I recently learned that the Peel Children and Youth Initiative successfully completed a campaign called Enrolled by Six which set out to increase the number of children living in low-income households who are enrolled in the Canada Learning Bond (CLB). Now 40% of eligible children in Peel are enrolled in the program and 22 organizations are committed to ensuring that families are encouraged to enroll in the CLB.
The CLB is a Government of Canada program that provides $500 in education money to children born on or after January 1, 2004 whose families receive the National Child Benefit Supplement or whose after-tax income is $43,561 or less. Children may get up to $2,000 because the Government will add $100 more every year up to the age of 15.
To enroll, children require a Social Insurance Number (SIN) – available at any Service Canada Office.
SmartSAVER.org offers a list of no-cost, no-risk plans. Family contributions are not required to start a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) or to receive the Bond. But if families do make a contribution, the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) will add up to 40% more.
For information about ordering copies of the bilingual brochure for distribution to families, please visit www.canlearn.ca/eng/savings/clb.shtml.
Wendy Anderson, Coordinator, Children and Youth Services Network