Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 2 p.m.

[Translation]

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) moved third reading of Bill C-43, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

She said: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to the appropriation bill for the 2022-23 Supplementary Estimates (C). The government is seeking Parliament’s approval of the planned voted spending detailed in the Supplementary Estimates (C) through this appropriation bill. As you know, colleagues, appropriation bills are the mechanisms for Parliament to authorize payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to provide government programs and services.

It is our responsibility as parliamentarians to authorize government spending through the estimates and associated appropriation bills. Indeed, this is one of the most important responsibilities we have in this chamber. The Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates, together with the public accounts, Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, play an important role and provide information that helps parliamentarians and Canadians scrutinize government spending.

Colleagues, this scrutiny is essential to a well-functioning democracy. Canadians expect their government to be transparent and have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Not only do the estimates provide the taxpayers of this country with a detailed and transparent breakdown of where their money is going, but they also provide an opportunity to hold the government to account.

[English]

With that said, colleagues, let me now turn to these Supplementary Estimates (C). These estimates provide information on incremental spending requirements that were either not sufficiently developed in time to include in the Main Estimates or have been refined to account for recent developments.

This year’s Supplementary Estimates (C) present a total of $10.3 billion across 58 organizations, of which $4.7 billion is to be voted on. If approved, honourable senators, voted budgetary spending for this fiscal year would increase by 2.1% to a total of $224.6 billion. These estimates also show, for information purposes, changes in planned statutory expenditures. Those expenditures are forecast to rise $5.6 billion to a total of $218.7 billion. This increase is attributed to a $6.6-billion increase in interest on unmatured debt due to higher short-term interest rates and the impact of higher inflation on real return bonds; a $1.1‑billion increase to Old Age Security payments based on updated forecasts of the average monthly rate, number of beneficiaries and benefit repayment amounts; and a $1.1-billion increase for the one-time rental housing benefit and the administration and enforcement of the Rental Housing Benefit Act.

Honourable colleagues, these estimates also include $381.7 million in funding announced in Budget 2022, including $49.2 million for the implementation of the regional educational agreement with the First Nations Education Council in Quebec; $45.5 million for Canada’s military mission in Ukraine; and $24.4 million for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. This brings the total of Budget 2022 funding in the 2023-24 estimates to $10.9 billion.

[Translation]

With these estimates, the government continues to invest in areas that are important to Canadians. Allow me to explain some of the key items in more detail.

Let me start with the government’s support for Indigenous peoples and their communities. I would like to remind the chamber that this government is deeply committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, a relationship that is based on recognition of rights, respect, truth, cooperation and partnership. Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination and self-government and rightfully aspire to restoring strong and healthy communities.

The government has made historic investments to support Indigenous priorities. As part of Canada’s journey towards reconciliation, the government continues to invest in Indigenous peoples and their communities. In these supplementary estimates, the Department of Indigenous Services is requesting an additional $764.1 million in funding, and the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs is requesting $100.7 million in funding.

The proposed funding would be allocated to essential programs and supports. It will be used to reimburse Indigenous communities for expenditures incurred on reserves in emergencies, including natural disasters. It will provide First Nations children with social services and supports in health and education. It will support efforts to increase food security in remote communities in the north. It will help support adult education.

Honourable senators, I believe that you will agree that all these programs and services are essential. These investments will help support infrastructure and services that are critically important to the physical, mental, social and economic health and well-being of Indigenous communities.

[English]

Honourable colleagues, we also know that many Canadians are struggling to find affordable housing. That is why the government has committed to taking concrete action to ensure that Canadians have safe and affordable places to live and raise a family. In addition to the planned statutory expenditures of $1.1 billion to provide an estimated 1.8 million low-income families and individuals with a one-time $500 rental housing benefit, the Supplementary Estimates (C) also include an additional $9.3 million to help owners of rental properties make their buildings more energy efficient.

Honourable senators, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, which will give prospective buyers the ability to save up to $40,000 tax free toward their first home. Just like an RRSP, contributions will be tax deductible and withdrawals to purchase a first home, including investment income, will be non-taxable like a tax-free savings account. And, colleagues, to provide Canadians with greater transparency and fairness in the home-buying process, the government is working with provinces and territories to develop a home buyers’ bill of rights.

The government is also committed to providing more supports for families. Many Canadians have family members in their household who are elderly or disabled, but many homes aren’t properly equipped to meet the needs of these individuals.

In response, the government has introduced a tax credit to cover some of the costs when renovations are needed to meet the needs of elderly or disabled family members. Canadians will be able to apply for a tax credit to cover some of those costs beginning this year. Because, at the end of the day, colleagues, every Canadian deserves a safe, accessible and affordable place to live and raise their family.

[Translation]

Finally, colleagues, I would like to provide a breakdown of how these supplementary estimates will strengthen Canada’s support to Ukraine.

Canada is home to 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian origin. Canada and Ukraine have been steadfast allies for decades.

In fact, Canada was the first western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence over 30 years ago. Since then, our two countries have enjoyed a close relationship, which has only been strengthened by Russia’s illegal invasion.

Honourable senators, let me be very clear. Canada remains committed to supporting Ukraine. We continue to provide the military training and equipment that Ukraine needs to defend its sovereignty, freedom and independence.

That is why the government has committed more than $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine since February 2022.

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s announcement last November, the supplementary estimates therefore allocate $500 million to the Department of National Defence to assist the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

There are also plans to allocate $115 million in grant assistance that will allow the Department of Finance to contribute to the World Bank’s multi-donor trust fund for Ukraine.

