Tabling of the 2007-08 Supplementary Estimates (A)

• Backgrounder - Overview of the 2007-08 Supplementary Estimates (A)
• Backgrounder - Estimates Process

For immediate release

October 30, 2007

OTTAWA - The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today tabled in the House of Commons the 2007-2008 Supplementary Estimates (A) totalling $13.6 billion.

"Through these Supplementary Estimates (A), the Government is moving forward with priorities announced in Budget 2007, including spending on the Canada First Defence Plan, Canada's Strategic Infrastructure Fund, and transfers to the provinces," said President Toews.

These Supplementary Estimates are fully consistent with the Government's overall planned spending level of $233 billion for 2007-2008 as set out in Budget 2007. They also reflect the Government's commitment to control government spending and effectively manage taxpayers' dollars.

These Supplementary Estimates provide information to Parliament in support of $13.6 billion in supplementary expenditures, including approximately $8 billion in voted appropriations that were not sufficiently developed or known at the time of the 2007-2008 Main Estimates. This figure includes $875.2 million for implementing the Canada First Defence Plan, $573.8 million for Canada's Strategic Infrastructure Fund, and $5.9 billion in statutory transfers to the provinces. 

Please refer to the attached backgrounders for further details on the 2007-2008 Supplementary Estimates (A) and information on the Estimates process. The Supplementary Estimates and related documents are posted on the Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat Web site at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca 

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For more information, contact:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666 

Robert Makichuk
Chief, Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.

Backgrounder: Overview of the 2007-08 Supplementary Estimates (A)

The Government of Canada presents its overall spending priorities through the expense plan set out by the Minister of Finance in the Budget and The Economic and Fiscal Update. The plans are implemented through a series of legislative measures, including the Estimates and related appropriation bills.

The 2007-2008 Supplementary Estimates (A) provide information in support of $13.6 billion in supplementary expenditures, including approximately $8 billion in voted appropriations that were not sufficiently developed or known at the time of the 2007-2008 Main Estimates.

Moving the Government Agenda Forward

Through the Supplementary Estimates (A), the Government is moving forward with priorities announced in Budget 2007, and related Cabinet decisions, including funding for defence and security, and investments in infrastructure and communities. Approximately $8.0 billion of theses Supplementary Estimates (A) requires the approval of Parliament and includes such major budgetary items as:

• $1.5 billion for National Defence operations, including $875.2 million for implementing the Canada First Defence Plan;

• $573.8 million in funding for the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund;

• $326.7 million to fund infrastructure under the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Base Funding Program;

• $126.8 million in funding for the Municipal-Rural Infrastructure Fund;

• $181.9 million in funding to help low-income Canadians, people with disabilities, seniors and Aboriginals to live in decent, affordable housing;

• $120.9 million in funding for additional RCMP positions and law enforcement priorities;

• $116 million in funding for the ecoAuto Rebate Program;

• $1.2 billion reflecting the new central Vote for annual routine adjustments for departmental Operating Budget Carry Forward; and

• $500 million for a new central Vote for departmental Paylist requirements.

These Supplementary Estimates (A) also include $5.9 billion in changes to statutory budgetary spending, for which parliamentary approval has already been provided. Adjustments to projected statutory spending are provided for information purposes only. This figure includes:

• $1.5 billion to implement the Clean Air and Climate Change Trust Fund;

• $1.2 billion for Fiscal Equalization;

• $794.6 million in support of the Canada Social Transfer;

• $614 million for Transitional payments;

• $612 million to implement the Patient Wait Times Guarantee;

• $300 million to assist provinces and territories with the cost of the Human Papillomavirus Immunization;

• $250 million for Child Care Spaces; and

• $401 million for the Cost of Production Benefit to assist agricultural producers.

Total Supplementary Estimates (A) ($ millions)

The Supplementary Estimates (A) are fully consistent with the Government's overall planned spending level of $233 billion for 2007-2008 as set out in Budget 2007. This reflects the Government's commitment to controlling government spending and effectively managing taxpayers' dollars.

Increased Transparency in Accountability and Reporting

A number of improvements have been made to the form and content of the Supplementary Estimates in recent years to enhance transparency and accountability. The Treasury Board Secretariat has worked with departments and agencies to improve the quality of information presented for their individual requirements, resulting in better information describing the nature of transactions, including the offset of new spending requirements through the use of existing spending authorities.  

These Supplementary Estimates seek approval to create two new central Votes. These Votes will provide departments and agencies with the flexibility to receive their approved Operating Budget Carry Forward and Paylist requirements on a more timely and consistent basis. These new Votes support efforts of the Government to increase transparency in relation to how money is spent, and reduce the reliance on Supplementary Estimates for routine and predictable annual transactions.

The Budget and the Estimates, in conjunction with The Economic and Fiscal Update, reflect the Government's annual resource planning and allocation priorities. The subsequent reporting of financial results in the Public Accounts of Canada, as well as the Departmental Performance Reports, assists Parliament in holding the Government to account for the allocation and management of public funds.

*          Voted appropriations are those for which parliamentary authority is sought through an annual appropriation bill.

**        Budgetary expenditures include cost of servicing the public debt; operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.

[1]The total increase in statutory authorities is derived from a total of $5.9 billion in changes to statutory budgetary spending from which $890 million is reduced for forecast public debt charges and $401 million is added for the Cost of Production Benefit to assist agricultural producers.

Backgrounder: Estimates Process

The Government of Canada is committed to pursuing management excellence, and ensuring value for money to Canadians by providing an effective, transparent and accountable government. Consequently, the Government has improved parliamentary reporting - in order to better meet the information needs of parliamentarians and better support their oversight role in the use of public funds. It is important for parliamentarians-and through them all Canadians-to understand what the Government is doing, why it is doing it, how much each program or service costs and what results are being achieved.

Each year, the Government of Canada prepares Main Estimates, and Supplementary Estimates as required, in support of its request to Parliament for authority to spend public funds. This request is formalized through the tabling of appropriation bills in Parliament. The normal tabling dates in Parliament are: 

The Estimates, which are tabled in the House of Commons by the President of the Treasury Board, consist of three parts:

• Part I - The Government Expenditure Plan provides an overview of federal spending and summarises the relationship of the key elements of the Main Estimates to the current Expenditure Plan.

• Part II - The Main Estimates identify the spending authorities (votes) and amounts to be included in subsequent appropriation bills. Parliament will be asked to approve these votes to enable the Government to proceed with its spending plans.

• Part III - Departmental Expenditure Plans, which are divided into two components:

The Budget and the Estimates, in conjunction with the Economic and Fiscal Update, reflect the Government's annual resource planning and allocation priorities. The subsequent reporting of financial results in the Public Accounts of Canada, as well as the Departmental Performance Reports, assists Parliament in holding the Government to account for the allocation and management of public funds.