Special Warrant: $33.1B for Federal Operations

Summary#

A Special Warrant issued under the Financial Administration Act allows the government to spend $33,102,676,499 from the public treasury. The warrant, authorized by Order in Council P.C. 2025-467 on May 2, 2025, is effective May 16, 2025 and covers spending needs from May 16 to June 29, 2025.

What it does#

• Authorizes payment of $33,102,676,499 out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for federal programs and operations between May 16 and June 29, 2025.
• Breaks that total into a budgetary amount of $33,099,438,624 and a non‑budgetary amount of $3,237,875.
• Lists the specific departments, agencies and Crown corporations that will receive funds and the dollar amounts for each (for example, Department of National Defence $5,927,118,276, Department of Indigenous Services $3,337,192,952, Department of Employment and Social Development $5,596,206,630, Royal Canadian Mounted Police $1,565,171,334, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation $803,512,182).

Who's affected#

• Federal departments and agencies named in the schedule (examples include Department of National Defence, Department of Indigenous Services, Department of Employment and Social Development, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation).
• Public services, programs and staff funded by those departments — for instance, defence, Indigenous services, social programs, border services, and housing-related activities.
• Citizens and organizations that rely on services or payments from those departments may be indirectly affected if the funds cover ongoing operations or benefits.
• It is not clear from the notice whether any provincial governments or private parties are directly affected.

Why it matters#

• A Special Warrant lets the federal government keep running and pay for programs when Parliament has not yet approved all regular appropriations for the fiscal period.
• This keeps services, benefits and operations running without interruption for the listed departments and agencies over the late‑May to late‑June period.
• Large amounts for defence, Indigenous services and social programs indicate significant near‑term cash needs in those areas.