Government of Canada: Tabling of the 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B)

OTTAWA, Nov. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today tabled the 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B) in the House of Commons.

"Through these Supplementary Estimates, the Government is one step closer to delivering all of the Economic Action Plan stimulus funding for this fiscal year. We're on track, thanks to the unprecedented steps taken to expedite implementation. We're ensuring that Canadians have the support they need, when it is most needed," said Minister Toews.

The 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B) seek parliamentary authority to spend $4.9 billion in voted budgetary expenditures of which $637.9 million is in direct support of the implementation of the Economic Action Plan. The remaining value of items to be approved this fiscal year, by Parliament, for Economic Action Plan initiatives is approximately $500 million. These items will be funded through subsequent Estimates.

The Supplementary Estimates (B) also provide information related to $26.0 billion in statutory expenditures that have been authorized by Parliament through enabling legislation. This amount includes $12.4 billion non-budgetary increase for Payments to Export Development Canada as indicated in Section 23 of the Export Development Act (Canada Account) to facilitate and develop trade between Canada and other countries, and a $12.0 billion non-budgetary increase for advances to the Business Development Bank of Canada with regards to the Canadian Secured Credit Facility.

Please refer to the attached backgrounder for more details on the 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B). The Supplementary Estimates and related documents are posted on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Web site (www.tbs-sct.gc.ca).

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC
    VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - [phone]
    This news release is available online at: www.tbs-sct.gc.ca.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Backgrounder
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            November 4, 2009

                     2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B)
                     -----------------------------------
    

Overview

The 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B) seek Parliament's approval of $4.9 billion in voted budgetary and voted non-budgetary expenditures that were already planned for in Budget 2009, but were not sufficiently developed or advanced in approvals to be included in the 2009-10 Main Estimates. They do not represent an increase to spending included in that plan.

They also provide information to Parliament about an increase of $26.0 billion in statutory spending (expenditures that have been authorized by Parliament through enabling legislation). In particular, this includes a $12.4 billion non-budgetary increase for Payments to Export Development Canada through Section 23 of the Export Development Act (Canada Account) to facilitate and develop trade between Canada and other countries, and a $12.0 billion non-budgetary increase for advances to the Business Development Bank of Canada with regards to the Canadian Secured Credit Facility.

In total, Supplementary Estimates (B) provide information on $31.0 billion in expenditures.

Budgetary Expenditures

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.

Non-Budgetary Expenditures

Non-budgetary expenditures (loans, investments and advances) are expenditures that represent changes in the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.

Table 1 provides a financial overview of these Supplementary Estimates.

    
    Table 1 - Total Supplementary Estimates ($ millions)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Budgetary    Non-Budgetary          Total
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Voted Appropriations             4,874.2             48.0        4,922.2
    Statutory Authorities            1,609.4         23,421.9       26,031.3
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total                            6,483.6         23,469.9       30,953.5
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Spending in the Supplementary Estimates is consistent with the fiscal framework established in the September 2009 Economic and Fiscal Update.

Economic Action Plan Stimulus 2009-10

The Supplementary Estimates (B) seek Parliament's approval for $637.9 million to fund Economic Action Plan initiatives and include information related to $2.1 billion in advance funding from Treasury Board Vote 35. Adding this to $1.5 billion approved through Supplementary Estimates (A), the total sum of Economic Action Plan funding through the Estimates process to date is $4.2 billion.

The remaining value of items to be approved this fiscal year, by Parliament, for Economic Action Plan initiatives is approximately $500 million. These items will be funded through subsequent Estimates.

The Estimates Process

These 2009-10 Supplementary Estimates (B) are fully consistent with Budget 2009 and other decisions confirmed and approved by Cabinet. Supplementary Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move forward and meet the needs of Canadians.

Supplementary Estimates documents present information to Parliament on the Government of Canada's spending requirements which were not sufficiently developed in time for inclusion in the Main Estimates. They are tabled in Parliament approximately one month in advance of the related Appropriation Act which authorizes the actual release of funds. This period is intended to provide the various Standing Committees of Parliament with sufficient time to review proposed spending plans before introduction of the Appropriation Act.

Supplementary Estimates are published each year; each is identified alphabetically (A, B, C, etc.). This is the second year in a row that the government tabled a Supplementary Estimates (A) in mid-May to provide federal organizations with the funding they need earlier in the year. Supplementary Estimates (B) is tabled in early November and Supplementary Estimates (C) in mid-February if required.

The Estimates are part of the yearly Reporting Cycle on government spending. 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 in Departmental Performance Reports, help Parliament hold the Government of Canada to account for the allocation and management of public funds.

For further information: Christine Csversko, Director of Communications, Office of the President of the Treasury Board, [phone]; Robert Makichuk, Chief, Media Relations, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, [phone]