Extra Funds to Keep Services Running

Summary#

• This bill approves extra money for federal programs in the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2026). It covers needs that were not in the main budget.
• It authorizes up to about $10.85 billion from the government’s main bank account to departments and agencies listed in Supplementary Estimates (B).
• Some items take effect as of April 1, 2025, and a small part can be used into the next year to finish projects.
• It does not change tax rates or create new programs; it funds existing services.

Key points:

• Funds major top‑ups for Health Canada, Indigenous Services, National Defence, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, and VIA Rail.
• Sets aside central funds for federal employee pay adjustments and insurance/benefits.
• Provides operating and capital money to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), with authority to spend those funds through March 31, 2027.
• Includes authority for the Minister of Finance to loan up to $200 million to the World Bank (IBRD) and grant up to $14 million over three years.
• Unused amounts generally expire after the next fiscal year, with some accounting adjustments allowed.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • Keeps day‑to‑day federal services running, like health product approvals, border and public safety operations, courts administration, and federal parks.
  • Supports call centres, IT systems, and offices that people rely on for benefits and information.

• Commuters and travelers

  • VIA Rail receives a large payment to maintain passenger rail services.
  • Airport security (CATSA) gets added funding to support screening.
  • Marine Atlantic and the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority receive funds to keep key links operating.

• Tax filers and benefit recipients

  • CRA receives added operating and capital funds to maintain tax filing systems, compliance work, and service channels.

• Newcomers and families sponsoring immigration

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada receives a sizable operating top‑up and added contributions that support application processing and settlement services.

• Indigenous communities

  • Indigenous Services and Crown‑Indigenous Relations receive major contributions for community services, infrastructure, and agreements.

• Patients and consumers

  • Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada receive operating funds for health regulation, public health activities, and related contributions.

• Veterans

  • Veterans Affairs receives additional operating and contribution funds to support programs and services.

• Students, researchers, and cultural audiences

  • Research councils, museums, the National Film Board, and Telefilm receive added funds that support grants, exhibits, and productions.

• Businesses and regions

  • Regional development agencies across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, and the Pacific receive contributions that support local projects and jobs.

Expenses#

Estimated annual cost: about $10.85 billion in voted funding for 2025–26, plus a small amount available into 2026–27.

• Total voted amount in this bill: about $10.85 billion for 2025–26.
• Additional two‑year authority (can be used through March 31, 2027): about $186 million for the CRA.
• Notable items (rounded):
  • Health Canada and Public Health Agency: about $1.71 billion combined.
  • Indigenous Services and Crown‑Indigenous Relations: about $2.67 billion combined.
  • National Defence: about $1.10 billion.
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship: about $621 million.
  • Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development: about $802 million.
  • VIA Rail: about $945 million.
  • Treasury Board central items (employee compensation and insurance/benefits): about $927 million.
  • CRA (two‑year authority): about $186 million.
• International financial items:
  • Loan authority up to $200 million to the World Bank (IBRD).
  • Grants up to $14 million to the IBRD over 2025–26 to 2027–28.
• Unspent amounts generally lapse after the following fiscal year; some accounting adjustments are allowed before Public Accounts are tabled.

Proponents' View#

• Keeps essential programs running by topping up areas where costs were higher than planned.
• Targets urgent priorities, including Indigenous services, health regulation, public safety, and immigration processing.
• Maintains national transportation links (VIA Rail, Marine Atlantic, key bridges) that people and goods rely on.
• Provides central funds to manage employee pay and benefit pressures so departments can continue delivering services.
• Fulfills international commitments and supports crisis response abroad without cutting domestic services.
• Offers limited flexibility (for CRA and accounting adjustments) to finish projects and close the books properly.

Opponents' View#

• Adds significant spending beyond the main budget, which could increase the deficit or borrowing needs.
• The bill text lists totals by organization, but not detailed project‑level results; critics may see this as limited transparency.
• Central votes for compensation and insurance are large and may be hard for the public to track by program.
• Two‑year spending authority for the CRA can reduce annual oversight on how funds are used.
• Some will question funding for international finance and aid while domestic pressures (health care access, housing, affordability) remain high.
• Concern that repeated in‑year “top‑ups” signal weak planning or cost control in departments.