LONDON, ONTARIO--The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National
Revenue, accompanied by Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for
London West, today visited the London Children's Museum to
promote the new children's arts tax credit, a new non-refundable
credit passed this year in the 2011 federal budget.
"Parents whose children participate in paid artistic, cultural,
recreational, and developmental programs will now enjoy the same
benefit as parents whose children participate in paid programs
of physical activity. Our Government believes whether a child is
inspired by Justin Bieber, Karen Kain, Brett Lawrie, or The
Tragically Hip, parents should receive a tax credit to help pay
for the programs that will help their children live out those
dreams," said Minister Shea.
"One need not look further than the London Children's Museum to
be reminded of the infinite curiosity and thirst for knowledge
our kids possess. I am pleased that our government's Children's
Art Tax credit will help London families enrich their children's
lives in developing their cultural knowledge and creativity"
added Ed Holder.
In addition to fitness programs covered by the children's
fitness tax credit, parents can now claim money spent on
programs that focus on fine arts, music, performing arts,
outdoor wilderness training, learning a language, studying a
culture, tutoring, and more. When parents claim the children's
arts tax credit—up to a maximum of $500 of the cost of
programs—they save as much as $75 at tax time per child claimed.
To find out if your child's program is eligible for the
children's arts tax credit, go to
www.cra.gc.ca/artscredit.
