The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) helps Canadian families set aside money for a child's education after high school. Parents, grandparents, or friends can open a plan and contribute to it over the years, and the savings grow tax-free until the child is ready to study. The main attraction is the Canada Education Savings Grant, through which the federal government adds a percentage to each contribution, up to a yearly limit.
In effect, the government tops up what families manage to save. Many people believe that saving for education should be left entirely to individual families, but supporters argue that the grant gives every child a better chance, not just those from wealthy homes. A common criticism of the plan is that the families who need help the most are often the ones who benefit the least.
