In Ontario, parents share the cost of extracurricular activities proportionally based on their incomes under Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines. If one parent earns $80,000 and the other earns $120,000, they split extraordinary expenses 40% and 60% respectively. These Section 7 expenses cover competitive sports, music lessons, dance programs, and other activities that foster a child's talents beyond what basic child support covers. Ontario courts require that expenses be necessary for the child's best interests, reasonable given parental means, and consistent with pre-separation family spending patterns.
This guide explains exactly how extracurricular activities child support Ontario works, what qualifies as an extraordinary expense, and how to enforce or modify these arrangements in 2026.
Key Facts: Section 7 Expenses in Ontario
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, s. 7 |
| Cost Sharing Formula | Proportional to parental income |
| Filing Fee (Superior Court) | $669 (solo application) + $10 federal registry |
| Fee Waiver Available | Yes, for low-income applicants |
| Residency Requirement | 1 year in Ontario before filing |
| Enforcement Agency | Family Responsibility Office (FRO) |
| Net Cost Calculation | Deduct tax credits, subsidies, benefits |
| Annual Review | Typically coincides with tax filing |
What Are Section 7 Expenses Under Ontario Law?
Section 7 expenses are additional child support payments beyond the basic table amount that cover special or extraordinary costs related to a child's needs. Under Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, these expenses include childcare, medical costs exceeding $100 annually not covered by insurance, educational programs, and extraordinary extracurricular activities. The basic monthly child support amount covers everyday needs like food, clothing, and shelter, but Section 7 addresses costs that exceed ordinary living expenses.
The Federal Child Support Guidelines regulations are current to 2026-03-17 and were last amended on 2025-10-01. Under the 2025 update, the income threshold now starts at $16,000 annually (up from $13,000 in 2017), meaning parents earning below $16,000 may have a basic table amount of zero while still being responsible for proportional Section 7 contributions.
Categories of Section 7 Expenses
The Federal Child Support Guidelines define six specific categories of special or extraordinary expenses:
- Childcare expenses necessary due to employment, illness, disability, or educational requirements
- Medical and dental insurance premiums providing coverage for the child
- Healthcare expenses exceeding $100 per year not covered by insurance (orthodontics, counselling, medication, eye care)
- Extraordinary expenses for primary or secondary education meeting the child's particular needs
- Post-secondary education costs including tuition, residence, books, and associated fees
- Extraordinary extracurricular activities that foster a child's talents, interests, or development
When Do Extracurricular Activities Qualify as Section 7 Expenses?
An extracurricular activity qualifies as an extraordinary Section 7 expense when it exceeds what the recipient parent can reasonably cover using their income plus basic child support, OR when the activity is extraordinary considering the parents' combined income, the nature and number of activities, overall costs, and the child's special talents. Competitive hockey costing $12,000 annually will almost always qualify, while a $200 recreational soccer league typically will not. Ontario courts assess each family's circumstances individually, as established in Virc v. Blair (2016 ONSC 49).
The Three-Part Test for Section 7 Expenses
Ontario courts apply a three-part test to determine whether an expense qualifies:
-
Necessary: The expense must be in the child's best interests, meaning it supports the child's development, health, education, or well-being
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Reasonable: The cost must be appropriate given both parents' financial means and overall circumstances
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Consistent: The expense should align with the family's spending patterns before separation
Examples of Qualifying vs. Non-Qualifying Activities
| Activity Type | Likely Qualifies | Typically Does Not |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive hockey ($8,000-15,000/year) | Yes | — |
| Recreational soccer ($200-400/year) | — | No |
| Competitive figure skating ($10,000-20,000/year) | Yes | — |
| Music lessons with performance ($2,000-5,000/year) | Yes | — |
| Casual summer camp ($500/week) | — | No |
| Elite dance academy ($5,000-15,000/year) | Yes | — |
| School field trips ($50-200) | — | No |
| Competitive swimming ($3,000-8,000/year) | Yes | — |
How Are Extracurricular Costs Divided Between Parents?
Parents share Section 7 expenses in proportion to their respective incomes after deducting any contributions from the child. If Parent A earns $100,000 annually and Parent B earns $200,000, they share expenses one-third and two-thirds respectively. This proportional sharing applies regardless of which parent has primary parenting time or who initially pays for the activity. The calculation uses gross annual income as determined under the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
Net Cost Calculation Process
Ontario courts determine the net cost of Section 7 expenses by deducting tax benefits, subsidies, and credits. For example, if competitive dance costs $10,000 annually but the claiming parent receives $1,500 in tax benefits, the net cost for sharing purposes is $8,500. Courts require parents to:
- Calculate the gross expense amount
- Subtract any subsidies, benefits, or income tax deductions
- Deduct any direct contribution from the child (such as earnings from a part-time job)
- Divide the remaining net cost proportionally by income
Practical Calculation Example
Consider a family where the child participates in competitive figure skating:
- Total annual cost: $12,000
- Tax benefit received: $1,000
- Child's contribution (from birthday money): $500
- Net cost to share: $10,500
- Parent A income: $80,000 (40%)
- Parent B income: $120,000 (60%)
- Parent A pays: $4,200 (40% of $10,500)
- Parent B pays: $6,300 (60% of $10,500)
What Expenses Are Included in Extracurricular Costs?
When parents agree to share extracurricular activity costs, disputes often arise over exactly what "the activity" includes. Ontario courts have addressed this issue, recognizing that competitive sports involve far more than registration fees. A comprehensive Section 7 expense claim for hockey, for example, may include registration fees, equipment purchases, uniform costs, skate sharpening, power skating lessons, tournament entry fees, travel costs, and accommodation for out-of-town competitions.
