Question Period Note: 2018-19 Public Accounts

Publication of the 2018-19 Public Accounts.

*With the creation of the Department for Women and Gender Equality on December 13, 2018, the Government of Canada is fulfilling key commitments to advance gender equality and grow the economy.

*Actual spending in 2018-19 for both Status of Women Canada and the Department for Women and Gender Equality was $72.1M compared to $43.3M in 2017-18. This represents an increase of $28.8M and is due to new ongoing and time-limited investments received since 2017-18.

*Demonstrating sound stewardship, the department spent 98% of its available funding. The unspent money will be made available for use in Fiscal Year 2019-20.

The Public Accounts of Canada is the annual financial report of the Government of Canada, prepared by the Receiver General, as required by section 64 of the Financial Administration Act. It includes the following three volumes:

Volume I presents the audited consolidated financial statements of the Government, as well as additional financial information and analyses.

Volume II presents the financial operations of the Government, segregated by ministry.

Volume III presents supplementary information and analyses including information on Ministers’ office and travel expenditures.

Due to the creation of WAGE on December 13, 2018, the Public Accounts of Canada will present information separately for both Status of Women Canada (April 1, 2018 to December 12, 2018) and WAGE (December 13, 2018 to March 31, 2019).

Of the $28.8M increase in actual spending, $20M is for the Operating budget and $8.8M is for Grants and Contributions.

These new investments allow the department to:
o Expand the Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence
o Develop and implement a framework to prevent and address gender-based violence at post-secondary institutions
o Establish a commemoration fund to respond to the interim report of the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
o Enhance funding to support the sustainability of women’s and equality-seeking organizations
o Engage Canadians on the benefits of Gender Equality and advancing equality for women and girls
o Undertake research and data collection to inform policies and programs related to gender equality

Volume II of the Public Accounts of Canada will indicate an unspent money of $1,578,122 for WAGE, which falls within the customary 5% carry-forward limit allowed by Treasury Board to next fiscal year.

The Public Accounts of Canada 2018-2019, covering the fiscal year of the Government from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019, will be tabled in Parliament by the President of the Treasury Board on December 5, 2019.

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