Tabling of the 2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities

• Backgrounder - Estimates Process

September 26, 2006

OTTAWA – The Honourable John Baird, President of the Treasury Board today tabled the 2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPP) in the House of Commons. 

These reports contain the expenditure plans for 90 federal government departments and agencies.

The Reports on Plans and Priorities provide information on an organization's plans, priorities and expected results over a three-year period. They also provide supplementary detail on financial and human resource requirements, major capital projects, grants and contributions, alternative service delivery, sustainable development strategies, horizontal initiatives and net program costs. These expenditures reflect the commitments made in Budget 2006. 

The tabling of the 2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities supports the 2006-2007 Estimates Process. These reports constitute Part III of the Estimates. Parts I and II of the Estimates were tabled on April 25, 2006. 

Please refer to the backgrounder for further details on the Estimates process. 

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For more information, contact:

Patrick Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666

Robert Makichuk
Chief, Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.

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Backgrounder - Estimates Process 

Each year, the government prepares Estimates in support of its request to Parliament for authority to spend public funds. This request is formalized through the tabling of appropriation bills in Parliament. The normal tabling dates for these documents are: 

Document	Normal Tabling Dates
The Government Expenditure Plan for 2006-2007 (Part I)	On or before March 1
2006-2007 Main Estimates (Part II)	On or before March 1
Interim Supply for 2006-2007 Main Estimates	Mid March
2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities (Part III)	On or before March 31
Full Supply for 2006-2007 Main Estimates	Mid June
2005-2006 Departmental Performance Reports (Part III)	Late October

Due to the general election on January 23, 2006 and the subsequent return of Parliament on April 3, 2006 a special motion was passed delaying the tabling of the Main Estimates and the introduction of Interim Supply and Full Supply. As a result, the normal tabling dates for the following Estimates documents were delayed:

Document	Revised Tabling Dates
The Government Expenditure Plan for 2006-2007 (Part I)	April 25, 2006
2006-2007 Main Estimates (Part II)	April 25, 2006
Interim Supply for 2006-2007 Main Estimates	May 3, 2006
2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities (Part III)	September 26, 2006
2005-2006 Departmental Performance Reports (Part III)	November 2006
Full Supply for 2006-2007 Main Estimates	December 2006

The Estimates, which are tabled in the House of Commons by the President of the Treasury Board, consist of three parts:

• Part I - The Government Expenditure Plan provides an overview of federal spending and summarises the relationship of the key elements of the Main Estimates.
• Part II - The Main Estimates directly support an Appropriation Act. The Main Estimates identify the spending authorities (Votes) and amounts to be included in subsequent appropriation bills. Parliament will be asked to approve these Votes to enable the government to proceed with its spending plans.
• Part III - Departmental Expenditure Plans, which are divided into two components:
  1. Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPPs) are individual expenditure plans for each department and agency (excluding Crown Corporations). These reports provide increased levels of detail over a three-year period on an organization's main priorities by strategic outcome(s), program activity(ies) and expected results, including links to related resource requirements.
  2. Departmental Performance Reports (DPRs) are individual department and agency accounts of results achieved against planned performance expectations, as set out in respective RPPs. The Departmental Performance Reports cover the most recently completed fiscal year.

The Estimates, along with the Budget, reflect the government's annual budget planning and resource allocation priorities. In combination with the subsequent reporting of financial results in the Public Accounts and of results achieved in Departmental Performance Reports, this material helps Parliament hold the government to account for the allocation and management of public funds.