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We also have other ESDC officials here in the audience who will be called to the table if a question prompts their expertise to come forward. They will be introduced at that time. Thank you all for being here.
From National Defence, we welcome Claude Rochette, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Corporate Services; Patrick Finn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel Group, who is sometimes here in uniform but not today; Major-General John Madower, Chief of Program; and Jaime Pitfield, Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment.
I understand that each department has, as usual, some brief introductory remarks. We have our estimates in front of us to go into detail if we wish, and you have the right people here to go into that detail. I would propose that we start with ESDC and then move to National Defence. Then we'll proceed with question and answer.
Alain P. Sguin, Chief Financial Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada: Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I am pleased to appear before you in my capacity as the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Employment and Social Development.
The department I represent assists Canadians at crucial stages in their lives, whether they are still in school or raising a family, looking for a job or retiring from the workforce. Our department is responsible for delivering high-quality services that are timely and accessible, through Service Canada.
We also have the mandate to maintain strong, productive, healthy and competitive workplaces within the federal jurisdiction through the Labour Program. Allow me to offer the committee an overview of Employment and Social Development Canada's portion of the 2015-16 Main Estimates tabled on February 24, 2015.
The 2015-16 Main Estimates for ESDC amount to $54.3 billion. Of this, $51.6 billion, or more than 95 per cent, will directly benefit Canadians through statutory transfer payment programs such as the Old Age Security program, the Universal Child Care Benefit, Canada Student Loans and Grants, the Canada Education Savings Program, the Canada Disability Savings Program, and the Wage Earner Protection Program.
Statutory items are included in the estimates for information only, as Parliament has already approved the purpose of the expenditures, and the terms and conditions under which they may be made, through other legislation.
You will note that the forecasted spending of the Old Age Security Program increases year after year, resulting from the aging population and the planned increase in the average monthly benefit amount. It is estimated that, between 2010 and 2017, there will be an increase of more than one million beneficiaries for both the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Program.
In addition to statutory items, the 2015-16 Main Estimates includes voted appropriations, which consist of two votes for ESDC: Vote 1, the operating expenditures, and vote 5, grants and contributions.
Through grants and contributions, the department provides funding to other administrations and organizations in the volunteer sector and the private sector in order to support projects that meet the needs of Canadians in the workforce and in social development.
You will also note that Employment Insurance benefits and Canada Pension Plan benefits are excluded from the department's Main Estimates. The Employment Insurance Operating Account and the Canada Pension Plan Account are two specified purpose accounts. The Employment Insurance Operating Account is included in the consolidated data of the Government of Canada. The Canada Pension Plan is not incorporated into the government's financial statements since it is under joint control of the federal government and the participating provinces and territories. EI and CPP benefits are reflected in the department's Report on Plans and Priorities, the RPP, which was tabled on March 31, 2015.
Claude Rochette, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Corporate Services, National Defence: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and senators, for the invitation to present the Department of National Defence's Main Estimates for the fiscal year 2015-16.
Of this, as highlighted in the estimates documents, the increase is primarily due to a $500 million increase in funding for the sustainment and operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces in support of the ongoing implementation of the Canada First Defence Strategy; a $354 million increase associated with the annual escalator on defence spending, as announced in Budget 2008, which provides long-term and predictable funding; and finally, a $61 million increase related to the ongoing efforts for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.
These increases are partially offset by decreased capital funding for major capital equipment and infrastructure projects in the amount of $709.2 million, with the largest decreases being related to the family of land combat vehicles and the medium-heavy lift helicopter projects. This decrease will better align financial resources with current project acquisition timelines. This means funding is being pushed forward into future years to pay for deliverables when they will be received.
Turning to operations, Mr. Chair, the Canadian Armed Forces are involved in international coalition efforts overseas to address sources of instability and threats to international security. More specifically, in Iraq, Canada is contributing to the coalition fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. As you know, the House of Commons has approved the government's plan for the department and the Canadian Armed Forces to extend this mission by 12 months and expand its scope to include air strike targets located in Syria.
It is important to note that these estimates before you do not include incremental funding for this operation. But, as expenditures occur, the department will seek further funds via the supplementary estimates process later this year.
Mr. Chair, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces continue to maintain strong fiscal responsibility and careful stewardship of resources in respect of the fiscal environment in which we are operating.
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. Rochette. Before I go to honourable senators on my list, you mentioned the increase associated with the annual escalator. Can you refresh our memories? What is the percentage annual escalator that was approved in the 2008 budget and continues each year?
Senator Bellemare: My questions are for Mr. Sguin from Employment and Social Development Canada. We see that $2.4 billion is set aside for the learning program in 2015-16. We can be happy about that because it is a good way to provide training tailored to labour market needs.
Mr. Sguin: I do not have a breakdown by province, but we can certainly get that for you. The amount includes student loans, contributions, student grants, and so on. All that is included in the program. So we could provide you with more details.
Senator Bellemare: What proportion is set aside for learning in a company setting as opposed to institutional learning? I know that apprentices receive grants, but what about institutional training?
Senator Bellemare: It is a funding agreement that has to do with public funds and not employment insurance. That is why the amount appears here, while all other labour market agreements funded through employment insurance do not appear here, the ones in the $2-billion envelope.
The Chair: Bill C-51 hasn't been passed yet, but that question was in anticipation. I anticipate that you will, sometime along the way, determine likely impact costs of the new provisions in that particular piece of legislation. Perhaps if you do go through that exercise, it could be helpful to the committee if you could provide us with a copy of any analysis done.
Senator Chaput: Why is that happening? Some groups are saying that, at the beginning of the fiscal year, when new forms are ready, and they have access to them and complete their request, it is practically too late. They do not receive the funding they should because they cannot submit their request at the beginning of the fiscal year. Is that right?
Paul Thompson, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada: I can add a few details. The program was restructured, the core funding for those organizations was cut, and focus was placed on workplace projects. That was the restructuring. We just launched a call for concepts, and we are expecting a good response.
Senator Chaput: Would it be possible to get the details regarding the literacy groups in general and those who deal with francophones? Because their funding is often provided through the roadmap. I would like to have the list of groups who asked for funding, and of those who received some.
Senator L. Smith: A question for DND: Mr. Finn and General, I guess a year ago, in a similar meeting going over plans, you were kind enough to share some of the strategic plans of DND with respect to capital, shipbuilding and weapons. I just wondered: Where are you with your program in terms of your capital expenditure program? Could you give us an update? Is there any influence that these programs will have, either in reductions or cost escalations, within the budget?
Patrick Finn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel Group, National Defence: Senator, thank you very much for the question. I'll start perhaps by giving you a little bit of a recap on the program, perhaps in the broader sense of the impact on the budget. I'll turn to my colleague and ask him to give you the overall impact.
We continue to move out, again based on the policy document, the Canada First Defence Strategy, which remains in place, which explains the roles and missions of the Canadian Armed Forces, and we continue to look to recapitalize the military accordingly.
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