How to use this page: Read the simplified explanation first, then use the official links below before acting.
Plain-language summary
- The official ESDC promoter list is a support checker, not a recommendation list. It shows which active RESP promoters say they offer basic CESG, additional CESG, CLB, and B.C.'s BCTESG.
- Canada.ca also tells families to ask the promoter what benefits it offers before opening the RESP. That matters because support is not identical across promoters, and the promoter is the one that files the benefit application with your RESP.
- A promoter listed as active is not automatically the right fit for your family. The list does not compare fees, investment choices, withdrawal speed, transfer friction, or contract terms.
- If a benefit column says it is not offered, assume you will not get that benefit through that promoter unless the promoter confirms the public list has changed.
Action steps
- Before opening an RESP, find the exact promoter entity on the official list instead of relying only on a brand name. Large brands can appear under more than one legal promoter.
- Check the specific benefit columns you care about: basic CESG, additional CESG, CLB, and BCTESG if British Columbia applies to your family.
- Ask the promoter to confirm in writing which benefits it will actually apply for in your specific RESP, and whether any extra forms or caregiver information are needed.
- If you already have an RESP and may transfer it, compare the old and new promoters before moving the account so you do not lose access to a benefit the new promoter does not support.
- After the RESP is opened or transferred, watch the account for the expected benefit deposits instead of assuming the application was handled correctly.
Caveats to watch
- The promoter list is provided for information only and does not endorse any vendor. A promoter being listed does not mean it is cheaper, faster, or easier to use.
- The official columns cover federal benefits and B.C.'s BCTESG. Families should not assume that every provincial incentive is tracked in the same federal table.
- The opening guide says most promoters offer CLB and additional CESG, but 'most' does not mean all. Families can miss money by assuming every RESP provider supports every benefit.
- Provider support and family eligibility are different questions. A promoter can support a benefit even if the child or caregiver does not qualify for it.
- The promoter can still have stricter internal paperwork, identification, or withdrawal processes than families expect from the government summary page.
Examples
Example: same bank brand, different promoter support
A family compares two RESP options under the same broad financial brand and assumes the grants will work the same way. The official promoter list may show separate legal promoter entries with different benefit columns, so the family should verify the exact promoter before opening the account.
Example: B.C. family checks the provincial column before signing
Parents in British Columbia are ready to open an RESP for a child who may qualify for the one-time BCTESG. Before signing, they use the official promoter list to check whether that promoter's BCTESG column is offered. If it is not, opening there could mean missing the provincial grant unless they use a different participating promoter.
What this page is really for
- The promoter list answers one narrow question: which government RESP benefits this promoter says it supports.
- It is most useful before opening a first RESP, before chasing CLB for a low-income child, before a B.C. age window closes, or before transferring to a new provider.
- It does not replace a provider review. Families still need to compare fees, investment options, service quality, and withdrawal logistics separately.
What to ask the promoter after you check the list
- Will you apply for every benefit this child is eligible for when the RESP is opened?
- Do you support basic CESG, additional CESG, CLB, and BCTESG in this exact account type?
- Do you need the primary caregiver's signature, SIN, or any extra documents to request low-income benefits?
- If we transfer in an existing RESP, will you continue supporting the same grants and bonds after the move?
- Can you confirm all of this in writing before we sign?