Question Period Note: Tabling of the 2024–2025 Supplementary Estimates (B)

Tabling of the 2024–2025 Supplementary Estimates (B)

• Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions supports businesses and all regions of Quebec in their efforts to promote economic growth, innovation and diversification.
• As part of Supplementary Estimates (B), Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions received authorizations for $18.2 million dollars in grants and contributions, including $17.5 million dollars for the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) and $0.7 million dollars for the Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP).

Funding received in the form of grants and contributions under Supplementary Estimates (B) is as follows:
• Additional budget for the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) initiative totalling $17.5 million, broken down as follows
o Enhancement of the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation: $10.4 million
o Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative: $4.2 million
o Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative: $2.9 million
• Transfer from the National Research Council of Canada for the Mont-Mégantic Observatory: $0.5 million
• Budget for the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives (NICI) Fund: $0.2 million

In addition, operating and benefits budgets were granted for a total value of 0.9 million dollars.

• The Supplementary Estimates (B) presents information on requirements relating to expenditures that were not sufficiently fleshed out when the main estimates were tabled or that were subsequently refined to take into account changes made to specific programs or services.
• Several new initiatives were approved, such as the enhancement of the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program with a component for residential construction, the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives and the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation - Artificial Intelligence.
• The budget of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions in grants and contributions for 2024-2025 increases from $266.3 million to $284.4 million for a total budget of $337.0 million including the operating budget. The request represents 6.7% of the initial budget in grants and contributions.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) has requested $19.1 million to help Quebec businesses continue to grow through innovation.