Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2024

1. Introduction

This quarterly report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by Treasury Board. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the 2024-25 Main Estimates Part II and the 2023-24 Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

A summary description of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) programs may be found in Part II of the Main Estimates and the 2024-25 Departmental Plan.

1.1 Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the Department’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the Department consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2024-25 fiscal year. This quarterly report has been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework designed to meet financial information needs with respect to the use of spending authorities.

The authority of Parliament is required before money can be spent by the Government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

When Parliament is dissolved for the purposes of a general election, section 30 of the Financial Administration Act authorizes the Governor General, under certain conditions, to issue a special warrant authorizing the Government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. A special warrant is deemed to be an appropriation for the fiscal year in which it is issued.

The Department uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the Departmental Results Report process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

1.2 IRCC’s Financial Framework

In order to deliver on its mandate, IRCC is funded through three budgetary mechanisms:

1. Appropriations
   • Voted appropriations:
     • Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures;
     • Vote 5 – Capital Expenditures; and
     • Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions (G&C)
   • Special Purpose Allotments including the Interim Federal Health Program and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act’s Division 9.
   • Budgetary statutory authorities is comprised of Employee Benefit Plan.
2. Vote-Netted Revenue (VNR under Vote 1)
   • International Experience Canada (IEC) Program
3. Revolving Fund
   • Statutory authorities also includes the Passport Program Revolving Fund.

Additionally, IRCC’s non-budgetary authorities consist of Immigration loans, mainly to resettled refugees to help defray the cost of their travel to Canada and to their final destination within Canada.

2. Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date (YTD) results

The 2024-25 Main Estimates include authorities that were approved up until January 2024. Funding approved afterwards is sought via the Supplementary Estimates process.

In 2024-25, IRCC’s total authorities as at December 31, 2024 include full supply for the Main Estimates and incremental funding provided through the Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B) to provide health care services to refugees and asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program, to ensure that provinces and municipalities are provided reimbursements for cost incurred in the housing of asylum claimants as part of the Interim Housing Assistance Program, including the one-time stand-alone payment to Quebec in recognition of housing and immigration-related challenges caused by irregular border crossing at Roxham Road, to continue providing temporary accommodations and support services to asylum claimants, and to proceed with building Canada’s modern, digital and data-driven migration system.

Total authorities to date also include funding from the 2023-24 Operating and Capital Budget Carry Forward.

Budget 2023 affirmed a commitment to refocus government spending, including spending on travel and professional services. All government departments are being asked to contribute to finding efficiencies and to reduce spending over multiple years in order to refocus funds on critical services to Canadians. To meet this commitment, IRCC’s budget reductions for 2024-25 totals $97.5 million.

A. Significant changes to authorities

The following table shows the total budget available for use by IRCC. Only authorities available for use and granted by Parliament as at December 31, 2024 are included.

 

IRCC’s total budgetary authorities available for use in fiscal year 2024-25 increased by approximately $575.4 million (10%) compared to the same quarter in 2023-24.

i. Authorities for Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures

The Department’s Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures authorities decreased by $111.4 million (4%), which is mainly explained by the following items:

• Decrease in funding of $117.9 million due to funding fluctuations related to IRCC’s immigration approach to provide temporary and permanent pathways to bring Ukrainian Nationals and their families to safety in Canada;
• Decrease in funding of $103.4 million as the department realized its commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghan nationals by the end of 2023;
• Decrease in funding of $91.6 million following the Budget 2023 announcement on Refocusing Government Spending, which includes the reduction of $46.3 million related to the provision of temporary accommodations to asylum claimants;
• Decrease in funding of $79.9 million related to the temporary accommodations and support services provided to asylum claimants;
• Decrease in funding of $11.8 million related to collective agreements and other compensation-related adjustments for agreements;
• Incremental funding of $175.1 million related to the provision of health care services to refugees and asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program;
• Incremental funding of $38.0 million to implement the multi-year Immigration Levels Plans;
• Increased allocation of $34.9 million through the Treasury Board central vote for the Operating Budget Carry Forward;
• New funding of $18.4 million for the partial visa imposition on Mexico;
• New funding of $13.5 million for Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy to support the International Student Program and visa centres, and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; and
• New funding of $9.9 million for the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028.

ii. Authorities for Vote 5 – Capital Expenditures

The Department’s Vote 5 – Capital Expenditures authorities decreased by $12.9 million (43%), which is mainly explained by the following items:

• Decreased allocation of $5.6 million through the Treasury Board central vote for the Capital Budget Carry Forward;
• Decrease in funding of $4.3 million due to funding fluctuations related to the enhancement of the integrity of Canada’s borders and asylum system;
• Decrease in funding of $4.3 million related to an internal transfer to Vote 1 to meet operational requirements; and
• Incremental funding of $1.2 million to support the implementation of the administrative penalties regime under the Immigration and Citizenship Consultants project.

iii. Authorities for Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions (G&C)

The Department’s Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions authorities increased by $661.7 million (23%), which is mainly explained by the following items:

