Question Period Note: 2023-24 Main Estimates

The 2023-24 Main Estimates were tabled in Parliament on February 15, 2023.

• The 2023-24 Main Estimates total resources listed for the Department of Canadian Heritage is $1.9 billion of which $27.3 million is related to Multiculturalism programs.
• The 2023-24 Main Estimates for the Multiculturalism programs represent a net decrease of $18.1 million from 2022-23 Main Estimates.

Notable changes in funding for initiatives under Multiculturalism programs include:

• $24.1 million: Decrease in funding caused by the end of the $50 million funding over two years, starting in 2021-22, announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, to expand Canadian Heritage’s Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program and its Anti-Racism Action Program, and to enhance Canadian Heritage’s capacity to deliver on the government’s anti-racism objectives by supporting its Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Branch, including the Anti-Racism Secretariat.

The above decrease is partially offset by the following increases:
• $4.2 million: Increase in funding from approved reprofiles of funds ($10 million was reprofiled from 2021-22 to 2023-24 compared to $5.8 million from 2020-21 to 2022-23);

• $1.1 million: Increase in funding for the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting antisemitism and the Special Representative for Combatting Islamophobia; and

• $0.7 million: Increase in funding for statutory adjustments related to employee benefit plans.

It is also important to note that Budget 2022 announced a two-year funding of $18 million, starting in 2023-24 to expand the National Anti-Racism Fund to support community organizations as well as building upon the strengthened program of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. This funding will be reflected in the Canadian Race Relations Foundation 2023-24 Main Estimates.

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