Detailed Cost Breakdown by Activity Type
| Activity | Typical Annual Costs | What Courts Include |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive Hockey | $8,000-$18,000 | Registration, equipment, ice time, tournaments, travel, hotels, power skating |
| Figure Skating | $10,000-$25,000 | Coaching, ice time, costumes, competition fees, travel, music editing |
| Competitive Dance | $5,000-$15,000 | Classes, costumes, competition fees, travel, recital costs |
| Elite Swimming | $4,000-$10,000 | Club fees, meet entry, travel, equipment, private coaching |
| Competitive Gymnastics | $6,000-$15,000 | Club fees, competition fees, leotards, travel, camps |
Consent and Communication Requirements
Ontario separation agreements and court orders typically include standard language requiring that Section 7 expenses be agreed upon by the parties in writing in advance, with consent not to be unreasonably withheld. This means a parent cannot unilaterally enroll a child in an expensive new activity and then demand reimbursement from the other parent. The requesting parent must obtain consent before incurring the expense or risk bearing the full cost alone.
The Ginese v. Fadel Precedent (2024)
In Ginese v. Fadel (2024), Justice Audet addressed a situation where the father, without notifying or consulting the mother, enrolled one of the children in a more expensive dance program, increasing costs from $2,693 in 2021 to $12,254 in 2022. The court found that costs consistent with pre-separation activities ($1,400-$2,000 per child annually) were properly shareable, but the unilateral escalation to an elite program without consent presented problems. Courts may reduce or deny Section 7 claims when a parent makes significant unilateral changes.
Best Practices for Parents
- Document all activity costs with receipts and invoices
- Provide written notice before enrolling children in new activities
- Obtain written consent from the other parent before committing to extraordinary expenses
- Share receipts promptly and request reimbursement within a reasonable timeframe
- Conduct annual reviews coinciding with tax filing when income information is available
- Include specific language in separation agreements defining what costs are included
How to Request or Modify Section 7 Expenses
Parents seeking a contribution for extracurricular activities child support Ontario must prove the expense qualifies under Section 7 and meets the necessity, reasonableness, and consistency requirements. The burden of proof falls on the parent requesting the contribution. If the other parent refuses to consent or the parties cannot agree, options include negotiation, mediation, parenting coordination, or court application.
Court Application Process
To seek a court order for Section 7 expenses in Ontario:
- File a motion or application in the Superior Court of Justice (Family Court Branch)
- Pay the filing fee of $669 plus $10 federal registry fee (fee waivers available for low-income applicants)
- Serve the other parent with proper notice
- Provide evidence of the expense, including receipts, proof of the child's participation, and documentation of the activity's benefits
- Include both parties' financial disclosure showing income
Filing fees are set out in Ontario Regulation 293/92 and are adjusted every three years beginning January 1, 2026, based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index.
Modification of Existing Orders
Under Section 14 of the Child Support Guidelines, parents can seek a variation order when circumstances change materially. Common grounds for modifying Section 7 arrangements include:
- Significant change in either parent's income
- Child's interests or abilities evolving (starting or stopping competitive activities)
- New activities emerging that require funding
- Child reaching age of majority or completing education
- Change in parenting time arrangements
Enforcement Through the Family Responsibility Office
The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) automatically enforces court orders for child support, including Section 7 expense payments. If a parent defaults on ordered Section 7 contributions, the FRO has extensive enforcement powers including wage garnishment, license suspension, credit bureau reporting, and passport denial. Parents with existing court orders should ensure Section 7 obligations are clearly specified and enrolled with the FRO.
Enforcement Options for Section 7 Payments
| Enforcement Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Wage Garnishment | FRO can deduct payments directly from paycheque |
| Bank Account Seizure | FRO can freeze and seize funds |
| License Suspension | Driver's license can be suspended for arrears |
| Passport Revocation | Federal passport may be denied or revoked |
| Credit Bureau Reporting | Arrears reported to credit agencies |
| Default Hearing | Court appearance required for persistent non-payment |
Shared Parenting and Section 7 Expenses
In shared parenting arrangements where children spend at least 40% of their time with each parent, both parents may still share Section 7 expenses proportionally to their incomes, regardless of whether either pays base child support to the other. Since each parent already covers day-to-day expenses during their parenting time, Section 7 expenses represent additional costs beyond ordinary household spending. The proportional income-sharing formula applies the same way in shared parenting as in primary residence arrangements.
Section 7 Obligations in Different Parenting Arrangements
| Arrangement | Base Support | Section 7 Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Primary residence with one parent | Payor pays table amount | Shared proportionally by income |
| Shared parenting (40%+) | May be offset or reduced | Shared proportionally by income |
| Split parenting (children divided) | Each pays for children in their care | Shared proportionally by income |
The 2021 Divorce Act Amendments and Parenting Arrangements
Effective March 1, 2021, the Divorce Act underwent significant amendments affecting how Canadian courts approach family matters involving children. The terminology changed from "custody" and "access" to "parenting time" and "decision-making responsibility." Courts now apply an expanded list of factors when determining the best interests of the child, including each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent.
Impact on Section 7 Expense Decisions
The 2021 amendments reinforce that both parents have duties to act in the child's best interests, which includes supporting appropriate activities. When courts assess whether an extracurricular expense is necessary and reasonable, they now explicitly consider:
- The child's views and preferences regarding the activity
- The nature of the child's relationships with each parent
- Each parent's ability to care for and meet the child's needs
- The child's cultural, linguistic, religious, and spiritual upbringing
- Any special needs or talents the child demonstrates