These funds will help the government of Ukraine maintain its administrative and service delivery capacity, conduct relief operations, and establish and implement a reconstruction and reform program.

The Department of National Defence is also asking for $56.5 million for Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces’ training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Since the start of Operation UNIFIER in 2015, the CAF has trained over 35,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel in battlefield tactics and advanced military skills.

[English]

The government is also committed to those who have been forced to flee their homeland to escape Russian aggression. In response, the government has introduced special programs to help thousands of Ukrainian nationals and their family members find safety in Canada. Supplementary Estimates (C) include $170 million for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to provide transitional financial assistance to help these families take care of their basic needs while they get settled in Canada. Through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, Ukrainian nationals and their family members can apply for a temporary resident visa to travel to and stay in Canada temporarily — and, colleagues, Canadians can be rightly proud of the fact that over half a million temporary Ukrainian resident applications have been approved.

[Translation]

In addition, as I mentioned yesterday in my speech at second reading, the voted expenditures will make it possible to inject $370 million to help developing countries address the impact of climate change, $227.5 million to write off unrecoverable student and apprenticeship loans, and $213.8 million to preserve current capacity and service levels at the Canada Revenue Agency call centres.

[English]

Honourable senators, the proposed funding in these estimates is a tangible example of the government’s commitments to priorities at home and abroad, from investing in Indigenous communities to providing military assistance to Ukraine and providing affordable housing.

The estimates family of documents provides important insight into how public funds will be used to advance priorities for Canadians. The estimates show that the government is responding to immediate needs while continuing to make long‑term investments that benefit everyone.

I urge all honourable senators to pass this bill without delay so we can continue to deliver results for Canadians and for the future of this country. Thank you. Meegwetch.

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate) moved third reading of Bill C-44, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

She said: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Appropriation Bill No. 1 for 2023-24, the interim supply bill for the 2023-24 Main Estimates.

With this appropriation bill, the government is asking Parliament to approve an advance on the funds requested in the Main Estimates to cover the needs of the public service from the start of the new fiscal year to the date on which the appropriation act based on the Main Estimates for 2023-24 is passed. This advance is known as the “interim supply.”

Therefore, it is up to us, parliamentarians, to authorize payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund through the Main Estimates and the associated appropriation bills. This is actually one of our most important responsibilities in this chamber.

The Main Estimates and supplementary estimates, together with the public accounts, Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, play an important role and provide information that helps parliamentarians and Canadians scrutinize government spending.

This scrutiny is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Canadians expect their government to be transparent, and they have a right to know how public money is being spent.

Not only do the estimates provide Canadian taxpayers with a detailed and transparent breakdown of where their money is going, but they also provide an opportunity to hold the government to account.

Honourable senators, allow me to spend a little time on the process of interim supply.

To spend money, the government must request Parliament’s authorization through the supply bill review and approval process.

Interim supply provides the government with access to the funding required until the full amount of funding provided in the Main Estimates is approved later in the year.

Given that the fiscal year begins on April 1 and that the normal supply cycle requires the House to vote on the Main Estimates only in June, Parliament approves interim supply before the start of the fiscal year.

We should note that the Standing Orders provide that the House of Commons has until the month of June to study and approve the Main Estimates. However, federal organizations need funding from the start of the fiscal year, or April 1. Because of this gap, the government has to table an interim supply bill in March.

[English]

A bill for interim supply, like the one before us today, provides funding for operations for the first three months of the fiscal year. A full supply bill for the balance of voted expenditures set out in the Main Estimates is introduced in June. But it is important to be clear, colleagues, that the interim supply bill does not, in fact, propose new spending. That’s because the expenditures found in the bill are already included in the Main Estimates.

For most departmental votes, it represents three twelfths of the total voted authorities set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year, but in some cases a department may ask for more than the standard three twelfths. However, in order to receive more than the standard amount, the department must provide justification to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat for additional twelfths to be included in the interim supply bill for parliamentary approval. Once the justification is reviewed and accepted, additional twelfths are included in the interim supply bill for parliamentary approval.

So when exactly would a department require more funding? It could be for projects launched in the spring, such as Canada Summer Jobs, or to make payments to provinces and territories for programs like Home and Community Care, mental health and addiction services and virtual care and long-term care. Or it could be for legal obligations to Indigenous communities, such as the Indian Day Schools (McLean) agreement or self-government agreements. Also, for example on Vote 10, it could be for additional supply for payments of military aid to Ukraine.

These are just some examples, colleagues, but they demonstrate the critical role interim supply plays in providing services to Canadians.

[Translation]

Dear colleagues, this year, the process is following the normal supply cycle. The President of the Treasury Board tabled the main estimates in the House of Commons on February 15, 2023 and the interim supply bill, Bill C-44, was tabled in that same chamber on March 22.

[English]

Through this interim supply bill, appropriation act no. 1, the government is seeking Parliament’s approval of $89.7 billion to ensure that funding continues to be secure for the programs that are important to Canadians.

Just as a reminder, the Main Estimates for 2023-24 provide information on $432.9 billion in proposed spending for 129 organizations, including $198.2 billion in voted expenditures and $234.8 billion in statutory expenditures.

Honourable senators, these estimates address issues that are important to Canadians. Not only do they provide important insight into how public funds will be used, but they also show that the government is responding to immediate needs while continuing to make long-term investments that benefit all Canadians. I urge all senators to pass the bill without delay. Thank you, meegwetch.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Loffreda, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)