Question Period Note: PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

• The Public Accounts of Canada is the report of the Government of Canada prepared annually covering financial transactions for the fiscal year ending on March 31.

• For the 2018-19 fiscal year, Veterans Affairs Canada reported expenditures totalling $4.7 billion of the $4.8 billion available for use - 98% of available funds were spent.

• Veterans Affairs Canada must always ensure its annual budget has sufficient budget to cover the full costs of the benefits and services for a maximum number of eligible Veterans who may come forward during the government’s fiscal year.

• Consequently, Veterans Affairs Canada will always have some surplus funds as a result of client demand being less than maximum forecasted demand for the fiscal year.

BACKGROUND – PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

• The tabling of the Public Accounts occurs annually in the fall by the President of Treasury Board. Historically, the tabling has not resulted in questions for Veterans Affairs Canada.

• For the 2018-19 fiscal year, there are no abnormalities or areas of concern with regards to Veterans Affairs Canada’s Public Account submission. Below are a few highlights.

Volume I
• Presents the audited financial statements for the Government of Canada.

Volume II
• Presents the Financial operations of each Department.

• In 2018-19, the department’s overall lapse was $105M, summarized as follows:

o A surplus of $69M in the department’s operating budget (Vote 1).
o 60% (or $41M) related to lower than anticipated client demand and costs for health and rehabilitation services paid on behalf of Veterans.

o $27.5M related to the implementation of the Pension for Life suite of programs and project-related funds that were transferred to the 2019-20 fiscal year from 2018-19.

o Overall, within the Department’s Grants and Contribution (Vote 5) funding, the department spent 99% of available funding, resulting in a lapse of $36M, primarily consisting of lapses in the following programs:

• Earnings Loss ($9.7M)
• Veterans Independence Program ($8.2M)
• Education and Training Benefit ($6.8M)
• Disability Pensions ($6.2M)

Volume III
• Presents supplementary information and analysis, including the reporting on certain types of payments.

• Department’s must report on Payment of Claims Against the Crown, Court Award payments and Ex-gratia payments. For 2018-19, Veterans Affairs Canada reported the following:

o Claims Against the Crown payments:
- 27 cases with a value of $15,089
o Court Awards:
- 5 cases with a total value of $10,890
o Ex-Gratia payment:
- 1 case with a total value of $1,040

• Minister’s Office expenditures for 2018-19, were $1,486,306. Below is a summary of previous years:

Fiscal Year Amount
2014-15 $1,127,106
2015-16 $1,143,765
2016-17 $1,435,607
2017-18 $1,408,881

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