Government Grants in Canada: Money You Don't Have to Repay

A grant is money from government that doesn’t have to be repaid. Most federal grants for individuals are paid into a savings plan rather than to you directly, so the way to receive them is to open the right plan. This page lists them with what each pays. Ongoing benefits, such as the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit or Old Age Security, work differently and are covered in the government benefits guide. This page is part of the government benefits hub.

Education savings: grants paid into an RESP

Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). The government adds 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute to a child’s RESP each year, up to $500 a year. Families with lower incomes get an extra 20% on the first $500, and middle incomes an extra 10%. The lifetime maximum is $7,200 per child, and the grant is paid until the end of the year the child turns 17.

Canada Learning Bond (CLB). For children from lower-income families, the government deposits $500 in the first year and $100 for each later year of eligibility, up to $2,000. No contribution is needed; the RESP just has to be open.

Provincial programs. British Columbia pays a one-time $1,200 grant (BCTESG) into a child's RESP. It can be applied for from the child's 6th birthday until the day before they turn 9, through an RESP provider that offers the grant, and the child and the parent or guardian must live in B.C. when applying and have valid social insurance numbers. Quebec adds its own incentive (QESI), up to $3,600 over a child’s lifetime.

Disability savings: grants and bonds paid into an RDSP

For people who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, the Registered Disability Savings Plan receives two federal payments:

• Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG): matches contributions at up to 300% depending on family income, up to $3,500 a year and $70,000 over a lifetime.
• Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB): up to $1,000 a year for lower-income beneficiaries, up to $20,000 over a lifetime, with no contribution required.

Both are paid until the end of the year the beneficiary turns 49, and unused entitlements can be carried forward for up to 10 years.

Post-secondary students

Canada Student Grants are non-repayable money for full- and part-time students with financial need, applied for through your provincial or territorial student aid application. Types, amounts and eligibility are covered in the Canada Student Grant guide, and provincial grants in the provincial student grants guide.

Home energy upgrades

The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant has closed: its last day for documents was December 31, 2025. For the Greener Homes Loan: No further applications can be approved. Applications that have already been approved are not affected. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program, which paid up to $10,000 federally toward replacing oil heating with a heat pump, accepted applications until July 31, 2026. What replaced these programs is covered on the Greener Homes page, and current provincial and utility rebates in energy rebates by province.

Home buyers

The FHSA and the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan are tax breaks, not grants: they let you save or withdraw for a first home with tax advantages, but no government money is added. The first-time home buyer programs guide covers them alongside provincial land transfer tax rebates.

Businesses

Business funding comes mostly through targeted programs, repayable contributions and tax credits rather than open grants. The small business grants guide lists the main federal and provincial programs.

Finding what you qualify for

The federal government’s Benefits Finder on canada.ca asks a few questions and lists federal programs that may apply; it shows federal benefits only and links to your province’s or territory’s own benefits site. Filing a tax return every year also matters, since many benefits and some grant eligibility are based on it.

Related resources

• Government benefits in Canada
• RESP guide
• RDSP guide
• Small business grants