deadline. But summer is genuinely the best time to check your numbers, for three reasons: You still have six full months left in the year to top up if you're behind. Contributions made now have more time to grow before your child needs the money. You av...

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Trudeau Announces $15 Billion Boost to Housing Program

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled plans for a $15 billion increase to the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) as part of Budget 2024. This significant boost aims to construct a minimum of 30,000 new apartments across Canada.

As part of this announcement, the Prime Minister also introduced the Canada Builds program. This initiative will partner with provinces and territories to build rental housing, providing federal financing under certain conditions. These conditions include complementing federal funding with their own investments, utilizing government, non-profit, community-owned, and vacant lands, and streamlining development approval timelines to no longer than 18 months.

The Apartment Construction Loan Program, launched in 2017, has already committed over $18 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. With this top-up, the program’s financing is now on track to build over 131,000 new apartments within the next decade. Reforms announced alongside this boost include extending loan terms and broadening access to financing for housing aimed at students and seniors.

This move represents a significant step toward addressing Canada’s housing challenges and ensuring affordable housing options for citizens. As the country continues to grow, initiatives like the ACLP play a crucial role in meeting the housing needs of Canadians.


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