The Fiscal Monitor - December 2024

Highlights

December 2024

There was a budgetary surplus of $1.0 billion in December 2024, compared to a deficit of $4.5 billion in December 2023. The budgetary surplus before net actuarial losses was $1.3 billion, compared to a deficit of $3.8 billion in the same period of 2023-24. The budgetary balance before net actuarial losses and gains is intended to supplement the traditional budgetary balance and improve the transparency of the government's financial reporting by isolating the impact of the amortization of net actuarial losses and gains arising from the revaluation of the government's pension and other employee future benefit plans.

Compared to December 2023:

• Revenues increased by $8.1 billion, or 22.3 per cent, largely reflecting growth in personal income tax, Goods and Services Tax, and corporate income tax revenue.
• Program expenses excluding net actuarial losses were up $2.2 billion, or 6.1 per cent, largely reflecting higher transfers to persons and provinces, territories, and municipalities.  
• Public debt charges were up $0.7 billion, or 16.9 per cent, largely reflecting an increase in the stock of marketable bonds and higher Consumer Price Index adjustments on Real Return Bonds, offset in part by lower interest rates on treasury bills.
• Net actuarial losses were down $0.3 billion, or 46.8 per cent, largely reflecting the amortization of gains due to higher discount rates arising from actuarial valuations prepared for the Public Accounts of Canada 2024, as well as the end of the amortization of certain prior years' net actuarial losses.

April to December 2024

The government posted a budgetary deficit of $21.7 billion for the April to December period of the 2024-25 fiscal year, compared to a deficit of $23.6 billion reported for the same period of 2023-24. The budgetary deficit before net actuarial losses was $18.7 billion, compared to a deficit of $17.9 billion in the April to December period of 2023-24.

Compared to 2023-24:

• Revenues were up $37.6 billion, or 11.8 per cent, reflecting increases in all categories of revenue.
• Program expenses excluding net actuarial losses were up $32.2 billion, or 10.7 per cent, reflecting increases across all major categories of spending, led by direct program expenses and major transfers to persons.
• Public debt charges increased by $6.1 billion, or 17.3 per cent, primarily reflecting higher average effective rates on the outstanding stock of marketable bonds and treasury bills, as well as an increase in the stock of marketable bonds.
• Net actuarial losses decreased by $2.7 billion, or 46.8 per cent, reflecting both the amortization of gains arising from actuarial valuations of the government's pension and other employee future benefit plans as at March 31, 2024, and the end of the amortization of certain prior years' net actuarial losses.

Revenues

Revenues in December 2024 totalled $44.3 billion, up $8.1 billion, or 22.3 per cent, from December 2023.

• Tax revenues increased by $6.8 billion, or 21.8 per cent, compared to the same period in 2023-24, largely as a result of higher personal income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and corporate income tax revenue. GST revenues increased 68.3 per cent due to smaller deductions and higher economic activity in the service sector. Corporate income tax revenue increased by 29.4 per cent due to higher earnings.
• Pollution pricing proceeds to be returned to Canadians were up $0.3 billion, or 44.8 per cent, reflecting in part higher carbon pollution pricing in 2024-25. Direct proceeds continue to be fully returned in the provinces or territories where they are generated.
• Employment Insurance (EI) premium revenues were up $0.1 billion, or 11.1 per cent, reflecting a higher premium rate and a higher number of persons employed.
• Other revenues were up $0.8 billion, or 26.1 per cent, largely reflecting higher net profits from enterprise Crown corporations, interest and penalties revenues, and net foreign exchange revenues.

Revenues for the April to December period of 2024-25 totalled $355.6 billion, up $37.6 billion, or 11.8 per cent, from the same period in 2023-24.

• Tax revenues increased by $26.4 billion, or 10.0 per cent, compared to the same period in 2023-24, owing largely to higher personal and corporate income tax revenue.
• Pollution pricing proceeds to be returned to Canadians were up $1.8 billion, or 26.2 per cent, reflecting higher carbon pollution pricing in 2024-25.
• EI premium revenues were up $2.1 billion, or 11.2 per cent, reflecting a higher premium rate and a higher number of persons employed.
• Other revenues were up $7.2 billion, or 26.8 per cent, largely reflecting higher net profits from enterprise Crown corporations, higher interest and penalties revenues, and higher net foreign exchange revenues.

