Minister Clement Tables the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2013-14

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 7, 2013) - The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, today tabled the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2013-14 in the House of Commons.

"Our Government has set a clear target to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget by 2015," said Minister Clement. "Through prudent fiscal stewardship, our Government is on track to balance the budget in 2015 without raising taxes or reducing important transfers to persons or to other levels of government."

The Supplementary Estimates (B), 2013-14 provide information on $5.4 billion in voted appropriations for 62 organizations as well as information on $5 million in statutory expenditures. This includes items such as:

• $955 million for the Treasury Board Secretariat to reimburse departments, agencies and Crown corporations following the elimination of severance benefits for voluntary separation.
• $689 million for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness' Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements primarily to help the province of Alberta with recovery costs following the June 2013 floods.
• $400 million to support the ongoing implementation of the Canada First Defence Strategy, including troop readiness, Canadian Forces growth, and the arrival of new equipment such as Chinook helicopters, Hercules aircraft, and tactical armoured patrol vehicles.

The Supplementary Estimates present information to Parliament on elements of the Government of Canada's spending requirements that were already planned for in Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 or in previous budgets.

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Backgrounder

TABLING OF SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES (B), 2013-14

The Main and Supplementary Estimates provide information on the planned spending levels for each federal department and agency. Main Estimates must be tabled by March 1, and are followed by the Supplementary Estimates, which are normally tabled three times a year-in May, November and late February. The financial information found in the Estimates is presented in support of an Appropriation Bill seeking parliamentary approval for planned spending throughout the year.

Budgetary expenditures include the cost of servicing the public debt; operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations, or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.

Non-budgetary expenditures (loans, investments, and advances) are outlays that represent changes in the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.

The Supplementary Estimates (B), 2013-14 provide information on $5.4 billion in voted appropriations for 62 organizations and $5 million in statutory expenditures:

• Voted Appropriations are those for which parliamentary authority is sought through an appropriation bill. The "Vote" sets out the maximum "up to" amount that may be spent in the fiscal year, as well as the broad funding purpose. An organization cannot exceed the amount of the Vote, but may spend less. The Public Accounts of Canada and the quarterly financial reports for departments and agencies can be used to compare planned and actual expenditures, as well as comparative information for the preceding fiscal year.
  
  
• Statutory Expenditures are those authorized by Parliament through specific legislation that authorizes payments and sets out the amounts and time periods for expenditures, such as payments to provinces under the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.
  
  

The Main and Supplementary Estimates, as well as Budgets and Updates of Economic and Fiscal Projections, reflect the Government's financial plans and resource allocation priorities at different points in the fiscal year. In combination with the subsequent reporting of financial results and actual expenditures in the Public Accounts and of results achieved in Departmental Performance Reports, Estimates documents help Parliament hold the Government to account for the allocation and management of public funds.

Upon tabling, the Main and Supplementary Estimates are referred to various parliamentary standing committees and to the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance. Committees may approve, reduce, or deny a Vote. A committee may not increase a Vote or transfer funds to another Vote. After review by committees, an appropriation bill is introduced for Parliament's approval.