Complete text for Supplementary estimates (B), 2015-16

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Summary of Estimates
• Estimates by Organization
• Detail by Organization
  • Citizenship and Immigration
  • House of Commons
  • Parliamentary Protective Service
  • Treasury Board Secretariat
• Items for inclusion in the Proposed Schedules to the Appropriation Bill

Introduction

Structure of these Supplementary Estimates

This Supplementary Estimates document is presented in four sections:

1. Introduction to Supplementary Estimates;
2. Summary Tables;
3. Details by Organization; and
4. Annex.

Purpose and General Information

Each year, the government prepares Estimates in support of its request to Parliament for authority to spend public funds. This request for spending authority is formalized through the introduction of appropriation bills in Parliament. The Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House of Commons by the President of the Treasury Board and support Parliament’s consideration of the appropriation bills. As with other bills, appropriation bills become law after being approved by both the House of Commons and the Senate and receiving Royal Assent.

The purpose of Supplementary Estimates is to present to Parliament information on the Government of Canada’s spending requirements which were either not sufficiently developed in time for inclusion in the Main Estimates, or have subsequently been refined to account for developments in particular programs and services. Also included for Parliament’s information and eventual approval through an appropriation bill are such items as: transfers of money between Votes; debt deletion; loan guarantees; new or increased grants; and changes to Vote wording.

Supplementary Estimates documents are tabled in Parliament in advance of the related appropriation bill that, when approved, provides the necessary authority for the Government of Canada to spend monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to deliver its programs and services. This provides the various Standing Committees of Parliament with time to review proposed spending before the introduction of the appropriation bill.

Supplementary Estimates also provide updated information on changes to expenditure forecasts of statutory items for information purposes only. These expenditures already have legislative authority and so will not appear in the appropriation bill related to these Supplementary Estimates, but expenditure forecasts are available online.

It is the practice to table a Supplementary Estimates for each of the three Parliamentary Supply periods ending June 23, December 10, and March 26. The Supplementary Estimates (B), 2015–16 are the second Supplementary Estimates for this fiscal year.

Summary of Estimates

Estimates to date 2015–16

The 2015–16 Main Estimates were tabled on February 24, 2015, supporting the government’s request to Parliament for authority through annual appropriations to spend $88.2 billion in voted budgetary expenditures and $71.1 million in voted non-budgetary expenditures. The 2015–16 Main Estimates also presented information on the statutory amounts of $153.4 billion in budgetary expenditures and $933.4million in net non-budgetary outlays. Royal Assent for Appropriation Act No. 1, 2015–16 was granted on March 31, 2015 and provided interim supply to appropriation-dependent organizations until the end of June 2015. Royal Assent for Appropriation Act No. 2, 2015–16 was granted on June 18, 2015 and provided supply for the remainder of Main Estimates.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2015–16 were tabled on May 14, 2015 and provided information in support of $3.1 billion in voted budgetary appropriations which represent an increase of 3.5% over Main Estimates. Information related to an increase of $19.8 million in forecast statutory expenditures was also presented. Royal Assent for Appropriation Act No. 3, 2015–16 was granted on June 18, 2015.

Given the timing of the dissolution and reconvening of Parliament, Supplementary Estimates (B), 2015–16 has been limited to items for which specific authority through the appropriation act is required before March 2016 and which could not be funded through existing appropriations. The Supplementary Estimates (B), 2015–16 provide information in support of $810.1 million in voted budgetary appropriations which represent an increase of 0.9% over Main Estimates. Information related to an increase of $2.7 million in forecast statutory expenditures is available in a separate document online.

Major Items

The following section provides an overview of major voted initiatives included in these Supplementary Estimates in support of Parliamentary approval.

Treasury Board Secretariat: $519.6 million

Funding to replenish the Government Contingencies Vote

Treasury Board’s Government Contingencies Vote provides the government with flexibility to make urgent or unforeseen expenditures in advance of the next Supply period. The December 3 reconvening of Parliament does not allow sufficient time for a review of a more detailed Supplementary Estimates before the end of the supply period on December 10, 2015. To allow government operations to continue, $519.6 million in Treasury Board’s Government Contingencies Vote was allocated to meet the requirements of departments and agencies. This funding will replenish the Vote, providing flexibility to address expenditure needs across the federal government in advance of the next regular supply opportunity in March 2016.

Citizenship and Immigration: $277.9 million

Funding to implement the Government’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis

To bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by February 2016, the Department will work with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to identify people in Jordan and Lebanon, where they have an extensive list of registered refugees. Interested refugees will be scheduled for processing in dedicated visa offices in Amman and Beirut. Each refugee will undergo security and health screening overseas, including the collection and verification of biographic and biometric information. Selected refugees will be transported to Canada, largely by chartered aircraft. Syrian refugees will be transported to communities across Canada, where they will be provided with immediate, essential services and long-term settlement support to ensure their successful settlement and integration into Canadian society.

Changes to the structure of Government reflected in these Supplementary Estimates

The following change is displayed in these Supplementary Estimates:

Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1, established a new office called the Parliamentary Protective Service. The Service will be responsible for all matters relating to physical security throughout the Parliamentary Precinct and the grounds of Parliament Hill. The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons are responsible for and provide general policy direction to this new service.

The following vote wording (underscore) has been amended since the Supplementary Estimates (A), 2015–16:

Citizenship and Immigration

Vote 5b: The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions including the provision of goods and services

Estimates by Organization

133 organizations are represented in the 2015-16 Estimates. Of these, 4 organizations have identified additional requirements as part of these Supplementary Estimates.

Detail by Organization

Citizenship and Immigration

House of Commons

Parliamentary Protective Service

Treasury Board Secretariat

Items for inclusion in the Proposed Schedules to the Appropriation Bill