CIMM – Summary Of 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (B) – November 29, 2022

Key Messages

• The 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (B) include voted authorities of $1,181.6M for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which are mainly comprised of funding for the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan including Afghan refugees ($745.7M), Interim Lodging Services ($193.0M), special immigration measures for Ukrainian nationals ($162.2M), and for improving processing times and reducing inventory backlogs for permanent and temporary residents, as well as citizenship applications ($63.7M).
• In addition, these Supplementary Estimates include $38.0M in statutory funding related to contributions to Employee Benefit Plans to recognize increases in salary included in these Supplementary Estimates.
• These Supplementary Estimates also include transfers reducing our authorities by $16.3M mainly comprised of the transfer to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to support IRCC’s staff located at missions abroad.
• Taking into account the spending authorities reflected in the 2022-2023 Main Estimates, 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B), as well as Treasury Board central vote allocations, IRCC’s financial authorities for 2022-2023 will increase to $5.7 billion in total.
• Total authorities to date include an allocation of $70M for Ukraine from Treasury Board Vote 5 – Government Contingencies pending approval of the Supplementary Estimates (B). This was required to enable the department to cash manage spending for this initiative until approval of supply through Supplementary Estimates B. With the approval of supply anticipated in December 2022, the allocation from Treasury Board Vote 5 will be refunded.

Supporting Facts And Figures

Funding included in these Supplementary Estimates is comprised of the following items:

• Funding for the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan including Afghan refugees – $745.7M of voted authorities
  • This funding will help support the increase in Canada’s immigration levels and an ongoing baseline of annual Permanent Resident admissions. The 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan was tabled in Parliament in February 2022 and it includes an increase of, 20,645 Permanent Resident admissions in 2022 for a new total of 431,645; 26,055 in 2023 for a new total of 447,055; and 30,000 in 2024 for a new total of 451,000. The plan also includes funding for Canada’s resettlement commitment for at least 40,000 Afghan refugees.
  • In 2022-2023, funding will be used to undertake activities such as processing additional volumes of permanent resident applications, supporting the delivery of settlement and resettlement services, providing health coverage to resettled refugees through the Interim Federal Health Program, completing and maintaining the System Application Capacity Enhancements and online service capacity, including upgrades to GCMS and online service capacity; as well as providing corporate support.
  • Funding for future years will be sought through the upcoming Main Estimates.
• Funding for Interim Lodging Services – $193.0M of voted authorities
  • This funding will be used to continue providing temporary accommodations and support services to asylum seekers.
  • Despite the lifting of border restrictions implemented to control the spread of COVID-19, there is a continued need for IRCC to provide temporary housing to asylum claimants as provinces, Quebec in particular, do not have the capacity or resources to accommodate the number and pace of claimants arriving in Canada.
• Funding for special immigration measures for Ukrainian nationals – $162.2M of voted authorities
  • This funding will enable the Department to incur spending related to temporary accommodations and associated costs, application processing, requirements for settlement and transitional financial support programs without stopping other immigration government commitments such as the multi-year levels plan, Afghan initiatives and the backlog reduction.
  • This initiative received $70M from Treasury Board Vote 5 – Government Contingencies pending approval of the Supplementary Estimates (B). This was required to enable the Department to cash manage spending for this initiative until approval of supply through Supplementary Estimates B. With the approval of supply anticipated in December 2022, the allocation from Treasury Board Vote 5 will be refunded.
  • Funding for future years will be sought through the upcoming Main Estimates.
• Funding for improving processing times and reducing inventory backlogs in 2022-2023 – $63.7M of voted authorities
  • This funding is to respond to processing pressures facing Canada’s immigration and citizenship programs. This funding, committed by the Government of Canada in the 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update, will be used to reduce inventory of applications across many of the Department’s lines of business that have accumulated as a result of COVID impacts on processing capabilities.
  • This will support IRCC to return to delivering on its established and published service standards through initiatives that include hiring efforts, advancing digital intake processes, addressing inventories and improving client services.
• Funding to stabilize the Global Case Management System for future digital platform transformation – $9.7M of voted authorities
  • This funding was reprofiled from the previous fiscal year into 2022-2023 to support the Digital Platform Modernization programme activities. The re-profile is required as a result of unanticipated delays and dependencies resulting in changes in the timing of planned activities.
• Funding to protect people from unscrupulous and fraudulent immigration and citizenship consultants – $6.0M of voted authorities
  • This funding was reprofiled from the previous fiscal year into 2022-2023. The reprofiled funding is required as a result of delayed activities. The re-profile funding is required to support the continuation of this initiative and will be key to meeting the Government of Canada’s commitment to help protect people from unscrupulous representatives.
• Funding related to Government advertising programs – $1.0M of voted authorities
  • This funding is to aid in the awareness of the settlement services available for newcomers through the Newcomers Services campaign first launched in 2009. The annual national campaign informs newcomers to Canada about settlement services including employment-related services, information and orientation services, community connections services, language assessment and training, mentorship, etc.
• Funding to increase the reach of Temporary Foreign Worker Program inspections to the extent possible - $0.3M of voted authorities
  • This funding is to support the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) inspections by supplying requested information on workers and work permits issued based on LMIAs. ESDC's referral strategy includes a range of initiating 3,120 to 3,640 inspections. IRCC will require resources to support ESDC's target referral range. IRCC is also responsible for coordinating and conducting administrative investigations into coordinated large-scale fraud impacting the Department.
• Transfer to Treasury Board Secretariat to support the Capacity Accelerator Project – (-$0.02M)
  • This transfer will cover the 2022-2023 salaries and operational costs incurred by the Internal Audit Sector within the Office of Comptroller General (OCG-IAS) to contribute to the internal audit community services and initiatives, called “the Capacity Accelerator Project”. OCG-IAS is responsible for the implementation of a renewed vision for internal audit in the Government of Canada, which aims to reinforce the function’s role as a credible and timely assurance provider that advises management in light of the organization’s strategy, objectives and tolerance for risk. This funding is for the additional capacity that is required to meet the increased demand for services and to continue to develop a sustainable, diverse and professional IA community.
• Transfer to GAC to support departmental staff located at missions abroad – (-$16.3M)
  • A transfer of $16.3M to GAC is included in these Supplementary Estimates to support IRCC’s staff located at missions abroad.

Background

• The 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (B) represent the second supply request this fiscal year
• These Supplementary Estimates are expected to be tabled in Parliament during the week of October 31, 2022 and supply is anticipated by December 2022.
• Funding related to Employee Benefit Plans consist of employer costs for the Public Service Superannuation Plan, the Canada and Quebec Pension Plan, Death Benefits, and Employment Insurance.