Extend RDSP family access
Petitioners ask the government to indefinitely extend RDSP rules letting qualifying family members open plans after Dec 31, 2026; broaden qualifying relatives and let beneficiaries name a non‑family holder; and standardize rules nationwide by Dec 31, 2027. The government responds it is not considering removing advancement of religion as a charitable purpose.
Why we would sign this petition
- Keeps plan access for beneficiaries who lack contractual capacity by removing the impending 2026 cutoff, preventing loss of ability to open RDSPs.
- Expanding eligible relatives and allowing beneficiaries to choose a trusted non‑family holder increases options and continuity of support when immediate family aren’t available.
- Nationwide standardization by Dec 31, 2027 would reduce jurisdictional disparities and help ensure consistent access and administration across provinces and territories.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Widening who may hold RDSPs and permitting non‑family holders could raise misuse, fraud, or conflicts, so stronger safeguards would be required.
- Extending and expanding the rule indefinitely may increase administrative complexity and oversight costs for plan providers and regulators.
- Mandating national standardization could conflict with provincial rules or circumstances; some provinces may prefer tailored approaches or gradual coordination.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a tax-deferred registered savings plan for persons who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), which was created in 2008 under the Income Tax Act, R.S.C., 1985 c. 1. A RSDP is a savings plan intended to help an individual to save for their long-term financial security. The Income Tax Act sets out who qualifies to become a plan holder, and only a "qualifying person," can become a plan holder. Until 2012, qualifying persons were limited to: the beneficiary (if they attained the age of majority and are contractually competent); a parent (if the beneficiary has not yet attained the age of majority); or a guardian/legally authorized individual or entity. As of June 29, 2012, individuals that have not yet attained the age of majority, or those who have reached the age of majority and their contractual competency to enter into a plan is in doubt, can have a qualifying family member (QFM) open a plan on their behalf. A QFM of a beneficiary only includes a spouse, common-law partner, parent, or brother or sister (that have attained the age of majority). The ability for a qualifying family member to open a plan ends on December 31, 2026. If a plan holder who was a QFM can no longer act as a plan holder (i.e., upon death), another QFM may acquire rights as a successor of a holder of a disability savings plan of a beneficiary if, at the time the rights are acquired, that successor is a qualifying person in relation to the beneficiary. If another QFM is unable to acquire rights as a successor, a legal representative is named, replacing the QFM as the plan holder. We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: Extend the ability for a qualifying family member to open a plan under these rules indefinitely, beyond the established December 31, 2026, end date. Expand the existing list of qualifying family members to include extended family members (which have attained the age of majority): a child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle, great aunt or great uncle, child of an aunt or an uncle, niece or nephew and allow qualifying individual to choose their own qualifying person who may not be a family member. Standardize these practices across all provinces and territories by December 31, 2027.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue Signed by The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne The Government of Canada recognizes the vital role that charities, including religious charities, play in delivering essential services to some of the most vulnerable in Canadian society. To support their important work, registered charities are granted significant tax benefits and privileges, including the ability to issue official donation receipts for the gifts they receive. Under the Income Tax Act, an organization may only qualify for charitable registration where it is established exclusively for charitable purposes and devotes all its resources to achieving those purposes. The legal interpretation of “charitable purposes” has developed over time to include the relief of poverty, the advancement of religion, the advancement of education, and other purposes recognized as charitable, such as the promotion of health or the protection of the environment. Today, Canada is home to over 85,000 registered charities, representing a wide variety of causes, beliefs, and interests. Registration as a charity does not indicate government endorsement of an organization’s specific goals or views. Instead, it confirms that the organization meets certain conditions, including that it is constituted and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. These benefits are extended to a broad range of organizations providing socially beneficial activities to the public, from educational institutions to religious organizations, as long as they meet the legal requirements for registration. The Government of Canada is not considering amending the Income Tax Act to remove the advancement of religion as a qualifying charitable purpose, nor is it actively developing policy on this issue.