When you save for your child’s education through an RESP, the government helps boost your savings with grants.

The main one is the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). Every child who is a Canadian resident with an RESP is eligible for the basic CESG, which matches 20% of annual contributions, up to $500 per year and a lifetime maximum of $7,200 per child. So, if you contribute around $2,500 a year, you can earn the full grant over time.

Families with lower or middle incomes may also qualify for the additional CESG, which adds 10% or 20% more on the first $500 contributed each year—potentially giving you up to $600 in grants annually.

Some provinces offer their own grants too:

• Quebec provides 10% on the first $2,500 contributed annually (up to $3,600 lifetime), plus an extra 5% to 10% on the first $500 for eligible families.
• British Columbia offers a one-time $1,200 grant for children aged 6 to 8 with a qualifying RESP.