Expenses

Program expenses excluding net actuarial losses in December 2024 were $38.3 billion, up $2.2 billion, or 6.1 per cent, from December 2023.

• Major transfers to persons, consisting of elderly benefits, EI benefits, COVID-19 income support for workers, and children's benefits, were up $1.4 billion or 13.9 per cent.
  • Elderly benefits increased by $0.4 billion, or 6.2 per cent, largely reflecting changes in consumer prices to which benefits are fully indexed, and growth in the number of recipients.
  • EI benefits increased by $0.8 billion, or 46.7 per cent, largely reflecting a higher unemployment rate in December 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year and the timing of Labour Market Development Agreements payments.
  • COVID-19 income support for workers increased $48 million, or 71.6 per cent, reflecting a decrease in redeterminations of benefits, which are accounted for as a reduction in expenses.
  • Children's benefits were up $0.2 billion, or 8.4 per cent, mainly reflecting the indexation of benefits to consumer prices, which annually takes effect July 1st, and an increase in the number of eligible children.
• Major transfers to provinces, territories and municipalities were up $1.0 billion, or 13.0 per cent, in large part reflecting year-over-year differences in the timing of payments for Canada-wide early learning and child care, as well as legislated growth in the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, Equalization transfers and transfers to the territories.
• Pollution pricing proceeds returned to Canadians increased by $16 million, or 19.5 per cent. Direct proceeds continue to be fully returned in the provinces or territories where they are generated.
• Direct program expenses were down $0.2 billion, or 1.2 per cent. Within direct program expenses:
  • Other transfer payments decreased by $1.2 billion, or 13.9 per cent, largely reflecting lower transfers in respect of Indigenous Peoples and lower agricultural supports, offset in part by increases under a number of transfer programs including the Canadian Dental Care Plan, the Canada Workers Benefit, and the Canada Housing Benefit. 
  • Operating expenses of the government's departments, agencies, and consolidated Crown corporations and other entities increased by $1.0 billion, or 10.8 per cent, primarily reflecting higher personnel costs in the current year and a downward adjustment to expenses recorded in December 2023 to reflect a revised estimate of contingent liabilities.

Public debt charges increased $0.7 billion, or 16.9 per cent, largely reflecting an increase in the stock of marketable bonds and higher Consumer Price Index adjustments on Real Return Bonds, offset in part by lower interest rates on treasury bills.

Net actuarial losses, which represent the amortization of changes in the value of the government's obligations for pensions and other employee future benefits accrued in previous fiscal years and related assets, were down $0.3 billion, or 46.8 per cent, largely reflecting the amortization of gains arising from actuarial valuations prepared for the Public Accounts of Canada 2024, as well as the end of the amortization of certain prior years' net actuarial losses.

For the April to December period of 2024-25, program expenses excluding net actuarial losses were $333.2 billion, up $32.2 billion, or 10.7 per cent, from the same period the previous year.