• Incremental funding of $912.7 million to compensate provinces and municipalities for the interim housing of asylum claimants under the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), including the one-time stand-alone payment to Quebec in recognition of housing and immigration-related challenges caused by irregular border crossing at Roxham Road;
• Incremental funding of $100.7 million to implement the multi-year Immigration Levels Plans;
• Incremental funding of $48.3 million for the grant related to the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration;
• Decrease in funding of $259.3 million as the department realizes its commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghan nationals by the end of 2023; and
• Decrease in funding of $174.4 million due to funding fluctuations related to IRCC’s immigration approach to provide temporary and permanent pathways to bring Ukrainian Nationals and their families to safety in Canada.

iv. Budgetary Statutory Authorities

The 2024-25 statutory authority level in the third quarter increased by $38.0 million (23%) compared to 2023-24, which is explained as follows:

• An increase of $34.5 million in the Passport Program as a result of an increase in revenues offset by a net increase in planned expenditures mainly due to collective agreements and freight and material costs reflective of the deployment of the ePassport Next Generation Project;
• An increase of $6.1 million related to other statutory authorities; and
• An decrease of $2.6 million for the Employee Benefit Plans as a result of personnel funding received in Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures;

B. Significant changes to departmental budgetary expenditures by standard object

Quarter over quarter analysis

The following table shows IRCC’s budgetary expenditures and revenues netted against expenditures for the period, and their comparison with the same period last fiscal year.

Note:Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

The total gross budgetary expenditures during the quarter ending December 31, 2024 decreased by $267.4 million (16%) compared to the same quarter in 2023-24, which is mainly explained as follows:

i. Salaries and Employment Benefits have decreased by $117.0 million (29%) which is attributable to retroactive salary payments made in the third quarter of 2023-24 following the renewal of multiple collective agreements; the phase down of temporary funding for various initiatives, including measures related to the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel and the resettlement of Afghan nationals; as well as the department strategy to reduce spending following the Budget 2023 announcement.

ii. Transportation and Communication expenditures have decreased by $5.2 million (26%) which is related to a reduction in courier services as a result of the new Passport Issuance System which allows for the virtual transfer of files between offices and channels despite globally higher Passport volumes, as well as a decrease in travel expenditures following the Budget 2023 announcement on Refocusing Government Spending.

iii. Professional and Special Services expenditures have increased by $33.7 million (8%) which is mainly related to an increase in reimbursements paid to Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) health-care providers due to an increase in eligible beneficiaries, an increase in users, and an increase in reimbursement paid for asylums seekers and other groups; as well as an increase in activities related to the Digital Platform Modernization initiative compared to the third quarter of 2023-24 where the department encountered numerous delays. These increases are offset by a decrease in temporary accommodation costs, including protection services, associated with the arrival of asylum claimants as part of the drawdown plan from the Department; a decrease in payments to Employee and Social Development Canada for passport delivery services due to the timing of invoices; and an overall decrease in professional services costs as per the departments strategy to reduce spending following the Budget 2023 announcement on Refocusing Government Spending.

iv. Rentals expenditures have decreased by $39.0 million (42%) which is attributed to a decrease in the average temporary accommodation cost per asylum claimant, a decrease in the overall number of rooms, and a decrease in number of claimants.

v. Utilities, Materials and Supplies expenditures have increased by $7.7 million (63%) which is attributable to lower expenses in the third quarter of 2023-24 due to an accumulated passport inventory combined with higher passport material costs stemming from increased number of passports issued this quarter in 2024-25.

vi. Transfer Payments have decreased by $150.5 million (22%) which is mainly explained by decreased transitional financial assistance to Ukrainians given the end of the initiative, Resettlement Assistance Program payments to local non-profit organizations due to reduced budget, and the timing of Interim Housing Assistance Program payments to municipalities.

Through the Passport Program and International Experience Canada, IRCC generated $150.0 million and $0.7 million respectively in re-spendable revenues in the third quarter of 2024-25. Overall, this resulted in net budgetary expenditures of $1,217.0 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $1,484.0 million in the same quarter of 2023-24.

i. Passport re-spendable revenues have increased by $0.1 million (0%) compared to the same quarter in the previous fiscal year due to an increase in the passport applications intake and to a higher proportion of adult passports that went from 75% in the third quarter of 2023-24 to 77% in 2024-25.

ii. International Experience Canada revenues have decreased by $0.4 million (34%) compared to the same quarter in the previous fiscal year as a result of a slight decrease in the number of participants in the Program seen this quarter to follow the quota reduction for the 2025 season.

Cumulative analysis

The following table shows IRCC’s year-to date budgetary expenditures and revenues netted against expenditures, and their comparison with the same period last fiscal year.

