[ Backgrounder ]September 29, 2003OTTAWA - The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board and Member ofParliament for Westmount-Ville Marie, announced today the government has reallocated $1 billion in spending in 2003-04to higher priorities, as outlined in Budget 2003."These measures will help us build the Canada we want through investments in Canadians' priorities - our familiesand communities, health care, education, and the environment," said Minister Robillard. "The money will also help fundnew priorities that have emerged since the budget such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Bovine SpongiformEncephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease, the cod fishery and the reconstruction of Iraq."All Ministers and their departments and agencies participated in the exercise. The savings will be achieved througha number of initiatives, including reductions in some activities or lower-than-anticipated use of some services,unavoidable delays in the start-up of some others, and other measures to reduce resources that are currentlyallocated.Minister Robillard also noted that, in addition to the $1 billion, departments are also reallocating spendinginternally on a regular basis as part of good management. For the current fiscal year, more than $800 million has beenreallocated to date in this manner.As previously announced, Treasury Board has also launched a broad review of expenditures and management in alldepartments and agencies over a five-year cycle. These reviews will ensure that government programs continue to berelevant, effective and deliver results to Canadians.-30-The charts titled "$1 Billion Reallocation - Summary by Portfolio" and "Internal Reallocation - Summary byPortfolio" are attached for your information.For more information, contact:Daniel GrenierPress SecretaryOffice of the President of the Treasury Board of Canada(613) 957-2666Mario BarilMedia RelationsTreasury Board of Canada Secretariat(613) 957-2391IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THEELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - (613) 957-9090BackgrounderDepartments regularly reallocate spending internally to higher priority areas as part of good management and to makesure they address the needs of Canadians. The following is a list of internal reallocations, to date, for the 2003-04fiscal year.Portfolio*2003-04Agriculture and Agri-Food100Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency40Canadian Heritage55Citizenship and Immigration (and agencies)23Environment25Fisheries and Oceans23Foreign Affairs & International Trade (and agencies)13Health66Human Resources Development88Industry (and agencies)95Justice10National Defence90Natural Resources31Privy Council Office (and agencies)1Public Works and Government Services (and agencies)13Solicitor General (and agencies)102Transport30Treasury Board Secretariat9Veterans Affairs11TOTAL825Note about Portfolios* A complete list of each portfolio and its agencies can be found in the 2003-2004 Main Estimates (PartII), available on the Web site of the Treasury Board Secretariat at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20032004/page.asp?page=002_e_2.htmPortfolio*Total ReallocationAgriculture and Agri-Food (and agencies)17Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency22Canadian Heritage (and agencies)35Citizenship and Immigration (and agencies)14Environment6Finance (and agencies)2Fisheries and Oceans9Foreign Affairs & International Trade25Canadian International Development Agency130Health40Human Resources Development (and agencies)105Indian Affairs and Northern Development83Industry (and agencies)117Justice25National Defence200Natural Resources (and agencies)17Privy Council Office (and agencies)4Public Works and Government Services (and agencies)9Solicitor General (and agencies)21Transport (and agencies)65Treasury Board Secretariat41Veterans Affairs13Total1000Note about Portfolios* A complete list of each portfolio and its agencies can be found in the 2003-2004 Main Estimates (PartII), available on the Web site of the Treasury Board Secretariat at:http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20032004/page.asp?page=002_e_2.htm
