Question Period Note: 2021-22 Public Accounts

The Public Accounts of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2022, were tabled in Parliament by the President of the Treasury Board between on October 27th, 2022.

• Canadian Heritage’s 2021-22 Public Accounts were prepared in accordance with the Receiver General’s procedures.
• Within Canadian Heritage’s Public Accounts, financial information specific to my diversity portfolio is presented.
• While Canadian Heritage has provided increased support to many organizations, restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 have continued to cause significant disruptions and delays in the delivery of some programs, including programs that support multiculturalism. These delays are evidenced by surpluses in grants and contributions spending.

• Results at the departmental level presented in these accounts included a lapse of $18.2 million in
Vote 1 - Operating expenditures. Specifically, the lapse under the Diversity portfolio (Multiculturalism programming) amounts to $2.1 million and is related to the Public Education and Awareness Campaign headed by the Anti-Racism Program which had its contracting phase further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other administrative challenges.
• Results at the departmental level presented in these accounts included a lapse of $214.3 million in Vote 5 - Grants and Contributions. Specifically, the lapse under the Diversity portfolio (Multiculturalism programming) was $18 million and is mainly explained by funds not being spent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is important to note that a reprofile request was submitted to the Department of Finance to make as much of this Grants and Contributions lapse available in future fiscal years.
• In terms of expenses reported for your office since October 26, 2021, a total of $145,307 was reported as spent (primarily salaries) of which $2,423 was for travel.

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