Ottawa - Federal government departments should provide more information to Parliament about program spending and show in greater detail how their spending yields value for money, the Senate Committee on National Finance said in a report released today.

The committee analyzed the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the 2015-2016 fiscal year and the Main Estimates for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. In the Supplementary Estimates (C), the government requested an additional total budgetary amount of $5.1 billion for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, bringing the year’s spending to a final total of $250.7 billion.

The Main Estimates show that overall spending for 2016-17 is starting at $250.1 billion that is before any other spending that will be outlined in the 2016 Federal Budget.

The estimates were tabled in the Senate on February 23, 2016. The committee held several meetings with officials from government departments and agencies to review these estimates. The committee then decided to report on key issues raised at these meetings. For example:

• National Defence remains involved in Iraq and Syria, but the nature of those missions have changed. National Defence needs to provide clear reporting on the costs of its overseas operations.
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada is leading the federal government’s initiative to bring Syrian refugees to Canada: as several departments and outside organizations are also working to achieve Canada’s goal, it is challenging to evaluate the initiative's effectiveness. This problem is also in evidence at Global Affairs, which works with other government departments and organizations to help fund developing countries’ struggles against climate change.
• The Department of Finance’s management of major provincial and territorial transfers. The finance department does not appear to have considered the impact of the aging population as transfer values are calculated on a per capita basis.
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development spends a lot of money on improvements to housing; it must ensure it has adequate accountability measures in place.

The Senate Committee on National Finance plays an important role in ensuring government spending plans are reasonable, provide value for money and will be effective in achieving government objectives. The committee scrutinizes and reports on government spending plans as part of its duties to Parliament and to Canadians.

Quotes

“The federal government has the responsibility to manage public funds prudently; our committee has the responsibility to make sure this is taking place. We are committed to looking after every last dollar.”

- Senator Larry Smith, Chair of the committee

“Taxpayers deserve to know how the government is spending their money and why. With billions of dollars in play, our committee must remain vigilant to ensure that money is spent wisely.”

- Senator Larry Campbell, Deputy Chair of the committee

Associated Links

• Click here to read a copy of the report.
• To follow the Committee’s proceedings and learn more about the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, click here.
• The Senate of Canada is on Twitter: @SenateCA, follow the committee using the hashtag #NFFN.

For more information, please contact:

Marcy Galipeau
Committees Liaison Officer
Senate of Canada
613-944-4082
marcy.galipeau@sen.parl.gc.ca