Archived - The Fiscal Monitor: A publication of the Department of Finance
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Highlights
April and May 2019
For the first two months of the 2019–20 fiscal year (April and May), there was a budgetary deficit of $1.4 billion, compared to a surplus of $3.2 billion reported in the same period of 2018–19. By month, there was a deficit of $2.1 billion in April and a surplus of $0.7 billion in May.
Monthly budgetary balance
For the two months combined, revenues were up $2.3 billion, or 4.2 per cent, largely reflecting increases in tax revenues and other revenues. Program expenses were up $6.3 billion, or 13.5 per cent, largely reflecting increases in major transfers to other levels of government and direct program expenses. Public debt charges were up $0.6 billion, or 13.3 per cent, reflecting higher Consumer Price Index adjustments on Real Return Bonds and a higher average effective interest rate on the stock of Treasury Bills.
Year-to-date budgetary balance
April | May | April-May | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018–19 Restated1 |
2019–20 | |
Budgetary transactions | ||||||
Revenues | 28,719 | 28,926 | 25,511 | 27,590 | 54,230 | 56,516 |
Expenses | ||||||
Program expenses | -24,061 | -28,731 | -22,800 | -24,455 | -46,861 | -53,186 |
Public debt charges | -2,120 | -2,315 | -2,067 | -2,428 | -4,187 | -4,743 |
Budgetary balance (deficit/surplus) | 2,538 | -2,120 | 644 | 707 | 3,182 | -1,413 |
Non-budgetary transactions | -4,093 | -3,703 | 1,150 | -2,394 | -2,943 | -6,097 |
Financial source/requirement | -1,555 | -5,823 | 1,794 | -1,687 | 239 | -7,510 |
Net change in financing activities | 9,472 | 11,715 | 3,651 | 5,342 | 13,123 | 17,057 |
Net change in cash balances | 7,917 | 5,892 | 5,445 | 3,655 | 13,362 | 9,547 |
Cash balance at end of period | 51,038 | 49,551 | ||||
Notes: Positive numbers indicate net source of funds. Negative numbers indicate net requirement for funds. 1 Certain comparative figures have been restated to reflect changes in accounting policy. See Note 8 at the end of this document for further details. |
Revenues
For the April to May period of 2019–20, revenues increased by $2.3 billion, or 4.2 per cent, to $56.5 billion.
- Tax revenues increased by $1.6 billion, or 3.6 per cent, driven largely by growth in personal and corporate income tax revenues.
- Employment Insurance (EI) premium revenues were up $26 million, or 0.6 per cent.
- Other revenues, consisting of net profits from enterprise Crown corporations, revenues of consolidated Crown corporations, revenues from sales of goods and services, returns on investments, net foreign exchange revenues and miscellaneous revenues, were up $0.6 billion, or 13.7 per cent.
April | May | April - May | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018–19 Restated1 |
2019–20 | Change | |
($ millions) | ($ millions) | ($ millions) | (%) | ||||
Tax revenues | |||||||
Income taxes | |||||||
Personal | 14,526 | 13,889 | 10,784 | 12,384 | 25,310 | 26,273 | 3.8 |
Corporate | 4,720 | 4,531 | 3,669 | 4,277 | 8,389 | 8,808 | 5.0 |
Non-resident | 682 | 735 | 731 | 753 | 1,413 | 1,488 | 5.3 |
Total income tax revenues | 19,928 | 19,155 | 15,184 | 17,414 | 35,112 | 36,569 | 4.1 |
Other taxes and duties | |||||||
Goods and Services Tax | 3,115 | 3,398 | 4,254 | 3,812 | 7,369 | 7,210 | -2.2 |
Energy taxes | 423 | 439 | 457 | 489 | 880 | 928 | 5.5 |
Customs import duties | 414 | 514 | 445 | 511 | 859 | 1,025 | 19.3 |
Other excise taxes and duties | 415 | 597 | 566 | 521 | 981 | 1,118 | 14.0 |
Total other taxes and duties | 4,367 | 4,948 | 5,722 | 5,333 | 10,089 | 10,281 | 1.9 |
Total tax revenues | 24,295 | 24,103 | 20,906 | 22,747 | 45,201 | 46,850 | 3.6 |
Employment Insurance premiums | 2,358 | 2,356 | 2,214 | 2,242 | 4,572 | 4,598 | 0.6 |
Other revenues | 2,066 | 2,467 | 2,391 | 2,601 | 4,457 | 5,068 | 13.7 |
Total revenues | 28,719 | 28,926 | 25,511 | 27,590 | 54,230 | 56,516 | 4.2 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.
