Notice #668 - Change to the British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) eligibility criteria

Purpose

The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to inform Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) Providers of the amendment to the eligibility criteria for the BCTESG.

Background

On August 15, 2015, the Government of British Columbia launched the BCTESG, aimed at assisting families plan and save early for their children’s post-secondary education by contributing a $1,200 grant into an RESP. The grant was payable to eligible children born on January 1, 2007, or after.

Amendment to the eligibility criteria

On February 16, 2016, the Government of British Columbia announced that it was extending the eligibility criteria for the BCTESG to children born on or after January 1, 2006.

The change in eligibility received Royal Assent on March 15, 2016. As Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), in collaboration with Government of British Columbia, seek to implement the amendment, RESP Providers are instructed to not accept any application forms for the 2006 cohort. Please be assured that RESP Providers will be advised as to when they may start accepting application forms.

It should be noted that ESDC does not foresee that this amendment will result in any system changes for RESP Providers.

Contact us

Should you have any questions regarding this Information Bulletin, please contact us by e-mail at cesp-pcee@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca or call at 1-888-276-3624. Our hours of operation are from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Standard Time.