Canadians with kids taking music lessons
 

If you have kids taking music lessons drop you MP a note asking him to support private members bill C271 which will make music lessons tuition tax deductable. I don't want the only culture in this country to be in the back of the fridge. Find your MP's email address here

Do you have the text of the bill?

Currently, what subset of tuition is tax deductable? Have a link to the current law?

I don't have the entire test of the bill but I have seen it.

This was taken from the House of Comons site:

Mr. David Chatters (Battle River, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-271, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (tuition credit and education credit).

He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce a bill that I introduced in the previous Parliament. After consulting with the Alberta music teachers association and the Canadian music teachers association, it is an honour for me to re-introduce my private member's bill which seeks to amend the Income Tax Act by extending tuition credit and education credit to individuals who follow a formal course of instruction provided by a qualified music instructor.

At the present time, music instructors who do not teach in recognized institutions of higher learning are ineligible to provide their students with this benefit, despite the fact that their training could be the same or more advanced than an instructor in an institution. Certainly, the greater benefit to students is no less whether or not they are enrolled in a recognized institution.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

It still needs to pass it's second reading and then go to the Senate.

Perhaps, but to pass the second reading, it'll need votes right? Hence, that's why you should drop a note to your local MP

Which is why I posted this in the first place.

I think private member's bills pass about 1 in 100 times or so, except in Alberta.

Is there any other educational act that is tax-deductable like tuition under this act, outside of things offered by accredited institutions?

Before I support an 18% subsidy on something (and that is what tuition tax credits are, a subsidy), I want to know details.

Not sure what you are asking but I'll tell you the gist real quick. Music lessons only, must be a recognized acredited program with a qualified instructor. Real simple. Buddy teaching guitar riffs in his basement doesn't qualify.

It passed it's first reading and is now up for it's second. Private member bills rarely pass first reading so hopefully it has some support.

I'm asking if there are any other equivilent programs. Are tuition tax-credits currently limited solely to programs offered by accredited institutions?

If so, this is a change in the nature of the subsidy. Subsidizing teachers as opposed to subsidizing institutions.

If you have a kid taking "music for young children" or enrolled in the "Royal conservatory of music" or other course that is taught out of someones basement as long as the course is recognized and the teacher is recognized as competent by the people who supply the course you will get a tax deduction on the tuition paid. Make sense? For example, I have 2 kids takeing "music for young children" it is taught out of the teachers home. IF it were on the list of recognized courses I would get a tax deduction on the tuition I pay for my kids to take the course. You will have to be registered at the "head office" of the program your kids are taking. If the teacher is teaching using photocoppied texts etc. it is the same course but you will not be regisetered and will not get any tax credit.