1 Certain comparative figures have been restated to reflect a change in accounting policy. See Note 8 at the end of this document for further details. |
Expenses
For the April to May period of 2019–20, program expenses were $53.2 billion, up $6.3 billion, or 13.5 per cent, from the same period the previous year.
- Major transfers to persons, consisting of elderly benefits, EI benefits and children's benefits, were up $0.5 billion or 2.9 per cent. Elderly benefits increased by $0.4 billion, or 5.0 per cent, reflecting growth in the elderly population and changes in consumer prices, to which benefits are fully indexed. EI benefits increased by $0.1 billion, or 2.1 per cent. Children's benefits were down $42 million, or 1.0 per cent.
- Major transfers to other levels of government were up $3.0 billion, or 24.2 per cent, primarily reflecting legislated growth in the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, Equalization transfers and transfers to the territories; an increase in payments under home care and mental health transfers; and, a $1.9 billion expense resulting from the new Hibernia Dividend Backed Annuity Agreement reached on April 1, 2019 between Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Direct program expenses were up $2.9 billion, or 15.4 per cent. Within direct program expenses:
- Fuel charge proceeds returned reflects $1.1 billion in payments under the new federal carbon pollution pricing system.
- Other transfer payments increased by $0.8 billion, or 14.4 per cent, reflecting increases across a number of departments.
- Operating expenses of the Government's departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations and other entities increased by $1.0 billion, or 7.5 per cent, reflecting in part an increase in personnel costs.
Public debt charges increased by $0.6 billion, or 13.3 per cent, reflecting higher Consumer Price Index adjustments on Real Return Bonds and a higher average effective interest rate on the stock of Treasury Bills.
April | May | April - May | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018–19 Restated1 |
2019–20 | Change | |
($ millions) | ($ millions) | ($ millions) | (%) | ||||
Major transfers to persons | |||||||
Elderly benefits | 4,281 | 4,527 | 4,382 | 4,573 | 8,663 | 9,100 | 5.0 |
Employment Insurance benefits | 1,923 | 1,817 | 1,196 | 1,366 | 3,119 | 3,183 | 2.1 |
Children’s benefits | 2,021 | 2,005 | 2,057 | 2,031 | 4,078 | 4,036 | -1.0 |
Total | 8,225 | 8,349 | 7,635 | 7,970 | 15,860 | 16,319 | 2.9 |
Major transfers to other levels of government |
|||||||
Canada Health Transfer | 3,216 | 3,365 | 3,215 | 3,364 | 6,431 | 6,729 | 4.6 |
Canada Social Transfer | 1,180 | 1,216 | 1,180 | 1,215 | 2,360 | 2,431 | 3.0 |
Equalization | 1,580 | 1,653 | 1,580 | 1,653 | 3,160 | 3,306 | 4.6 |
Territorial Formula Financing | 605 | 631 | 606 | 632 | 1,211 | 1,263 | 4.3 |
Gas Tax Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
Home care and mental health | 17 | 530 | 0 | 20 | 17 | 550 | 3,135.3 |
Other fiscal arrangements2 | -416 | 1,480 | -416 | -425 | -832 | 1,055 | 226.8 |
Total | 6,182 | 8,875 | 6,165 | 6,459 | 12,347 | 15,334 | 24.2 |
Direct program expenses | |||||||
Fuel charge proceeds returned | 0 | 779 | 0 | 331 | 0 | 1,110 | n/a |
Other transfer payments | 3,451 | 3,830 | 1,953 | 2,354 | 5,404 | 6,184 | 14.4 |
Other direct program expenses | 6,203 | 6,898 | 7,047 | 7,341 | 13,250 | 14,239 | 7.5 |
Total direct program expenses | 9,654 | 11,507 | 9,000 | 10,026 | 18,654 | 21,533 | 15.4 |
