Location: National
Issue/Source: Tabling of the Government of Canada’s 2023-2024 main estimates.
Date: March 6, 2023
Suggested Responses
- Transport Canada’s Main Estimates for 2023-24 total $3.61 billion.
- This represents an increase of 26.7% from Transport Canada’s 2022-23 planned spending and is largely attributed to an increase in Transfer Payments related to the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles grant program and new funding to move forward with High Frequency Rail between Toronto and Quebec City.
- These Main Estimates will enable Transport Canada to achieve key mandate letter commitments and deliver results that will create systemic changes towards a greener and more resilient transportation system.
- Reference levels in these Estimates do not include Budget 2023 items.
- Additional amounts identified through Budget 2023 will be sought through subsequent Supplementary Estimates exercises.
Background Information
- Main Estimates identify the spending authorities (votes) and amounts required to enable the government to proceed with its spending plans.
- Transport Canada’s (TC) opening net budget is $3,612.9 million (M) ($3,364.1M in voted funding and $248.8M in statutory funding). Compared to the 2022-23 opening net budget of $2,851.8M, this is a net increase of $761.1M (or 26.7%) which is attributable to the following items:
- Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (ZEV) - $542M
- Includes renewed funding for the ZEV program and new funding for Medium and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles
- New funding to move forward with High Frequency Rail between Toronto and Quebec - $269.6M
- Offset by decreases in various programs
- TC’s top five (5) planned spending authorities for 2023-24 account for 64% of the total budgetary request. They are:
- National Trade Corridor Fund - $1,019.4M
- Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program - $659.1M
- High Frequency Rail - $269.6M
- Airport Critical Infrastructure Program - $191.1M
- Oceans Protection Plan – $173.8M