The Reporting Cycle for Government Expenditures
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Government spending: Annual approval and reporting cycle
One of Parliament’s fundamental roles is to review and approve the government’s spending plans. Much of this spending is authorized on an annual basis through a regular, recurring process.
Overview of the annual approval and reporting cycle
The federal budget and fiscal updates/economic statements
The federal budget is the blueprint for the Government of Canada’s economic priorities and projections for a given year. While there is no requirement for the budget to be announced at a particular time, over the last decade federal budgets have been presented in February, March or April.
The government often also publishes an economic statement or update in the fall. Neither the budget nor the fiscal update authorizes the government to spend funds; spending is authorized by annual appropriation acts or other legislation.
Phases in the annual approval and reporting cycle
The Government of Canada’s fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 in the following calendar year. The timing of some events, such as the tabling of the Main Estimates and introduction of appropriation bills, is dictated by the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.
It can be helpful to think about the annual approval and reporting cycle as occurring before, during, and after the fiscal year.
In this section:
Before the fiscal year: Presenting the government’s plans
Before the fiscal year begins on April 1, the Main Estimates are tabled in Parliament to present spending plans for the upcoming year. This is also when departments report on what they plan to achieve over the next 3 years.
Main Estimates (latest March 1)
The government tables the Main Estimates by March 1 for the upcoming fiscal year. The Main Estimates provide details about amounts to be included in subsequent appropriation bills. Parliament is asked to approve these bills so the government can proceed with its spending plans.
Departmental plans
Shortly after tabling the Main Estimates, the government tables departmental plans Departmental plans describe departmental priorities, strategic outcomes, expected results and associated resource requirements, covering a 3-year period.
Interim supply (Introduction by March 26)
While the Main Estimates are being reviewed, Parliament votes on the first appropriation bill of the fiscal year to provide an interim supply of funds. This is a portion of the funding presented in the Main Estimates used to cover expenditures for the first 3 months of the fiscal year.
During the fiscal year: Full supply, updating spending plans and requesting additional authorities to spend
During the fiscal year, Parliament votes on the balance of funding presented in the Main Estimates, and additional spending requirements are presented in the Supplementary Estimates.
Full supply (Introduction by June 23)
Parliament votes on the second appropriation bill of the fiscal year to authorize the remainder of the funding presented in the Main Estimates, called full supply.
Supplementary Estimates
The Supplementary Estimates present information on spending requirements that were neither sufficiently developed in time to be included in the Main Estimates nor subsequently refined to account for developments in particular programs and services. The Supplementary Estimates often include new spending announced in the federal budget.
In most years, 3 Supplementary Estimates are tabled: 1 each in spring, fall and winter. Spending outlined in each Supplementary Estimates is authorized through an appropriation bill. The bills are introduced in the House of Commons on the last opposition day of the supply periods ending no later than June 23, December 10 and March 26.
After the fiscal year: Reporting on actual spending and results
Once the fiscal year has ended on March 31, the government reports on how much money was actually spent and what departments have achieved over the previous year.
Public Accounts (fall)
The Public Accounts of Canada include the audited consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada as well as additional information on actual spending from departments, agencies, Crown corporations and other reporting entities. The Financial Administration Act requires that the Public Accounts are tabled on or before December 31 following the end of the fiscal year or, if the House of Commons is not sitting, within the next 15 sitting days. The Public Accounts are generally tabled in the fall.
Departmental Results Reports (fall)
The Departmental Results Reports provide accounts of actual performance, for the most recently completed fiscal year, against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in Departmental Plans. Departmental Results Reports are tabled following the tabling of the Public Accounts.
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