Worried Albertans say they want the NDP to bring back RESP grant

CALGARY, June 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Alberta parents are concerned about the elimination of the Alberta Centennial Education Savings (ACES) grant plan. 

In a Leger survey conducted for CST Consultants Inc. 83% of Albertan parents agree that an $800 grant from the province would go a long way to help save for their child's post-secondary education.  In fact, three in four parents would be very upset if the province took away the grant that was promised to families.

"These results speak volumes.  We're hoping the new NDP government listens to what Alberta families are saying when it comes to helping them save for their children's post-secondary education," said Peter Lewis Vice President for the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.  "Without question, ACES has been a success. The number of children with a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) has climbed by 122 per cent in just seven years."

An overwhelming majority of Albertan parents (77%) agree with CST, and believe the new NDP government should bring back the ACES grant.

"I'm disappointed in the decision to cancel the grant. Investing in the future of our children is investing in the future of our province. To cut the grant is short sighted," said father of two, Joseph Suelzle. 

Why?  Many of them (71%) are worried that they won't be able to pay for their child's post secondary education and that as a result, will end up with a heavy debt load according to the survey results.  Another 63% feel that it's the responsibility of the province to help parents pay/save for their child's post secondary education as an educated workforce will benefit Alberta as a whole.

Peter Lewis will be in Calgary on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 and in Edmonton on Thursday, June 18, 2015 and is available for interviews.  To make arrangements please contact Edyta McKay, [email protected], or mobile [phone].

For full survey results, details about the ACES grant and information on how to apply for the grant, visit www.cstgetthegrant.ca.

The Leger survey of 500 Albertan parents who have at least one child under 18 in the household was conducted online between May 15-19, 2015 using Leger's online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 4.4%, 19 times out of 20.

About CST
The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that has been helping families save for post-secondary education for over fifty years. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Foundation, C.S.T. Consultants Inc. (CST) is the distributor and fund manager of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plans.

For more information follow us on Twitter at @CSTConsultants and like us on Facebook @CSTConsultants

SOURCE CST Consultants

Media contacts: Edyta McKay - Corporate Communications, Phone: [phone] ext. 303, [email protected]; Jennifer Palisoc - Corporate Communications, Mobile - [phone], [email protected]