It's always a good idea to get Canadian children involved in sports. It keeps them fit and gets them out of the house, which can save parents' sanity. But starting in 2007, it can also save parents' money.
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In its first budget in May 2006, the federal Conservative government acted on its campaign pledge to provide one per cent of health spending for sport and physical activity, boosting the annual total to $147 million.
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The resulting Children's Fitness Tax Credit will cover eligible fees of up to $500 a year for parents with children participating in physical activity programs, effective Jan. 1.
The government proposed the credit in part due to an alarming rise in obesity rates. The number of overweight and obese Canadian children has nearly tripled over the past two decades.
The tax credit applies to fees paid for "an eligible program of physical activity" for children under the age of 16 and is expected to cost the government $160 million a year. A recent news release from the department of finance laid out some of the eligibility criteria for the credit.
Eligible activities are those in which "substantially all of the activities undertaken include a significant amount of physical activity that contributes to cardio-respiratory endurance, plus one or more of: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, balance."
- For children 10 and younger, activities must last for at least 30 minutes while those for older children must last at least 60.
- The eligible program must be at least eight weeks long and provide for at least one session per week, as described above.
- For a camp program to be eligible, it would need to last at least five consecutive days, during which at least 50 per cent of the activity during the program hours of each day would involve physical activity.
- In organizations such as golf clubs or clubs that sponsor more than just physical activities, only the portion of the membership fee that is activities-based would be eligible. For family memberships, only the part of the fee related to the child or children is eligible.
- Programs requiring the use of a motorized vehicle are not eligible.
- Fees charged for regular school phys-ed programs are not eligible.
- The credit can only be claimed for activities occurring in 2007. Fees paid in 2006 do not qualify, even if all or part of the activity takes place in 2007.
- Children must be under 16 at any time in the year when the parent is claiming the credit.
A child with a disability who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), is also eligible for the fitness credit, but the age for claiming it will be raised to under 18. Parents can also claim "a separate $500 non-refundable amount for DTC-eligible children subject to spending a minimum of $100 on registration fees for an eligible program."
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