Question Period Note: Supplementary Estimates (B) 2020-21

The tabling of the 2020-21 Supplementary Estimates (B) is done at the end of October 2020 and represents a total increase of $60.6 million for the department.

• The net impact for Canadian Heritage is a Vote 1 – Operating increase of $1.2 million, Vote 5 – Grants and Contributions increase of $55 million and an increase of $4.4 million in statutory items.

The President of the Treasury Board tables the Supplementary Estimates in order to obtain Parliament’s authority to adjust the government's expenditure plan, as reflected in the Estimates for that fiscal year.
The Supplementary Estimates seek authority to revise spending levels, which Parliament will be asked to approve in an Appropriation Act. They inform Parliament of changes to the estimated expenditures that will be made under the authority of statutes previously passed by Parliament.
The net increase for the department of Canadian Heritage is mainly explained by funding to support the following items:
Appropriations to be adopted:
Funding for the Canada Media Fund - Total: $26,365,000
• Following Budget 2018, the Government announced an increase in ongoing funding starting in 2019-20 for Canada Media Fund (CMF) to stabilize its funding in order to better financially support Canadian creators and producers. The Government committed to maintaining the CMF’s funding at its 2016-17 level ($352 millions), up to a maximum of $42.5 millions per year. This funding is to compensate for a decline in regulatory contributions by Canada’s cable and satellite companies. The top-up ensures a stable source of support for Canadian content production ecosystem, which generates over 62K full-time jobs and contributes $4.4B to the GDP (18-19).
Funding for community spaces – infrastructure and teacher recruitment in Francophone minority schools, French immersion and French as a second language programs - Total: $17,919,865
• This reprofile is seeking to transfer funds received in fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21 for the initiative entitled Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future. This funding will help strengthen official-language minority communities, improve access to services in both official languages, and promote a bilingual Canada.
Funding to support minority-language education - Total: $9,889,218
• This reprofile is seeking to transfer funds received in fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21 for the Enhancing Support for Minority-Language Education in Canada initiative. The funds are used to further support the provinces and territories provide education in official language minority communities and to persuade them to conclude the next Protocol with strengthened conditions.
Funding for the Canada Book Fund - Total: $1,342,700
• This reprofile is seeking to transfer funds received in fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21 via Budget 2019 Measure: Inclusion of Canadians with Visual Impairments and Other Print Disabilities. The funds are used to enhance the production and distribution of accessible digital books by Canadian independent book publishers.
Funding for a post-census survey on Official language minority communities - Total: $1,264,918
• Funding of $5.1 million over three years to fund a post-census survey of official-language minority communities (OLMCs), administered by Statistics Canada. This new funding will make it possible to gather evidence to explore specific issues that the census can cover only partially, if at all. This survey will contribute, among other things, to the data ecosystem for the enumeration of those entitled to minority-language education in Canada, to the evaluation of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 and, ultimately, to supporting the development and vitality of OLMCs in Canada.
Funding for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Total: $1,240,877
• This reprofile is seeking to transfer funds received in fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21 via Budget 2019 Measure: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The funding is used to enable communities to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools; celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
Funding for the Manitoba Métis Heritage Centre - Total: $729,400
• This reprofile is seeking to transfer funds received in fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21 under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Program. The funds are to be used for the development of a Métis National Heritage Centre. The creation of the Métis National Heritage Centre in Winnipeg, the homeland of the Métis Nation, is a key initiative in the commitment to nation-to-nation relationships and reconciliation that are key priorities for the present government.
Statutory Appropriations pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act:
Payments to support students and youth impacted by COVID-19 - Total: $15,000,000
• On June 25, 2020, the Government of Canada announced an urgent investment to support students and youth impacted by COVID-19 pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern payment Act. In the context of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, $15 million was allocated to Canadian Heritage to create up to 1,245 additional job placements and paid internships in various sectors and communities, including Official Language Minority Communities.
Payments for the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations – Total : ($10,555,000)
• On July 7, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the “Final Components of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations”. PCH’s initial allocation was reduced by $10,555,000 from $418,000,000 to $407,445,000 in order to allocate an additional amount of $7,800,000 to the Canada Council for the Arts and $2,755,000 to Telefilm Canada.
Transfers from other organizations:
Transfer from Indigenous Services - Total: $310,000
• To promote public awareness and community participation in National Aboriginal Day activities and celebrations on June 21. These activities funded by the Department will serve to preserve, revitalize and promote Aboriginal cultures.
Transfer from Veterans Affairs - Total: $29,000
• To support PCH-led activities related to the creation and erection of the National Monument for Canada's Mission in Afghanistan on Lebreton Flats in Ottawa, an initiative led by Veterans Affairs Canada. The funds for PCH will be more specifically used to pay jury and moderator honoraria and expenses related to a site visit by finalist teams.
Transfers to other organizations:
Transfer to Public Works and Government Services - Total: $86,788
• Transfer of one full-time equivalent resource following the November 20, 2019 transfer of responsibility for the National Capital Commission (NCC) from Canadian Heritage to Public Works and Government Services Canada (now referred to as Public Services and Procurement Canada)
Transfer to Canada Council for the Arts - Total: $127,000
• To support multilateral cooperation on French-language theatre projects, as well as to ensure Canada's participation in meetings of the Commission internationale du théâtre francophone.
Transfer to the National Arts Centre Corporation - Total: $190,000
• For the 2021 edition of the biennal event "Zones théâtrales", which has a mandate to showcase professional theatre from Canadian francophone communities and the regions of Quebec.
Transfer to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - Total: $613,996
• To support the Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI), a joint initiative between the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Sport Canada that funds innovative research on sport participation to support the objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy.
Transfer to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs - Total: $1,903,814
• Transfer of funds from the Indigenous Languages Component of the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program for distribution to signatory Yukon First Nations.

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