Question Period Note: 2022-23 Public Accounts

• Within Canadian Heritage’s Public Accounts, financial information specific to my diversity and inclusion portfolio is presented under the Diversity and Inclusion core responsibility and is limited to the Multiculturalism Programs.
• The Department disbursed $35.1 million in transfer payments in 2022-23 under the Multiculturalism Programs compared to $23.8 million in 2021-22, which represents an increase of $11.3 million or 32.2% of authorities. This increase in authorities is explained by additional funding received to strengthen multiculturalism to address racism and discrimination and $1.5 million in additional funding for the creation of the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora. 

Authorities Used and Lapses (Volume II – Details of Expenses and Revenues)
(in millions of $) Authorities available for use Authorities Used Variance
Authorities Used in Previous Year
Multiculturalism Programs 43.1 35.1 8.0 23.8

Transfer payments by recipients will be disclosed in the public accounts but here is table that presents transfer payments totals by Diversity components (Volume III – Details of transfer payments):
(in millions of $) Authorities Used Authorities Used in Previous Year Variance
Grants for the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program 10.9 5.4 5.5
Contributions for the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program 11.9 $1.3 10.6
Contributions for the Anti-Racism Action Program 10.8 17.1 (6.3)
Funding to support the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora 1.5 - 1.5
Total 35.1 23.8 11.3

• Grants and contributions: The Department spent $35.1 million in 2022-23 under the Multiculturalism Programs compared to $23.8 million in 2021-22, which represents an increase of $11.3 million or 32.2% of authorities. This increase in authorities is explained by additional funding received to strengthen multiculturalism to address racism and discrimination and $1.5 million in additional funding for the creation of the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora.
• The lapse under the Multiculturalism programs is $7.9 million and is mostly due to the timing of Budget 2022 which enabled the department to access funding later in the fiscal year combined with the implementation of the Pilot Enhanced Review Process which reduced the speed at which new funding approvals and payments were made between September and year-end.
• The Department explored mechanisms to make these funds available in future years and is still awaiting a final decision.

Minister’s Office Expenses (Volume III: Additional Information and Analyses)
• The previous Minister of Diversity and Inclusion reported expenses totaling $652,783 compared to $145,307 in 2021-22. The $507,476 increase is mainly explained by the Minister office being created on October 26, 2021; therefore 2021-22 spending is only for a partial year. The 2022-23 spending is primarily for salary expenditures and includes $21,834 was for travel and communication which consists mainly of travel expenses.
• Expenses for your office as Minister of Diversity and Inclusion will be reported in the 2023-24 Public Accounts.

None