Question Period Note: Allocation of Veterans Affairs Canada's budget

• The way Veterans Affairs Canada’s budget is allocated ensures that all Veterans and their families receive the support and services they need, when they need it.
• To respond to increased demand for the Veterans Emergency Fund and the Veterans Family and Well-Being fund, the Department has internally reallocated funds to meet these needs.
• Over 90% of the Department’s budget represents payments to Veterans, their families and other program recipients.
• Eliminating the backlog of disability applications for Veterans remains a priority.

The Department’s Budget as of March 2020 is $5,291 million
Quasi Statutory Funding ($4,708 million – 89% of budget)
• Demand driven programs to provide benefits and services to Veterans which are non-discretionary based on eligibility/need.
• 25 programs in total. Examples include Pain and Suffering Compensation, Income Replacement Benefit, Veterans Independence Program.
Non-Quasi Statutory Funding ($153 million – 3% of budget)
• Programs to provide benefits and services for Veterans which have a ceiling which cannot be exceeded.
• Examples include Veterans and Families Wellbeing Fund, Veterans Emergency Fund.
Operating Budget ($359 million – 7% of budget)
• Funding to run the operations of the Department (e.g. Salary and Operating & Maintenance).
Statutory Funding ($39 million - < 1% of budget)
• Funding for specific items that have already been authorized by legislation such as Employee Benefit Plans.
Budget Implementation Vote ($32 million - < 1% of budget)
• Budget 2019 measures such “Supporting Veterans Families”.
• redacted

Transfers to Other Organizations:
$1.5 million from Vote 1 (Operating) to the Department of National Defence for the Veterans’ Service Card.
• As of September 2018, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) commenced issuing a Veteran’s Service Card (VSC) to releasing CAF members who completed basic training and were honourably released. The VSC provides a tangible symbol of recognition for former members and encourages an enduring affiliation with the CAF.
$0.15 million from Vote 1 (Operating) to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for research on cannabis.
• The Department committed $3M over the next 6 fiscal years to support research on cannabis use for medical purposes.

Internal transfers within Veterans Affairs Canada:
$1.8 million from Vote 1 (Operating) to Vote 5 (Veterans and Family Well-Being Fund)
• Budget increased to $4.8M to provide funding to more applicants.
$0.7 million from Vote 1 (Operating) to Vote 5 (Veterans Emergency Fund)
• Budget increased to $1.7M to ensure sufficient funding to support all future requests.

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