Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that the lands on which we are gathered are part of the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples.
This is my first appearance before this committee as President of the Treasury Board. I want to thank you so much for having me here today to discuss supplementary estimates (B).
Today, I’m accompanied by officials from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
I’m very pleased to be here. Thank you for the work you’ve done.
I know that one of your priorities is to ensure that public funds are spent prudently.
That's a role I take very seriously, along with my department. This is a time when Canadians across the country are examining their pocketbooks, and the Government of Canada is no different. We are ensuring taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently. We're investing in priorities that matter most to Canadians. Starting in 2023-24, the government is refocusing government spending so that $15.4 billion over five years, and $4.1 billion annually thereafter, will support Canadians' most pressing needs.
As these estimates detail, we've already reduced travel and professional service spending by $500 million this year, and reductions for the 2024-25 year and beyond will be included in the main estimates around March 1 of next year. These reductions will be sought from about 80 organizations across government, but there are exceptions. Let me be clear: There will be no reductions to the Canadian Armed Forces, direct benefits to Canadians, or transfers to indigenous communities or other orders of government. In addition, this refocusing of spending proposals is being carefully assessed to ensure they are sustainable and do not create future funding pressures. While we identify reallocations of spending from across organizations, the work of government has to continue, and this requires ongoing funding.
I’d now like to turn to the spending requests in Supplementary Estimates (B).
These estimates present additional budget spending of $24.6 billion. Of this amount, $3.9 billion represents an increase in planned statutory spending, meaning that it is already authorized under existing legislation. Therefore, in Supplementary Estimates (B), the government is seeking approval for $20.7 billion in additional voted spending.
This includes significant investment in the implementation of settlement agreements and corresponding compensation for Indigenous peoples, military assistance to Ukraine, and compensation and benefits for the federal public service and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Important items requested in this year's supplementary estimates (B) include $5 billion to the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs to fund the Restoule settlement agreement; $2 billion to the Treasury Board to fund recently established collective bargaining agreements for over 200,000 employees; and approximately $1 billion to the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Parks Canada to settle claims and litigation relating to land.
In keeping with this government's commitment to transparency, I note that additional details and context, beyond what is contained in the tabled documents, are available online. Reporting tools such as GC InfoBase and the Open Government portal allow users to easily see the authorities approved by Parliament, ensuring parliamentarians and Canadians alike know how public funds are being invested on their behalf.
Thank you for the invitation to appear today. I’m very pleased to be with you this afternoon.
My team and I are now pleased to answer your questions.
