Summary#
This supply bill authorizes the federal government to spend up to CAD $4,855,257,827 for programs and operations in 2019–2020 that were not covered in the main budget, based on Supplementary Estimates (A) (Schedules 1–2). Most amounts are available for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2020, with a smaller portion allowed to be spent until March 31, 2021 (Schedule 2). The authority is effective retroactive to April 1, 2019, and unused funds generally lapse after the allowed period (Effective date (2); Order of payment (2)).
- Authorizes $4,749,734,561 for one-year items (Schedule 1) and $105,523,266 for two-year items (Schedule 2).
- Targets many departments, including Veterans Affairs, Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans, Transport, RCMP, and Treasury Board Secretariat (Schedule 1).
- Permits Schedule 2 amounts to be spent up to March 31, 2021; remaining balances then lapse (Order of payment (2); Schedule 2).
- Does not change eligibility rules or create new programs; it provides spending authority for stated purposes only (Purpose of each item (1)).
What it means for you#
- Households and service users
- Veterans: Additional $741,968,100 for grants and contributions, plus $115,476,233 for operations at Veterans Affairs; supports delivery of veterans’ benefits and services during 2019–2020 (Schedule 1).
- Air travel: $26,110,960 to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for operating and capital costs; may support screening capacity in airports during 2019–2020 (Schedule 1).
- International assistance and security: $538,115,990 in contributions at Foreign Affairs for trade promotion, humanitarian assistance, development, and peace/security work; total for the department is $565,493,354 (Schedule 1).
- Health and research: Added funding to Health ($99,452,474), Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($6,758,252), NSERC ($18,789,106), and SSHRC ($1,962,678); supports regulatory, health, and research grants in 2019–2020 (Schedule 1).
- Culture and media: $63,898,198 for Canadian Heritage (operations and contributions) and $7,500,000 to Telefilm Canada (Schedule 1).
- Parks and heritage sites: $20,539,271 for Parks Canada (two‑year authority) for programs, capital, grants, and contributions (Schedule 2).
- Workers (federal public service, RCMP, Canadian Forces)
- Compensation adjustments: $466,720,520 under Treasury Board to supplement other appropriations when terms and conditions of employment are adjusted; total for TBS is $526,418,480 (Schedule 1).
- RCMP: $268,520,407 across operating, capital, and contributions (Schedule 1).
- Businesses and industry
- Transport programs: $200,093,768 for a Green and Innovative Transportation System, $15,192,044 for a Safe and Secure Transportation System, and $6,965,510 for an Efficient Transportation System; total Transport Canada funding is $223,868,210 (Schedule 1).
- Fisheries, oceans, and marine services: $355,892,917 to Fisheries and Oceans, including Coast Guard operations, capital, and contributions (Schedule 1).
- Trade and investment: Foreign Affairs contributions include trade and investment promotion activities (Schedule 1).
- Indigenous communities and northern residents
- Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs: $185,789,393 in contributions and $87,505,898 for operations; supports listed purposes such as economic development capacity and infrastructure works (Schedule 1).
- Indigenous Services: $18,531,900 in contributions and $14,062,240 for operations linked to health protection and services (Schedule 1).
- Travelers and border users
- Border services and customs: $63,224,651 to the Canada Border Services Agency (two‑year authority) for operating and capital costs (Schedule 2).
- Marine ferry users: $3,000,000 to Marine Atlantic for management, capital, and ferry services between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador (Schedule 1).
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: CAD $4,855,257,827 (one-time authority for FY2019–2020).
- Total authorized: $4,855,257,827; based on Supplementary Estimates (A) (Grant of sum; Schedules 1–2).
- Schedule 1 total (one-year items): $4,749,734,561 (Schedule 1).
- Schedule 2 total (available through March 31, 2021): $105,523,266 (Schedule 2; Order of payment (2)).
| Item | Amount | Frequency | Source |
|---|
| Total appropriation | $4,855,257,827 | One-time (FY2019–2020) | Grant of sum; Schedules 1–2 |
| Schedule 1 subtotal | $4,749,734,561 | Spendable through Mar 31, 2020 (with non-cash year-end adjustments) | Schedule 1 |
| Schedule 2 subtotal | $105,523,266 | Spendable through Mar 31, 2021 | Schedule 2; Order of payment (2) |
| Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (total) | $565,493,354 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| Veterans Affairs (total) | $857,444,333 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| Treasury Board Secretariat (total) | $526,418,480 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| National Defence (total) | $427,162,714 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| Fisheries and Oceans (total) | $355,892,917 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| RCMP (total) | $268,520,407 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| Transport Canada (total) | $223,868,210 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| Shared Services Canada (total) | $235,245,618 | FY2019–2020 | Schedule 1 |
| CBSA (two‑year authority) | $63,224,651 | Through Mar 31, 2021 | Schedule 2 |
| CRA (two‑year authority) | $21,759,344 | Through Mar 31, 2021 | Schedule 2 |
| Parks Canada (two‑year authority) | $20,539,271 | Through Mar 31, 2021 | Schedule 2 |
Notes:
- Each item can be spent only for its stated purpose and terms (Purpose of each item (1)).
- Schedule 1 appropriations may be charged after year‑end only to make non‑cash adjustments before Public Accounts are tabled (Adjustments — Schedule 1).
- Schedule 2 amounts may be spent and applied up to March 31, 2021; uncharged balances then lapse, subject to standard adjustments (Order of payment (2); Schedule 2).
Proponents' View#
- Maintains core services without interruption by providing retroactive authority to April 1, 2019, covering gaps from Supplementary Estimates (A) (Effective date (2); Schedules 1–2).
- Directs large, time‑limited funds to urgent priorities, such as veterans’ benefits and services ($857.4 million), international assistance and trade promotion ($565.5 million), and transportation safety and innovation ($223.9 million) (Schedule 1).
- Supports public service labour agreements and workforce stability via $466.7 million for compensation adjustments (Schedule 1).
- Enhances safety and security capacity through added funds to CATSA ($26.1 million), RCMP ($268.5 million), and CBSA ($63.2 million, two‑year) (Schedules 1–2).
- Includes clear lapse and purpose controls to limit spending and promote accountability; unused funds generally lapse at year‑end or the following year for Schedule 2 (Purpose of each item (1); Order of payment (2)).
Opponents' View#
- Limited program detail in an appropriation bill reduces Parliament’s ability to assess outcomes; many lines refer broadly to “grants listed in the Estimates” without itemized impacts (multiple Votes, Schedule 1).
- Broad Treasury Board authorities (e.g., $466.7 million for compensation adjustments; $45.8 million for government‑wide initiatives) may allow reallocations with limited visibility until Public Accounts (Schedule 1).
- Retroactive approval to April 1, 2019, can compress scrutiny after funds are already needed or partially committed (Effective date (2)).
- Two‑year spending windows (Schedule 2) and year‑end adjustment provisions can make tracking actual use complex for the public (Adjustments — Schedules 1–2; Order of payment (2)).
- The bill does not identify offsets or revenue increases; it authorizes gross outlays from the Consolidated Revenue Fund up to $4.855 billion (Grant of sum).