4. Make contributions in kind (or “as is”) to your RRSP
Often, people contribute to their RRSPs directly with cash. But cash contributions are not your only option. You can consider transferring bonds, mutual funds or stocks in kind (or “as is”) from your non-registered investment account to your RRSP. (Check your RRSP rules; not all plans allow this strategy.)
What happens when you transfer an investment such as stocks or bonds into an RRSP? It’s still considered taxable. When making an in-kind contribution to an RRSP, it’s possible for capital gains to be realized (even if the shares are transferred directly). You haven’t sold the shares on the market. However, Canadian tax rules dictate that a “deemed disposition at fair market value” has occurred. So, you may have to pay capital gains tax if the value of your investment has gone up.
But what if the value of your investments has gone down? Then keep in mind that you can't claim a capital loss for in-kind contributions to a registered plan.