Yes.
In the first year of the roadmap, we spent 93% of the funds budgeted. Last year, we spent 95%. At the beginning of the summer, we compile the figures for the current year just ending. Most of the initiatives are progressing as planned. The programs that were supposed to issue funds, did so, as the expense figures show. In that respect, we are quite satisfied with the overall way the roadmap is going.
There were a few unique cases, representing some quite modest amounts in the overall picture of the roadmap. For example, we took a little more time to launch the social development partnerships program, which requires a different administrative approach. My colleagues in Employment and Social Development Canada had to start by establishing the basis of the program. They assure us that the amounts identified in the roadmap will be spent in the three years that remain. This is $4 million out of $1.1 billion.
There were adjustments at the outset. Federal institutions knew that, in the first year, Treasury Board authorization had to be obtained, as well as all the authorizations needed to launch and publicize the programs, to gather funding applications, study them and issue contribution agreements. The institutions gave the recipients time to do what they wanted to do with the funds. A number of institutions chose to show a minimal amount in the first year, zero in some cases, and, with the permission of the Department of Finance, to carry it forward to the four following years.
That is what we did with one of our programs, the community cultural action fund. We knew that we would not be able to get the funds out in the first year. So, rather than losing the money in the big financial picture, which is the rule, we got ahead of the game as early as the autumn by asking to get the money back and spend it in years two, three and four. In that way, we were sure that our investment over the five years would be the same.