Canadian families learn how to "Make it count"

CSA Securities

Winnipeg - Talking with youth about budgeting, debit card use and common sense spending has been made easier with the Canada-wide release of Make it Count, an interactive money mentoring program and information resource from the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). Launched in conjunction with Investor Education Month in October, the Make it Count program includes a parent’s guide, an instructor’s guide and an online daily budgeting program that uses everyday situations like errands to engage youth in discussions about money management.

The Make it Count program was successfully introduced in Manitoba in early 2009 and the CSA is working together to make the program available across Canada. “When the Manitoba Securities Commission began to receive orders for the program from across Canada and the U.S., it was evident that Canadians were ready to start talking about financial literacy and a national roll out of the program was the obvious next step,” said Jean St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). “The CSA is a proponent of financial literacy and we wanted to make sure everyone had access to the Make it Count resources.”

The Make it Count program centers around a series of activities, tips and lesson plans that are simple to follow and more importantly, simple to teach. “One of the most exciting new elements of the program is an online, interactive money management tool that allows mentors and youth to set up a daily budget, start and track savings goals and chat with other money mentors in an online forum,” notes St-Gelais. “Users can see where their money is going, track their financial progress and provide their own insights and activity ideas to the online community.”

According to a recent survey conducted by the CSA, there is a need for financial skills educational resources that are family-friendly. The survey found that 78 percent of Canadians believe that teaching financial skills is among the most important things a parent can do for their child. And less than half of parents with children 18 or younger have actually taught their children about personal finances and investing.

Getty Stewart, a Manitoba parent who has been using the guide since its initial release, believes the Make it Count program can help families improve the statistics and help children gain lifelong skills. “Everyone needs a bit of help with money management, even as adults we have to work hard at staying on budget. The more we can engage our families in money discussions, the better chance our kids will have in their financial future.”

The Make it Count resources, including the interactive online budgeting program can be accessed at MakeitCountOnline.ca. All resources are free and available in both English and French.

About the Canadian Securities Administrators
The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

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Make it Count Media Inquiries:

CSA member name

Point of contact

Phone number

Autorité des marchés financiers

Sylvain Théberge

514 940-2176

Manitoba Securities Commission

Ainsley Cunningham

204 945-4733

CSA Media Inquiries:

CSA member name

Point of contact

Phone number

Autorité des marchés financiers

Sylvain Théberge

514 940-2176

Alberta Securities Commission

Mark Dickey

403 297-4481

British Columbia Securities Commission

Ken Gracey

604 899-6577

Consumer, Corporate and Insurance Services, Registrar of Securities, , Prince Edward Island

Katharine Tummon

902 368-4542

Financial Services Regulation Division, Newfoundland and Labrador

Doug Connolly

709 729-2594

Manitoba Securities Commission

Ainsley Cunningham

204 945-4733

New Brunswick Securities Commission

Wendy Connors-Beckett

506 643-7745

Nova Scotia Securities Commission

Natalie MacLellan

902 424-8586

Ontario Securities Commission

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington

416 593-232361

Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission

Barbara Shourounis

306 787-5842

Securities Office, Northwest Territories

Donn MacDougall

867 920-8984

Securities Office, Nunavut

Louis Arki

867 975-6587

Securities Office, Yukon

Fred Pretorius

867 667-5225