Summary#
This bill gives the federal government authority to spend up to CAD $117,781,852,267 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, based on the 2024–25 Main Estimates. Most items are regular operating, capital, grants, and contributions for departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The authority takes effect retroactively to April 1, 2024. Some items may be paid and used through March 31, 2026 under Schedule 2 (mainly Canada Revenue Agency and Canada Border Services Agency) (Appropriation amount clause; Effective date (2); Schedule 1; Schedule 2; Order of payment (2)).
- Funds day‑to‑day operations of federal services (e.g., CRA, CBSA, CATSA, RCMP, Veterans Affairs) (Schedules 1–2).
- Provides large transfer programs, including Indigenous Services, Employment and Social Development, Health, and Infrastructure (Schedule 1).
- Supports housing programs via CMHC and transport services like VIA Rail and airport security (Schedule 1).
- Includes central Treasury Board votes for contingencies, carry‑forwards, and paylists to manage government‑wide needs (Schedule 1).
- Does not change taxes or create new programs by itself; it authorizes spending for items listed in the Estimates (Schedule 1).
What it means for you#
Expenses#
Estimated gross appropriations authorized: CAD $117,781,852,267 (FY2024–25), with certain Schedule 2 items usable through March 31, 2026.
- Totals
- Schedule 1 (chargeable to 2024–25): $112,465,015,938 (Schedule 1).
- Schedule 2 (chargeable to 2024–25 and 2025–26): $5,316,836,329 (Schedule 2).
- Aggregate authorized by the Act: $117,781,852,267 (Appropriation amount clause).
Key allocations (selected)
| Item | Amount | Fiscal timing | Source |
|---|
| National Defence | $28,792,963,081 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Indigenous Services | $20,927,551,435 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs | $10,906,762,594 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Employment and Social Development | $11,482,355,998 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Health | $8,398,015,720 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Treasury Board Secretariat (central votes) | $9,310,377,653 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Infrastructure (Office of Infrastructure of Canada) | $5,817,761,594 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation | $5,620,208,332 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Veterans Affairs | $6,168,884,866 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| Canada Revenue Agency | $4,654,538,023 | 2024–25–2025–26 | Schedule 2 |
| Canada Border Services Agency | $2,434,577,084 | 2024–25–2025–26 | Schedule 2 |
| CATSA (airport security) | $1,194,373,969 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
| VIA Rail Canada | $1,159,349,066 | 2024–25 | Schedule 1 |
Notes
- Many organizations have authority to “net vote” by spending certain revenues to offset costs under the Financial Administration Act s.29.1(2)(a), as listed in their votes (e.g., Health, RCMP, Shared Services, others) (Schedule 1).
- Treasury Board central votes include contingencies ($750,000,000), operating carry‑forward ($3,000,000,000), capital carry‑forward ($750,000,000), paylist requirements ($600,000,000), public service insurance ($3,843,672,789), and government‑wide initiatives ($18,500,000) (Schedule 1).
Proponents' View#
- Maintains core public services without interruption through March 31, 2025; authority is retroactive to April 1, 2024 to avoid gaps (Effective date (2)).
- Funds high‑priority areas that affect daily life, such as health (Health: $8.398B), housing (CMHC: $5.620B), transportation (VIA Rail: $1.159B; CATSA: $1.194B), and public safety (RCMP: $4.253B) (Schedule 1).
- Supports Indigenous programs and reconciliation work at scale (Indigenous Services: $20.928B; Crown‑Indigenous Relations: $10.907B) (Schedule 1).
- Enables research, innovation, and skills via the granting councils (CIHR $1.361B; NSERC $1.377B; SSHRC $1.193B) (Schedule 1).
- Provides flexibility to manage government‑wide pressures through Treasury Board central votes, reducing the need for multiple stand‑alone bills for contingencies, carry‑forwards, and paylists (Schedule 1).
- Allows CRA and CBSA items to be used through March 31, 2026, aiding multi‑year implementation and avoiding project delays (Schedule 2; Order of payment (2)).
Opponents' View#
- Size and breadth of voted appropriations ($117.782B) may hinder detailed parliamentary scrutiny, since many lines reference “the grants listed in any of the Estimates” without program‑level detail in the bill text (Appropriation amount clause; Schedule 1).
- Retroactive effect to April 1, 2024 means spending can proceed before final passage, which some view as reducing transparency (Effective date (2)).
- Treasury Board central votes give broad discretion to reallocate or supplement other appropriations (e.g., Contingencies $750M; Operating Carry‑Forward $3B; Capital Carry‑Forward $750M; Paylist $600M), which may dilute direct oversight of specific programs (Schedule 1).
- Numerous “net voting” authorities let departments spend revenues to offset costs (FAA s.29.1(2)(a)), which can complicate tracking gross versus net spending and comparisons year‑over‑year (Schedule 1).
- Schedule 2 funds can be paid and applied up to March 31, 2026 and then lapse, allowing re‑profiling across fiscal years; critics may see this as weakening annual control of expenditures (Schedule 2; Order of payment (2)).
- Defence vote includes authority for total commitments of $74,200,898,576, with an estimated $45,516,020,917 coming due in future years, creating future‑year obligations and potential delivery risks if projects slip (Schedule 1).