• Major transfers to persons were up $9.9 billion or 11.2 per cent.
  • Elderly benefits increased by $3.6 billion, or 6.5 per cent, largely reflecting growth in the number of recipients and changes in consumer prices, to which benefits are fully indexed.
  • EI benefits increased by $2.5 billion, or 16.7 per cent, largely reflecting the higher unemployment rate in this period compared to the previous year.
  • COVID-19 income support for workers increased $2.0 billion, or 71.1 per cent, reflecting a decrease in redeterminations of benefits.
  • Children's benefits were up $1.7 billion, or 8.8 per cent, mainly reflecting the indexation of benefits to consumer prices and an increase in the number of eligible children.
• Major transfers to provinces, territories and municipalities were up $6.7 billion, or 9.5 per cent, largely reflecting legislated growth in the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, Equalization transfers and transfers to the territories, as well as year-over-year differences in the timing of payments under health agreements and for Canada-wide early learning and child care. Payments under health agreements include transfers under new tailored bilateral agreements with provinces and territories on shared health priorities, which were made towards the end of the previous fiscal year, although total annual transfers are expected to be similar in both years.
• Pollution pricing proceeds returned to Canadians increased by $4.0 billion, or 54.0 per cent, largely reflecting the introduction of the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses and an increase in the rate of the Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals.
• Direct program expenses were up $11.7 billion, or 8.7 per cent. Within direct program expenses:
  • Other transfer payments increased by $7.5 billion, or 14.8 per cent, reflecting a number of factors including higher transfers with respect to Indigenous Peoples, an increase in Canada Workers Benefit payments, growth in transfers under the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and funding for the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative to help communities adapt to climate change.
  • Operating expenses of the government's departments, agencies, and consolidated Crown corporations and other entities increased by $4.1 billion, or 4.9 per cent, largely reflecting an increase in personnel costs, higher bad det expense, and year-over-year timing differences in consolidated Crown corporations' expenses, offset in part by lower public health expenses.

Public debt charges increased by $6.1 billion, or 17.3 per cent, primarily reflecting higher average effective rates on the outstanding stock of marketable bonds and treasury bills, as well as an increase in the stock of marketable bonds.

Net actuarial losses decreased by $2.7 billion, or 46.8 per cent, reflecting both the amortization of gains arising from updated actuarial valuations of the government's pension and other employee future benefit plans and the end of the amortization of certain prior years' net actuarial losses.

The following table presents total expenses by main object of expense.

Financial requirement of $97.2 billion for April to December 2024

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 $21.7 billion and a requirement of $75.5 billion from non-budgetary transactions, there was a financial requirement of $97.2 billion for the April to December 2024 period, compared to a financial requirement of $42.2 billion for the same period of the previous year. The increase in the financial requirement for non-budgetary transactions is due in large part to the government's purchase of Canada Mortgage Bonds, as announced in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, as well as the refinancing of Trans Mountain Corporation's third-party debt. For greater clarity, this refinancing, provided through Export Development Canada's Canada Account to TMP Finance Ltd., is not incremental, and replaced more expensive third-party debt. Purchases of Canada Mortgage Bonds began in February 2024, and the government intends to purchase up to an annual maximum of $30 billion while ensuring that the pace and volume of these purchases are appropriate for market conditions.

Net financing activities up $64.7 billion

The government financed this financial requirement of $97.2 billion by drawing down cash balances by $32.5 billion and by increasing unmatured debt by $64.7 billion. The increase in unmatured debt was achieved primarily through the issuance of marketable bonds and treasury bills.

Cash balances at the end of December 2024 stood at $34.1 billion, down $30.7 billion from their level at the end of December 2023.

Federal debt

The federal debt, or accumulated deficit, is the difference between the government's total liabilities and total assets. The year-over-year change in the accumulated deficit reflects the year-to-date budgetary balance plus remeasurement gains and losses.

Remeasurement gains and losses include:

• changes in the fair value of derivatives, such as swap agreements and foreign exchange forward agreements, which are used by the government to manage financial risks, and
• certain unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments and certain actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other employee future benefits reported by consolidated Crown corporations, enterprise Crown corporations, and other government business enterprises.

Remeasurement gains and losses are not reflected in the budgetary balance but are instead charged directly to the accumulated deficit. The government began accounting for remeasurement gains and losses in 2022-23 with the adoption of a new standard of the Public Sector Accounting Board regarding financial instruments.

The accumulated deficit increased by $16.6 billion over the April to December 2024 period, reflecting the $21.7 billion budgetary deficit and $5.1 billion in net remeasurement gains.

Notes

1. The Fiscal Monitor is a report on the consolidated financial results of the Government of Canada, prepared monthly by the Department of Finance Canada. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The financial results presented in The Fiscal Monitor have not been audited or reviewed by an external auditor.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Table 7, 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.

Note: Unless stated otherwise, changes in financial results are presented on a year-over-year basis.

For inquiries about this publication, contact Gina Clark at gina.clark@fin.gc.ca.

February 2025