Summary#
This bill authorizes the federal government to spend up to CAD $11,187,495,220 for 2024–2025, as set out in Supplementary Estimates (A). It covers operating costs, grants, contributions, and some capital, for departments and agencies across the Government of Canada. The authority is deemed to take effect on April 1, 2024, and applies to items not already funded in the Main Estimates (Schedule; Supplementary Estimates (A) 2024–25; Bill: Effective date).
- Authorizes $5.62 billion for Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and $2.16 billion for Indigenous Services (Schedule).
- Provides $951.55 million for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada operations and contributions (Schedule).
- Funds $604.93 million in Transport Canada contributions and $75.70 million for VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. (Schedule).
- Allocates $528.25 million for Veterans Affairs operations and $342.73 million for Health contributions and operations (Schedule).
- Sets a $250.00 million Treasury Board contingency for urgent or unforeseen needs (Schedule; TBS Vote 5a).
What it means for you#
- Households
- No new taxes or fees are created by this bill. It only authorizes spending (Bill: Grant of $11.19B).
- Existing federal services and grants can continue or expand where listed, effective April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025 (Bill: Effective date; Schedule).
- Indigenous peoples and communities
- Significant funding flows to Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs ($5.62B) and Indigenous Services ($2.16B) for operations and grants/contributions during 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- Exact program-by-program amounts are set in Supplementary Estimates (A) and departmental announcements (Data unavailable here).
- Newcomers and refugees
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada receives $951.55M for operations and contributions, which can support processing and settlement-related agreements in 2024–2025 (Schedule; IRCC Votes 1a, 10a).
- Travelers and commuters
- Transport Canada receives $604.93M in contributions that can fund transport programs and projects in 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. gets $75.70M for operating and capital needs tied to rail initiatives in 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- Veterans and their families
- Veterans Affairs receives $528.25M in operating funds to run its programs and services in 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- Renters and homeowners
- CMHC is reimbursed $212.37M for loans forgiven, grants, contributions, and related costs under the National Housing Act and other authorities in 2024–2025 (Schedule; CMHC Vote 1a).
- Researchers and cultural workers
- NSERC gets $9.10M in grants; Telefilm Canada receives $49.48M; the National Arts Centre receives $2.33M for operations, all in 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- SSHRC appears in the schedule but the amount is not shown in the provided text (Data unavailable).
- Businesses and non‑profits
- Natural Resources ($213.14M in contributions), Transport ($604.93M in contributions), PacifiCan ($1.90M in contributions), and other departments may open or expand grant/contribution programs in 2024–2025 (Schedule).
- Provinces, territories, municipalities
- Departments with contribution authorities (e.g., Transport, Health, Indigenous portfolios) can transfer funds through existing agreements in 2024–2025 (Schedule; items specifying “Contributions”).
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: CAD $11,187,495,220 (FY2024–2025).
- Source: Supplementary Estimates (A) 2024–25; enacted via Appropriation Act No. 3, 2024–25 (Bill: $11.19B grant; Schedule).
- Timing: Deemed effective April 1, 2024; can record year‑end adjustments before Public Accounts are tabled (Bill: Effective date; Adjustments in accounts).
- Contingency: Treasury Board may address urgent/unforeseen items up to $250,000,000 within departmental legal mandates (Schedule; TBS Vote 5a).
| Item | Amount | Frequency | Source |
|---|
| Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs | $5,617,281,334 | One‑time (FY2024–2025) | Schedule (Votes 1a, 10a) |
| Indigenous Services | $2,164,956,235 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 10a) |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | $951,546,152 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 10a) |
| Transport Canada | $604,928,802 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 10a) |
| Veterans Affairs | $528,253,666 | One‑time | Schedule (Vote 1a) |
| Health | $342,727,957 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 10a) |
| Treasury Board Secretariat (incl. contingencies) | $252,414,728 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 5a) |
| Natural Resources | $213,144,198 | One‑time | Schedule (Votes 1a, 5a, 10a) |
| Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) | $212,374,706 | One‑time | Schedule (Vote 1a) |
| VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. | $75,700,000 | One‑time | Schedule (Vote 1a) |
| All other listed items (multiple orgs) | $224,167,442 | One‑time | Schedule (various) |
| Total authorized (this Act) | $11,187,495,220 | One‑time | Bill; Schedule |
Proponents' View#
- Ensures government services and payments continue without interruption by providing mid‑year authorities aligned to Supplementary Estimates (A) (Bill; Schedule).
- Targets major priorities, including Indigenous communities, with $5.62B to Crown‑Indigenous Relations and $2.16B to Indigenous Services (Schedule).
- Supports immigration operations and related contributions with $951.55M, helping manage high application volumes and settlement partnerships (Schedule; IRCC Votes 1a, 10a).
- Advances transport initiatives, including $604.93M in contributions at Transport Canada and $75.70M for VIA HFR projects (Schedule).
- Provides flexibility to address urgent or unforeseen needs through a $250.00M Treasury Board contingency, within legal mandates (Schedule; TBS Vote 5a).
- Backs housing and cultural sectors via CMHC reimbursements ($212.37M) and funding for Telefilm ($49.48M) and the National Arts Centre ($2.33M) (Schedule).
Opponents' View#
- Scale and timing: Adds $11.19B in voted authorities mid‑year, which can complicate fiscal planning; the bill itself does not show how this fits the overall budget balance (Bill; Schedule). Assumption: fiscal impact depends on broader revenues and spending not in this bill.
- Limited line‑by‑line detail: Many votes are broad “grants and contributions” without program‑level breakdowns in the bill text, reducing parliamentary visibility at this stage (Schedule). Assumption: details reside in Supplementary Estimates (A).
- Retroactive effect: Deeming all items effective April 1, 2024 reduces ex‑ante scrutiny of spending decisions already underway (Bill: Effective date).
- Contingency risks: The $250.00M Treasury Board contingency could dilute program‑specific oversight if used widely, even though it must remain within legal mandates (Schedule; TBS Vote 5a).
- Year‑end accounting: Allowing adjustments after year‑end until Public Accounts are tabled may reduce timely transparency for citizens tracking in‑year spending (Bill: Adjustments in accounts).