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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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Congress in Crisis: Scrambling to Avert Government Shutdown



In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Congress is racing against the clock to prevent a partial government shutdown. This urgency follows the rejection of a demand by President-elect Donald Trump to lift the nation's debt ceiling. The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, is attempting to navigate a narrow path that can satisfy both the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-majority Senate as the midnight Friday funding deadline looms.

Conservative Republicans recently dismissed Trump's call for a five-year suspension of the U.S. debt ceiling, which could have added trillions more to the government's $36 trillion debt. This rejection has left Congress without a clear plan to avoid the shutdown. The situation is further complicated by Trump's insistence on extending the debt ceiling to 2029, a demand that has not gained traction among lawmakers.

The failure of a hastily revised alternative bill, which aimed to keep the federal budget running at its current level through March and provide $100 billion in disaster relief, has added to the uncertainty. This bill was rejected by a vote of 174-235, highlighting the deep divisions within the Republican Party and the broader Congress.

As the deadline approaches, the pressure is mounting on Congress to find a solution that can avert the shutdown and ensure the continued functioning of the federal government. The stakes are high, with potential disruptions to government services and paychecks for federal workers hanging in the balance.

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