Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP) Department of Finance Appearance on the Public Accounts of Canada 2024

Parliamentary Environment Analysis

House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Department of Finance Appearance on the Public Accounts of Canada 2024

While the discussion is expected to focus on the 2024 Public Accounts, committee members may question officials on other items within the Department of Finance's mandate, particularly the Fall Economic Statement 2024 since it was tabled on December 16, 2024. The Chair is unlikely to deem any questions out of scope.
PACP has often recommended that the government table the Public Accounts on a fixed date in October to align with other jurisdictions. Members will likely express dissatisfaction with the December tabling date and ask how the Government of Canada can improve these timelines. *Sentence redacted*.
Members may also ask officials about the Auditor General's December 2024 report on Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), in light of the DM's December 9 appearance having been overtaken by committee business after only a couple questions. While an invitation to reschedule the appearance to January 21 or 23 has been issued by the Chair, members may take this opportunity to question officials on the CEBA report (the committee has been debating a motion on its future business, including another appearance on CEBA).

The CPC is expected to focus on areas of government spending they believe to be too high and question the government's ability to deliver services and programs. They have asserted that government spending has resulted in rising costs of living for Canadians, referencing Canada's GDP per capita and productivity levels as indicators.
Consistent with their reaction to the FES, they are expected to scrutinize the government's fiscal guardrails and budgetary deficit.
Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) has been vocal in his dissatisfaction with the government's administration of COVID-19 support programs. He has questioned ineligible payments and the lack of support for taxpayers for the CEBA and Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Other members have been critical of the government's proposal to refocus spending, arguing that reductions should not be lapsed into pandemic benefits not being paid out.
The party has expressed strong criticism of the government's carbon pricing policy, promising to repeal the "carbon tax" should they form government in future. This issue has been a regular topic of debate with the CPC repeatedly calling for a "carbon tax election".

The Bloc has been critical of the government's management of public funds, citing concerns about the holiday pause on GST/HST, deficit projections, and pandemic programs (i.e., CEBA).
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne) may reiterate concerns around reporting and accountability of Crown corporations since they are subject to different standards than federal departments. She has argued against using Crown corporations to fund government activities because they are not subject to the "same level of transparency and disclosure standards as the rest of government."
Ms. Sinclair-Desgagné has advocated for a permanent extension of the CEBA loan repayment period as a means of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Her party has been critical of the government's perceived lack of flexibility to assess repayments on a case-by-case basis and may ask for the number of bankruptcies of SMEs stemming from the repayment.
The Bloc strongly supports the transition to a net-zero economy and has often criticized government initiatives for not going far enough. Members have expressed concern about the government's ability to sell the Trans Mountain Pipeline that avoids a net loss to taxpayers. The party recently initiated a report on this issue at another House committee.

The NDP is expected to raise improving reporting timelines and transparency around the Public Accounts. Generally, NDP members have directed their questions to the Treasury Board Secretariat and Auditor General.
While the NDP is generally supportive of increased investment in the economy and social programs, they have expressed concern that the government does not adequately track the outcomes of its programs. In line with commitments to reconciliation, the party will likely seek details about settlement agreements.
During past meetings on the Public Accounts, members have spoken about Phoenix pay system issues and its impacts on the public service. They have also inquired about the impact of climate change and how to share environmental information in the Public Accounts.
The party has regularly called on the government to extend the CEBA loan repayment and partial loan forgiveness period as a way to support small businesses recovering from the pandemic. However, members have been critical of the government's perceived lack of flexibility when the deadline was extended by 18 days, arguing that the time was insufficient for businesses to repay the loans.

The LPC are expected to reinforce the need to improve transparency and reporting timelines of the Public Accounts while maintaining accuracy. They may ask officials for the reasons behind reporting delays and how the process can be improved.
During past meetings on the Public Accounts, members have sought information on Canada's overall economic performance, the government's debt management strategy and public debt charges. MP Valerie Bradford (Kitchener South—Hespeler) has sought information on the impacts of climate change on Canada's financial sustainability and how that information can be shared in the Public Accounts.
Regarding the CEBA report, LPC members have spoken favourably about the value for money of the program given the critical need to support Canadians businesses during an "unprecedented" time. That said, some have questioned the public service's capacity to deliver programs in quick manner and procurement processes.