C-217 · Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
An Act to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and the Income Tax Act
- Provides financial assistance for Canadians with disabilities to access post-secondary education.
- Establishes the government's responsibility to pay tuition fees for eligible students with disabilities.
- Treats tuition payments as grants to support individuals pursuing education.
This part of the bill requires the government to pay tuition fees for individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in designated educational institutions, making this amount a deemed grant. It also establishes conditions for these payments under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act.
This matters because it provides financial support to individuals with disabilities, helping to reduce barriers to post-secondary education. Ensuring access to education can significantly improve employment opportunities and quality of life for these individuals.
This bill aims to address the financial challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing post-secondary education.
Individuals with disabilities enrolled in eligible educational programs gain access to financial assistance for their tuition costs.
The funding of this tuition assistance program could require reallocating resources from other educational programs or services, affecting broader student funding or government budgets.
Read the actual text (4)
1This Act may be cited as the Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act .
2The Canada Student Financial Assistance Act is amended by adding the following after section 9.2: Tuition for Persons with Disabilities 9.21 (1) Subject to any prescribed conditions, if an individual in respect of whom an amount is deductible under section 118.3 of the Income Tax Act is enrolled in a designated educational institution, the Minister shall pay the individual’s tuition fees to the designated educational institution. Grant (2) The amount of any tuition fees paid under subsection (1) is deemed to be a grant to the individual on whose behalf it is paid.
3Subsection 15(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (p): (p.1) providing for the conditions to be met before a payment under section 9.21 may be made;
4Subsection 81(1) of the Income Tax Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (h.1): (h.2) an amount paid under section 9.21 of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act ;
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment provides for financial assistance for Canadians with disabilities to improve their access to post-secondary education. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 Charles III, 2025 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-217 An Act to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and the Income Tax Act Preamble Whereas an estimated one in four Canadians aged 15 years and over has one or more disabilities that limit them in their daily activities; Whereas the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability indicated that youth with disabilities are at a higher risk of not being in school or employed and that this risk increases with the severity of the disability; And whereas Parliament recognizes the importance of ensuring that all Canadians with disabilities have access to post-secondary education; Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Alternative Title Alternative title 1 This Act may be cited as the Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act . 1994, c. 28 Canada Student Financial Assistance Act 2 The Canada Student Financial Assistance Act is amended by adding the following after section 9.2 : Start of inserted block Tuition for Persons with Disabilities End of inserted block Payment of tuition Start of inserted block 9.21 ( 1 ) Subject to any prescribed conditions, if an individual in respect of whom an amount is deductible under section 118.3 of the Income Tax Act is enrolled in a designated educational institution, the Minister shall pay the individual’s tuition fees to the designated educational institution. End of inserted block Grant Start of inserted block ( 2 ) The amount of any tuition fees paid under subsection ( 1 ) is deemed to be a grant to the individual on whose behalf it is paid. End of inserted block 3 Subsection 15 ( 1 ) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (p): Start of inserted block (p. 1 ) providing for the conditions to be met before a payment under section 9.21 may be made; End of inserted block R.S., c.1 (5 th Supp.) Income Tax Act 4 Subsection 81 ( 1 ) of the Income Tax Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (h. 1 ): Tuition for persons with disabilities Start of inserted block (h. 2 ) an amount paid under section 9.21 of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act ; End of inserted block Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU Senate House of Commons Library of Parliament Employment at Parliament Important Notices $(function () { $('[data-toggle="tooltip"]').tooltip({ delay: { "show": 300, "hide": 50 }, placement: "top" }) }) $(document).ready(function () { var rawUrl = '/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/C-217/first-reading'; $("a[href$='#StartOfContent']").each(function() { var newHref = rawUrl + "#StartOfContent"; $(this).attr('href', newHref); }); })
NDP member advocates for broad support across all parties for the bill.
- First reading (House of Commons)Jun 19, 2025