SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Hon. Anita Anand

  • Member of Parliament
  • President of the Treasury Board
  • Liberal
  • Oakville
  • Ontario
  • Voting Attendance: 58%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $137,107.74

  • Government Page
  • Jun/13/24 6:32:24 p.m.
  • Watch
moved: That the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, less the amounts voted in the interim supply, be concurred in. She said: Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Pickering—Uxbridge. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that the lands on which we are gathered are part of the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples. Today I rise to speak to the 2024-25 main estimates and supplementary estimates (A). The estimates help to ensure that parliamentarians and Canadians are informed of the government's expenditures and their resource plans so that we can be held to account for the allocation and management of public funds. The estimates, in conjunction with the budget and the economic and fiscal updates, reflect the government's annual resource planning and allocation priorities. I will now talk about the 2024-25 main estimates. The document is divided into two parts. Part I presents a summary of three main elements: the federal-government-wide projected expenditures for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a historical comparison from one year to another, and a breakdown of planned spending on transfer payments, operating and capital expenditures and public debt charges. Part II presents the estimates by organization. It also provides more detailed information on the planned expenditures. Of the 129 organizations presenting funding requirements in the main estimates, 11 are seeking more than $5 billion in voted budgetary expenditures. I want to outline these because they are so very important to the functioning of our country. Let us think about the $28.8 billion for national defence, including support for Ukraine, and training and equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces. Let us think about $20 billion for Indigenous Services Canada for programs for indigenous communities and legal settlements, $11.4 billion for ESDC to build a stronger and more inclusive Canada to help Canadians live productive and rewarding lives, and $8.4 billion for Global Affairs Canada to advance Canada's place in our international relations. Let us not forget the $8.4 billion for Health Canada, including funding to expand the Canadian dental care plan. By 2025, the fully rolled-out dental plan will cover nine million Canadians who currently do not have dental insurance. I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to mention that budget 2024 lays out a bold strategy to unlock 3.87 million new homes by 2031. This includes a minimum of 2 million net new homes, on top of 1.87 million homes already expected by 2031. Federal actions will support at least 1.2 million new homes, and the federal government is calling on all orders of government to build at least 800,000 more homes by 2031. I urge all parties to support these measures. They are necessary for—
478 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border