SoVote

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

Context: House Hansard - 331 - Jun/13/24

Jun/13/24 6:36:32 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, I was saying that I really urge all parties to vote in favour of supports for new housing, supports for the Canadian Armed Forces and supports for Canadians via ESDC. These are measures that are important for the functioning of our country and for the protection and defence of our country. I am sure that all members of this House will recognize that importance. In terms of the supplementary estimates (A), the estimates present a total of $12.7 billion in incremental budgetary spending, which reflects $11.2 billion to be voted on and a $1.5-billion increase in forecast statutory expenditures. The primary objectives for that new voted spending on the organizations responsible for that spending are settlements to address past grievances and historic harms committed against indigenous peoples. For example, $1.8 billion is for agricultural benefits and claims and $1.5 billion is for federal Indian day schools and Indian residential schools day scholar settlements. Funds are also requested by Citizenship and Immigration Canada for support and services for migrants, such as $411 million for the interim federal health program. Finally, $604.9 million is requested by Transport Canada for purchase incentives for zero-emission vehicles. The main estimates also include additional information about an important priority for our government: refocusing government spending, as first announced in budget 2023. At the beginning of this exercise, I asked ministers to find savings in their organizations. We have already announced some results. I also want to say that, with this initiative, we will refocus our government's spending on Canadians' current priorities while ensuring that we do not reduce the direct supports and services Canadians need. As indicated in the main estimates, the government is on track to refocus $15.8 billion over five years and $4.8 billion annually thereafter. This is a very important exercise. It is our government's first initiative to address government spending. The goal of the exercise is to refocus spending, in other words, to spend smarter. The goal is not to reduce the programs and services Canadians rely on. The fact of the matter is that the government is doing what Canadians across our country are doing, which is examining their own pocketbooks. By refocusing funds to Canadians' most important priorities in this way, the government is ensuring that it can continue to invest in Canadians and in the Canadian economy for years to come. I want to assure members that this process is and will continue to be fully transparent, as it has been from the start. The government will continue to provide details on the initiative through departmental plans and departmental results reports. To that end, the estimates support Parliament's review of proposed new government spending and the bills ensuring appropriation that will occur thereafter. Every year, the main estimates and related documents provide clear insight into how the government proposes to allocate taxpayer dollars and help to ensure that our spending is transparent and accountable. I cannot overstate the importance of this information to the functioning of our system of government and our parliamentary democracy. In safeguarding our democracy, exercising oversight of government spending is one of the most important roles that parliamentarians can play on behalf of our citizens. To conclude, I would like to say that funding in the main estimates and supplementary estimates (A) is important to delivering on the government's commitment to the health and well-being of Canadians as well as other key priorities: affordable housing, health care, dental care and supports for Canadian families, the elderly included. That is what we will continue to put on the table. That is what we urge all members of this House to vote in favour of, and to that end, I will encourage us all to support the motion before us.

642 words

Context: House Hansard - 331 - Jun/13/24

Hon. Anita Anand (President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)

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

Context: House Hansard - 297 - Apr/10/24

Hon. Anita Anand (President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)

Apr/10/24 2:49:56 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, an accurate representation of the facts would be the following: First of all, we have a AAA credit rating, which is done by an independent, objective observer of our economy. Second of all, with regard to expenditures, we on this side of the House invest in Canadians, especially in vulnerable Canadians, with $10-a-day child care, early childhood learning and education, and a national school program. Meanwhile, they vote against. They vote against dental care. They vote against pharmacare. Every day is a great day to fight for Canadians, and that is exactly what we will do.

100 words

Context: House Hansard - 288 - Feb/29/24

Hon. Anita Anand (President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)

Feb/29/24 10:15:56 a.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, a document, in both official languages, entitled “Report on the Federal Tax Expenditures” for 2024.

38 words