Total program expenses | 24,061 | 28,731 | 22,800 | 24,455 | 46,861 | 53,186 | 13.5 |
Public debt charges | 2,120 | 2,315 | 2,067 | 2,428 | 4,187 | 4,743 | 13.3 |
Total expenses | 26,181 | 31,046 | 24,867 | 26,883 | 51,048 | 57,929 | 13.5 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 1 Certain comparative figures have been restated to reflect changes in accounting policy. See Note 8 at the end of this document for further details. 2 Other fiscal arrangements include the Youth Allowances Recovery and Alternative Payments for Standing Programs, which represent a recovery from Quebec of a tax point transfer; statutory subsidies; payments under the 2005 Offshore Accords; payments to provinces in respect of common securities regulation; transfers under the new Hibernia Dividend Backed Annuity Agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador; and, other items. |
The following table presents total expenses by main object of expense.
April | May | April - May | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018-19 Restated1 |
2019-20 | Change | |
($ millions) | ($ millions) | ($ millions) | (%) | ||||
Transfer payments | 17,858 | 21,833 | 15,753 | 17,114 | 33,611 | 38,947 | 15.9 |
Other expenses | |||||||
Personnel | 4,116 | 4,370 | 4,562 | 4,874 | 8,678 | 9,244 | 6.5 |
Transportation and communications | 66 | 68 | 223 | 214 | 289 | 282 | -2.4 |
Information | 5 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 4.0 |
Professional and special services | 227 | 394 | 635 | 655 | 862 | 1,049 | 21.7 |
Rentals | 311 | 221 | 270 | 324 | 581 | 545 | -6.2 |
Repair and maintenance | 59 | 83 | 121 | 156 | 180 | 239 | 32.8 |
Utilities, materials and supplies | 115 | 97 | 197 | 214 | 312 | 311 | -0.3 |
Other subsidies and expenses | 884 | 1,225 | 602 | 449 | 1,486 | 1,674 | 12.7 |
Amortization of tangible capital assets | 412 | 427 | 409 | 427 | 821 | 854 | 4.0 |
Net loss on disposal of assets | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 15 | -6.3 |
Total other expenses | 6,203 | 6,898 | 7,047 | 7,341 | 13,250 | 14,239 | 7.5 |
Total program expenses | 24,061 | 28,731 | 22,800 | 24,455 | 46,861 | 53,186 | 13.5 |
Public debt charges | 2,120 | 2,315 | 2,067 | 2,428 | 4,187 | 4,743 | 13.3 |
Total expenses | 26,181 | 31,046 | 24,867 | 26,883 | 51,048 | 57,929 | 13.5 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 1 Certain comparative figures have been restated to reflect changes in accounting policy. See Note 8 at the end of this document for further details. |
Revenues and expenses (April and May 2019)
Financial requirement of $7.5 billion for April and May 2019
The budgetary balance is presented on an accrual basis of accounting, recording government revenues and expenses when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when the cash is received or paid. In contrast, the financial source/requirement measures the difference between cash coming in to the Government and cash going out. This measure is affected not only by changes in the budgetary balance but also by the cash source/requirement resulting from the Government's investing activities through its acquisition of capital assets and its loans, financial investments and advances, as well as from other activities, including payment of accounts payable and collection of accounts receivable, foreign exchange activities, and the amortization of its tangible capital assets. The difference between the budgetary balance and financial source/requirement is recorded in non-budgetary transactions.