Note:Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

IRCC’s year-to-date gross budgetary expenditures totalled $4,501.6 million in 2024-25, compared to $4,466.3 million in 2023-24, representing an increase of $35.2 million (1%), which is mainly explained by the following:

i. Salaries and Employment Benefits have decreased by $51.0 million (5%) which is attributable to retroactive salary payments made in fiscal year 2023-24 following the renewal of multiple collective agreements; the phase down of temporary funding for various initiatives, including measures related to the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel and the resettlement of Afghan nationals; as well as the department strategy to reduce spending following the Budget 2023 announcement. These decreases are offset by an increase in salary expenditures to support various initiatives such as the implementation of the multi-year Immigration Levels Plan, and the implementation of the Digital Platform Modernization.

ii. Professional and Special Services expenditures have increased by $149.2 million (15%) which is mainly related to an increase in reimbursements paid to Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) health-care providers due to an increase in eligible beneficiaries, an increase in beneficiaries that become users, and an increase in reimbursement paid for asylums seekers and other groups. These increases are offset by a decrease in temporary accommodation costs associated with the arrival of asylum claimants as part of the drawdown plan from the Department; a decrease in payments to Employee and Social Development Canada for passport delivery services due to the timing of invoices; and an overall decrease in professional services costs as per the departments strategy to reduce spending following the Budget 2023 announcement on Refocusing Government Spending.

iv. Rentals expenditures have decreased by $58.4 million (21%) which is attributed to a decrease in the average temporary accommodation cost per asylum claimant, a decrease in the overall number of rooms, and a decrease in number of claimants.

v. Utilities, Materials and Supplies expenditures have increased by $27.1 million (103%) which is mostly attributable to lower expenses in fiscal year 2023-24 due to an accumulated passport inventory combined with higher passport material costs stemming from increased number of passports issued this fiscal year.

vi. Transfer Payments have decreased by $59.3 million (3%) which is mainly explained by decreased transitional financial assistance to Ukrainians given the end of the initiative and Resettlement Assistance Program payments to local non-profit organizations due to reduced budget, offset by increased Interim Housing Assistance Program payments to municipalities; and an increased payment under the Canada-Québec Accord as per the formula.

vii. Other Subsidies and Payments have increased by $32.1 million (147%) which is mainly attributed to an increase in remission payments on service fees under the passport program as a consequence of the passport delivery outside service standards; as well as an increase in refunds of revenues collected in previous years from applicants for services that were not rendered.

Through the Passport Program and International Experience Canada, IRCC generated $492.9 million and $7.0 million respectively in re-spendable revenues by the end of the third quarter of 2024-25. Overall, this resulted in net budgetary expenditures of $4,001.6 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $4,047.1 million as of December 31, 2023.

i. Passport re-spendable revenues have increased by $79.8 million (19%) compared to the previous fiscal year due to an increase in the passport applications intake and to a higher proportion of adult passports that went from 74% in 2023-24 to 78% in 2024-25.

ii. International Experience Canada revenues have increased by $1.0 million (17%) compared to the previous fiscal year as a result of an increase in the number of participants in the Program; as well as an increase in participation fees adjusted as per the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

3. Risks and Uncertainties

IRCC operates in a constantly changing environment. Its strategic directions as well as its policies and operations are influenced by external factors such as emerging domestic and global events, impacts of climate change on migration patterns, Canadian and international economic conditions, shifting social or political contexts, increasing cyber security threats and rapidly shifting migration trends.

Internal or management risks also may present as threats, opportunities or events that may influence the operations and service delivery of the Department. Risks such as system outages or the potential for workplace disruptions have a direct impact on IRCC’s ability to deliver on its mandate and are therefore also factored into the Department’s forward thinking and planning.

Given IRCC’s ongoing efforts to review the scope of its mandate and modernize its organization as well as its operations and service delivery model, the Department will operate in a challenging and complex environment and is expected to continue to maintain its pace and focus on the breadth of challenges, innovations and opportunities it seeks to address.

3.1 Crisis Management

In recent years, IRCC has increasingly been called upon to respond to international crises through providing assistance to Global Affairs in consular operations and increasingly through migration responses to crises. Canada’s humanitarian commitments along with advocacy from diaspora communities have contributed to the growing demand for such responses.

It has also become evident that unforeseen crisis events can significantly impact IRCC’s operations, particularly when they occur in regions where our offices and employees are located, complication response efforts.

The Department continues to process applications from clients affected by crises (including those in Afghanistan, Sudan, the Americas and Gaza) and is working to support their settlement in Canada, if applicable. Beyond these crises, IRCC is also expected to manage irregular migration crossings at the Canada-US border, and an increased demand for services such as passports. While addressing these priorities, efforts continue to improve internal processes and systems through change initiatives.

3.2 Litigation and Legal

IRCC operates in a very high volume litigation environment which includes complex, high profile and high impact files. Sound management practices are in place to manage all of these challenges in a consistent and coordinated fashion, including consultations with Justice and other partner departments.

4. Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

On November 7, 2024, Michèle Kingsley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic, Family and Social Immigration Sector left IRCC and was appointed Senior Assistant Deputy Minister at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

There have been no other significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs during the quarter.

Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by:

Ottawa, Canada
February 18, 2025

 

Statement of Authorities (in thousands of dollars)

 

Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object (in thousands of dollars)

Note: Numbers may not add up due to rounding.