Message to Canadian Parents

Did you know there was a 

Children's Arts Tax Credit (CATC)?

Did you have your kids in any sort of an artistic camp, class or spring break program in 2011?

I didn't know about the CATC and it is worth up to $500.  

Here is the link.

I just learned about it at our Canadian Craft and Hobby Association meeting today.  

Here are some highlights:

What programs are eligible for the CATC?

To be eligible, a program must be supervised and suitable for children. Eligible programs include:

• a weekly program of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration in which a minimum of 90% of all the activities are eligible activities;
• a program of a minimum five consecutive days duration in which more than 50% of the daily activities are eligible activities;
• a program of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration offered to children by a club, association or similar organization offering a variety of different activities when more than 50% of the activities offered are eligible activities or more than 50% of the time scheduled for activities offered to children is for activities that are eligible activities (if both 50% tests are not met, a prorated portion of the fees will be allowed, representing the percentage of eligible activities offered by the organization or the percentage of time scheduled for these activities by the organization); and
• a membership of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration in an organization if more than 50% of all the activities offered to children by the organization are eligible activities (if the 50% test is not met, a prorated portion of the fees will be allowed, representing the percentage of eligible activities offered to children by the organization).

6. What are eligible activities?

Eligible activities will include an activity that:

• contributes to the development of creative skills or expertise in artistic or cultural activities;
• provides a substantial focus on wilderness and the natural environment;
• helps children develop and use particular intellectual skills;
• includes structured interaction among children where supervisors teach or help children develop interpersonal skills; or
• provides enrichment or tutoring in academic subjects.