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Interactive: Pensions up, defence down: Where Ottawa plans to spend and cut
Bill Curry with data research by Stuart A. Thompson

This article was published more than 11 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

The Conservative government is attempting to dig itself out of the deficit with significant cuts to some organizations.

Below, see the changes in funding between the main estimates from 2012-13 and the comparable figures for 2013-14.

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Note: Figures compare the 2013-14 Main Estimates to the 2012-13 Main Estimates. Departments can receive additional funding during the year through Supplementary Estimates.

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1. Biggest spending increases ($) 2. Biggest budget cuts ($) 3. Biggest decreases (%) 4. Biggest increases (%)

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  1. Human Resources and Skills Development
    The department says this increase (from $47.6-billion to $50.5-billion) is mostly explained by higher Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments resulting from Canada's aging population.
  2. Finance Canada
    The increase (from $85.4-billion to $87.6-billion) is mainly due to higher Canada Health Transfer payments and payments to Quebec and Prince Edward Island for joining the Harmonized Sales Tax.
  3. Public Works and Government Services
    The main estimates budget for this large department is set to rise from $2.4-billion to $2.6-billion, largely due to extensive and ongoing renovations to the Parliament buildings.
  4. Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    The RCMP main estimates for 2013-14 are $2.8-billion, up from $2.6-billion the year before. This is largely explained as an accounting issue related to the renewal of some of the RCMP's policing contracts. The RCMP also says there will be additional spending on the Beyond the Border Action Plan with the United States.
  5. Indian Affairs and Northern Development
    Though some areas have been cut, the 2013-14 main estimates show a slight increase overall, from $7.7-billion to $7.9-billion. The largest spending increase ($224.5-million) is for compensation awards to former students of Indian Residential Schools.
  1. National Defence
    The end of Canada's mission in Afghanistan is helping Ottawa's bottom line. The 2013-14 Main Estimates at National Defence is set at $18-billion, down from $19.8-billion. The department is also scaling back its plans for new procurement under the Canada First Defence Strategy.
  2. Office of Infrastructure Canada
    Ottawa's main infrastructure program expires in 2013-14. The 2013 budget is expected to announce its replacement. The Main Estimates for 2013-14 show $3.9-billion in spending for this office, down from $5.1-billion.
  3. Transport
    Percentage-wise, this is a big drop. Main Estimates spending for 2013-14 is pegged at $1.5-billion, down from $2.1-billion. The department says the change is largely due to the way multi-year projects are funded.
  4. Correctional Service of Canada
    Getting tough on crime hasn't been that tough on Ottawa's bottom line, according to the government. The main estimates say the forecast for future inmates is decreasing and that projected inmate population growth "has not materialized" with respect to two main Conservative crime laws. Main estimates for 2013-14 are $2.6-billion, down from $3-billion.
  5. Foreign Affairs and International Trade
    The Prime Minister recently announced a new $5-million Office of Religious Freedom at DFAIT, but there will be many other small cuts in areas like consular services as the department slims down. It has a budget of $2.3-billion in the 2013-14 Main Estimates, down from $2.6-million.
  1. Registry of the Specific Claims Tribunal
    The Tribunal, which is responsible for deciding on specific First Nations' claims related to non-fulfillment of treaties, fraud, illegal leases and disputes over reserve land is receiving $1-million for 2013-14, down from $2.8-million in 2012-13, however a note suggests more money could be coming later in the year.
  2. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.
    Historically a drain on federal finances, spending on AECL has dropped significantly since it was sold in 2011 to SNC-Lavalin for $15-million. Ottawa still makes payments to AECL for operating and capital expenditures. Spending for 2013-14 is forecast at $211-million, down from $376.7-million in the 2012-13 main estimates and down from $719-million in total spending for 2011-12.
  3. VIA Rail Canada
    Claiming "reduced domestic demand and increased competition in the Quebec City to Windsor Corridor," Via Rail says it has re-aligned its services to meet customer demands. Main estimates spending will drop to $187.8-million in 2013-14, down from $306.5-million.
  4. Transport
    The department says the change is largely due to the way multi-year projects related to border infrastructure are funded from year to year. The Main Estimates show the budget will drop from $2.1-billion to $1.5-billion.
  5. Office of Infrastructure Canada
    Like Transport, which oversees Infrastructure Canada, the change is attributed to "cash flow" issues around major infrastructure projects. The Main Estimates show a drop from $5.1-billion to $3.9-billion.
  1. Canadian Grain Commission
    The changes at this small commission appear to be due to a mix of unusual parliamentary accounting and a shift in the way it is funded. The Commission is receiving $22-million in the main estimates for 2013-14, up from $5.4-million. However last year the Commission received $32.2-million during the year through supplemental estimates. The commission says it is moving toward a new user fee structure to become self-funded.
  2. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
    "There is no precedent for a museum of this nature," states the estimates in explaining planned 2013-14 spending of $31.7-million for the Winnipeg museum. In 2012-13, the museum received $10-million in the main estimates and a combined $56.7-million in approved spending including supplemental estimates. Actual spending in 2011-12 was $21.8-million.
  3. Canadian Polar Commission
    Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Health Minister and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq as head of the commission in August 2012, and now the commission is getting a big budget boost. Main estimates spending for 2013-14 is set at $2.6-million, up from $1.3-million.
  4. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
    Created in 2010, the museum was created to "explore the theme of immigration in Canada." Its main estimates budget for 2013-14 is $18.4-million, up from $10-million.
  5. Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
    This is largely a parliamentary accounting issue as its overall budget appears to be holding steady. The agency is receiving $31-million in the main estimates for 2013-14, up from $17-million in 2012-13. But in 2012-13 it received additional money in the supplementary estimates, for total approved spending of $29.6-million.

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