Parliamentary Committee Notes: Refocusing Government Spending

Issue:

In Budget 2023, the government committed to reducing spending by $14.1 billion over the next five years, starting in 2023-24, and by $4.1 billion annually after that.

Proposed Response:

The Public Safety Portfolio is contributing a total of $141.1M to Refocusing Government Spending through the 2024-25 Main Estimates. Ongoing savings total $247.3M for the Portfolio. 

Public Safety Canada:

• As part of meeting this commitment, Public Safety Canada is planning the following spending reductions.
  • 2024 to 2025: $0.5M
  • 2025 to 2026: $0.5M
  • 2026 to 2027 and after: $1.5M
• Public Safety Canada will achieve these reductions by doing the following:
  • Reducing the funding base for Policy Development Contribution Program;
  • Reducing the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund by 10 percent.

Canada Border Services Agency

• As part of meeting this commitment, the CBSA is planning the following spending reductions:
  • 2024 to 2025: $66.1M
  • 2025 to 2026: $87.1M
  • 2026 to 2027 and after: $115.9M
• To achieve these reductions, the CBSA is undertaking an agency-wide exercise to support the intent of the refocusing government spending initiative, with a focus on reducing contracting and travel, while avoiding impacts to service.

Correctional Service Canada

• As part of meeting this commitment, CSC is planning the following spending reductions:
  • 2024 to 2025: $48.5M
  • 2025 to 2026: $60.5M
  • 2026 to 2027 and after: $85.6M
• CSC will achieve these reductions by doing the following:
  • Reductions in Operational Support Services for a total reduction of ($41.8M) ongoing by 2026 to 2027; and
  • High-Risk Operational Reductions for a total reduction of ($43.7M) ongoing by 2026 to 2027.

Parole Board of Canada

• As part of meeting this commitment, the PBC is planning the following spending reductions.
  • 2024-25: $1.2M
  • 2025-26: $1.8M
  • 2026-27 and after: $2.6M
• The PBC will achieve these reductions by doing the following:
  • Returning A-Base funding associated with the Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy (CDSS) initiative worth $1.2M.
  • Finding efficiencies and/or design or administration cost-saving service delivery approaches while maintaining core program delivery with minimal operational impacts and residual risks. A few examples include:
    • increasing the usage of video conference and limiting travel requirements;
    • reducing amounts allotted for Operations & Maintenance funding;
    • defunding some vacant positions;
    • Applying a 3% reduction to allocated salary funding.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• As part of meeting this commitment, the RCMP is planning the following spending reductions.
  • 2024-25: $24.8M
  • 2025-26: $31.4M
  • 2026-27: $33.7M
  • 2027-28: $39.7M
  • 2028-29: $42.6M
  • Ongoing: $41.7M
• The RCMP will reduce spending by $41.7 million on an ongoing basis annually. This includes efficiencies and reduced capacity in the following areas:
• international peacekeeping and peace operations to align more closely with anticipated operations in the future
• efficiencies in learning and training functions through the rationalization of its operations across the country
• efficiencies in the management of RCMP accommodations
• reduced capacity in various internal services functions and in operational and administrative support functions for front-line policing
• reduced travel and professional services spending across its programs
• The majority of the RCMP’s travel and professional services spending is non-discretionary in nature as it is in direct support of police operations.
• Travel reductions will focus on minimizing discretionary travel within the organization and maximizing the use of virtual technologies. These reductions will however, directly impact operational travel within the Federal Policing mandate and the RCMP will reduce in areas that are least crucial to fulfilling its mandate.
• Professional services reductions will focus on decreased spending on law enforcement agencies supporting investigations, as well as decreases in other business services and management consultants.
• Efforts will be made to minimize reductions to protective policing travel, as well as travel and professional services spending supporting the delivery of front-line Contract Policing services. Limiting reductions in these areas are in an effort to maintain existing protection of elected officials and dignitaries, as well as to meet obligations under the Police Services Agreements with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities.

Background:

Budget 2023 announced reductions for the government as part of Refocusing Government Spending. Over the summer of 2023 the Portfolio received its reduction targets. Proposals were submitted in October, 2023. Decisions have been communicated in January 2024 and incorporated in the 2024-25 Main Estimates as well as future budgets.

Canadian Security Intelligence Agency’s (CSIS) proposals have been rejected. Smaller agencies were excluded from the exercise due to materiality threshold.  

Date modified:

2024-08-07