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The children's fitness tax credit lets parents claim up to $500 per year for eligible fitness expenses paid for each child who is under 16 years of age at the beginning of the year in which the expenses are paid.
'The tax credit can be a catalyst that supports programs for children, increased levels of activity, and hopefully — a lifelong love of active lifestyles for thousands of young Canadians.' The Government of Canada proposes to allow, starting in 2007, a non-refundable tax credit on eligible amounts of up to $500 paid by parents to register a child in an eligible program of physical activity.
Skiing and snowboarding are the perfect winter lifestyle sports. Learning these sports as a child helps children stay active, develops social skills and makes our Canadian winters something to be cherished.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives proposed in May 2006 a tax credit for parents with children in organized sports, to fight obesity and encourage fitness among young Canadians.
"While we do not pretend that the Children's Fitness Tax Credit will be a panacea that will end most childhood obesity, we passionately believe the tax credit is an important component of what must be a broader strategy to encourage activity among young people," Leitch said in a letter from the panel to Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, which was also released Thursday.
On December 19, 2006, the Department of Finance released information explaining what programs of physical activity will qualify. It proposes that in order to qualify for the tax credit a program must be:
- ongoing (either a minimum of eight weeks duration with a minimum of one session per week or, in the case of children's camps, five consecutive days);
- supervised;
- suitable for children; and
- substantially all of the activities must include a significant amount of physical activity that contributes to cardio-respiratory endurance plus one or more of: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, or balance.
Most of our skiing and snowboarding programs easily meet the criteria listed above.
For more details, consult the Canadian Revenue Agency's web site
 Alpine skiing & snowboarding require varying degrees cardiorespiratory exertion depending upon the conditions and terrain. Muscular strength, flexibility and balance are key components of skiing and snowboarding. A day on the slopes is a physical workout.
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