Question Period Note: 2023–24 Main Estimates and Departmental Plan

FedDev Ontario’s 2023–2024 Main Estimates and Departmental Plan

• The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting businesses, organizations and communities as we work toward a resilient and inclusive economic recovery that creates jobs and growth for all Canadians.

• The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) 2023–2024 Main Estimates submission of $431.5 million will support economic development in southern Ontario.

• As outlined in its Departmental Plan, in 2023–2024, FedDev Ontario will focus its activities on:
o Building key sectoral advantages and identifying emerging economic opportunities as the region continues to rebound and stabilize following the COVID-19 pandemic;
o Promoting sustainable regional economic growth and resiliency across all southern Ontario communities;
o Advancing activities that support diverse and inclusive economic growth.

• Main Estimates and the Departmental Plan are tabled in Parliament by the President of the Treasury Board on behalf of ministers. The Main Estimates were tabled on February 15, 2023. The Departmental Plan was tabled on March 9, 2023.

Main Estimates

• The Main Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned and approved Government initiatives receive the necessary funding.

• The following indicates the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 Main Estimate submissions and variance in the funding received from the previous Main Estimates:
o Main Estimates 2022–2023:
- Operating Expenditures - $40.7M
- Grants and Contributions - $655.2M
- Statutory Authorities -$4.7M
- Total - $700.6M
o Main Estimates 2023–2024:
- Operating Expenditures - $36.5M
- Grants and Contributions - $390.9M
- Statutory Authorities -$4.1M
- Total - $431.5
o Variance:
- Operating Expenditures - $(4.2M)
- Grants and Contributions - $(264.3 M)
- Statutory Authorities - $(0.6M)
- Total – ($269.1M)

• The $269.1 million decrease from the 2022–2023 Main Estimates is primarily related to the winding down of funding for programs announced in Budget 2021 for economic recovery following the pandemic such as Jobs and Growth Fund, Tourism Relief Fund, Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative and Canada Community Revitalization Fund, among others.

Departmental Plan

• Departmental Plans (DPs) are part of the Estimates family of documents that support appropriation acts, which specify the amounts and broad purposes for which funds can be spent by the government. DPs contain the expenditure plan for departments and agencies and describe the priorities, strategic outcomes, programs, expected results and associated resource requirements covering a three-year period.

• Data containing planned spending, full-time equivalents (FTEs) and results information from the DP will be published online on GC Infobase within two hours of the DP being tabled in Parliament.

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