With a budgetary deficit of $1.4 billion and a requirement of $6.1 billion from non-budgetary transactions, there was a financial requirement of $7.5 billion for the April to May 2019 period, compared to a financial source of $0.2 billion from the same period the previous year.
April | May | April - May | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018 Restated1 |
2019 | 2018–19 Restated1 |
2019–20 | |
Budgetary balance (deficit/surplus) | 2,538 | -2,120 | 644 | 707 | 3,182 | -1,413 |
Non-budgetary transactions | ||||||
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accounts receivable |
-5,233 | -1,338 | 610 | -1,241 | -4,623 | -2,579 |
Pensions, other future benefits, and other liabilities | 359 | 713 | 425 | 618 | 784 | 1,331 |
Foreign exchange accounts | 1,239 | -2,435 | 1,219 | -1,109 | 2,458 | -3,544 |
Loans, investments and advances | -701 | -1,019 | -1,084 | -593 | -1,785 | -1,612 |
Non-financial assets | 243 | 376 | -20 | -69 | 223 | 307 |
Total non-budgetary transactions | -4,093 | -3,703 | 1,150 | -2,394 | -2,943 | -6,097 |
Financial source/requirement | -1,555 | -5,823 | 1,794 | -1,687 | 239 | -7,510 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 1 Certain comparative figures have been restated to reflect changes in accounting policy. See Note 8 at the end of this document for further details. |
Net financing activities up $17.1 billion
The government financed this financial requirement of $7.5 billion and increased cash balances by $9.5 billion by increasing unmatured debt by $17.1 billion. The increase in unmatured debt was achieved primarily through the issuance of marketable bonds and treasury bills.
The level of cash balances varies from month to month based on a number of factors including periodic large debt maturities, which can be quite volatile on a monthly basis. Cash balances at the end of May 2019 stood at $49.6 billion, down $1.5 billion from their level at the end of May 2018.
April | May | April - May | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | |
Financial source/requirement | -1,555 | -5,823 | 1,794 | -1,687 | 239 | -7,510 |
Net increase (+)/decrease (-) in financing activities | ||||||
Unmatured debt transactions | ||||||
Canadian currency borrowings | ||||||
Marketable bonds | 5,725 | 7,583 | -3,775 | 1,318 | 1,950 | 8,901 |
Treasury bills | 5,200 | 2,800 | 8,000 | 4,300 | 13,200 | 7,100 |
Retail debt | -68 | -31 | -17 | -23 | -85 | -54 |
Total | 10,857 | 10,352 | 4,208 | 5,595 | 15,065 | 15,947 |
Foreign currency borrowings | -159 | 1,030 | -24 | -525 | -183 | 505 |
Total | 10,698 | 11,382 | 4,184 | 5,070 | 14,882 | 16,452 |
Cross-currency swap revaluation | -988 | 205 | -225 | 457 | -1,213 | 662 |
Unamortized discounts and premiums on market debt | -198 | 174 | -290 | -168 | -488 | 6 |
Obligations related to capital leases and other unmatured debt | -40 | -46 | -18 | -17 | -58 | -63 |
Net change in financing activities | 9,472 | 11,715 | 3,651 | 5,342 | 13,123 | 17,057 |
Change in cash balance | 7,917 | 5,892 | 5,445 | 3,655 | 13,362 | 9,547 |
Cash balance at end of period | 51,038 | 49,551 | ||||
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. |
Notes
- The Fiscal Monitor is a report on the consolidated financial results of the Government of Canada, prepared monthly by the Department of Finance. The Government is committed to releasing the Fiscal Monitor on a timely basis in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standards Plus, which are designed to promote member countries' data transparency and promote the development of sound statistical systems.
