I do, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today. We are pleased to be here to discuss our report on the supplementary estimates (A), 2023-24, which was published on May 30, 2023. With me today is our lead analyst on estimates and on the report, Kaitlyn Vanderwees.
The government's supplementary estimates (A) for 2023-24 outline $21.9 billion in incremental spending. Parliament's approval is required for $20.5 billion. Statutory authorities, for which the government has Parliament's approval to spend via other legislation, are forecast to increase by a total of $1.4 billion.
Roughly one-fifth, or $4.4 billion, of spending is for 15 budget 2023 measures. Most notably, this includes $2.5 billion to the Department of Health to improve health care for Canadians.
More than half of the proposed spending in these supplementary estimates, roughly $13 billion, relates to the negotiation and resolution of indigenous claims.
Including these supplementary estimates, the total proposed year‑to‑date budgetary authorities are $454.8 billion, which represents a $11.5 billion, or 2.6 per cent, increase compared with the estimates to date for the preceding year. This is generally consistent with the spending growth forecast in budget 2023.
To support parliamentarians in their scrutiny of budget 2023 implementation, we have prepared and published tracking tables that list all budget initiatives, the planned spending amounts and the corresponding legislative funding authority. These tables are available on our website and will be updated over the course of the year as the Government brings forward its legislative agenda.
Ms. Vanderwees and I would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have regarding our estimates analysis or other work by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.