- The financial results reported in the Fiscal Monitor are drawn from the accounts of Canada, which are maintained by the Receiver General and used to prepare the annual Public Accounts of Canada.
- The Fiscal Monitor is generally prepared in accordance with the same accounting policies as used to prepare the Government's annual consolidated financial statements, which are summarized in Section 2 of Volume I of the Public Accounts of Canada, available through the Public Services and Procurement Canada website.
- The financial results presented in the Fiscal Monitor have not been audited or reviewed by an external auditor.
- There can be substantial volatility in monthly results due to the timing of revenue receipts and expense recognition. For instance, a large share of government spending is typically reported in the March Fiscal Monitor.
- The April to March results reported in the Fiscal Monitor are not the final results for the fiscal year as a whole. The final results are published in the annual Public Accounts of Canada and incorporate post-March end-of-year adjustments made once further information becomes available, including the accrual of tax revenues reflecting assessments of tax returns and valuation adjustments for assets and liabilities. Post-March adjustments may also include the accrual of measures announced in the Budget that are recorded upon receipt of Royal Assent of enabling legislation.
- The Condensed Statement of Assets and Liabilities is included in the monthly Fiscal Monitor following the finalization and publication of the Government's financial results for the preceding fiscal year, typically in the fall.
- Accounting Changes and Restatement
The monthly financial results for 2018–19 presented for comparative purposes in The Fiscal Monitor have been restated to reflect the following two changes in accounting policy.
Change in Discount Rate Methodology
In finalizing its 2017–18 annual financial results, the Government implemented a change in the discount rate methodology used in valuing unfunded pension obligations. This change resulted in a $6 million increase in the budgetary surplus as of May 31, 2018. Further details regarding this accounting policy change can be found in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in the Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada 2017–2018, available on the Department of Finance Canada website.
Canadian Commercial Corporation
During 2018–19, the Canadian Commercial Corporation determined that it acts as an agent in its commercial trading transactions. As a result, the revenues and expenses and related asset and liability balances arising from these transactions are no longer consolidated in the Government's financial results. This accounting change has no net impact on the budgetary balance, as the decrease in the Government's revenues is offset by an equal reduction in expenses. Similarly, this change has no net impact on the federal debt, as the decrease in the Government's assets is offset by an equal reduction in its liabilities.
The following table provides an overview of these restatements of the 2018–19 financial results.
Program expenses | Public debt charges | Other revenues | Budgetary balance (deficit/surplus) | Non-budgetary transactions | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2018 | |||||
As previously reported | -24,070 | -2,320 | 2,273 | 2,535 | -4,090 |
Effect of change in accounting policy | |||||
Change in discount rate methodology | -197 | 200 | n/a | 3 | -3 |
Canadian Commercial Corporation | 206 | n/a | -206 | 0 | n/a |
As restated | -24,061 | -2,120 | 2,066 | 2,538 | -4,093 |
May 2018 | |||||
As previously reported | -22,809 | -2,267 | 2,596 | 641 | 1,153 |
Effect of change in accounting policy | |||||
Change in discount rate methodology | -197 | 200 | n/a | 3 | -3 |
Canadian Commercial Corporation | 206 | n/a | -206 | 0 | n/a |
As restated | -22,800 | -2,067 | 2,391 | 644 | 1,150 |
April to May 2018 | |||||
As previously reported | -46,879 | -4,587 | 4,869 | 3,176 | -2,937 |
Effect of change in accounting policy | |||||
Change in discount rate methodology | -394 | 400 | n/a | 6 | -6 |
Canadian Commercial Corporation | 412 | n/a | -412 | 0 | n/a |
As restated | -46,861 | -4,187 | 4,457 | 3,182 | -2,943 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. |
Note: Unless otherwise noted, changes in financial results are presented on a year-over-year basis.
For inquiries about this publication, contact Bradley Recker at 613-369-5667.
July 2019
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (2019)
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