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- Fiscal Monitor 2001 -
The Fiscal Monitor
Highlights of financial results for June 2001
Highlights
June 2001: budgetary surplus of
$2.5 billion
There was a budgetary surplus of $2.5 billion in June 2001, up slightly from the surplus of $2.3 billion in June 2000. This year-over-year increase was attributable to somewhat higher budgetary revenues, as total expenditures were virtually unchanged.
April 2001 to June 2001: budgetary surplus of $9.9 billion
The budgetary surplus was estimated at $9.9 billion for the April 2001 to June 2001 period, compared to the surplus of $8.7 billion reported in the same period of 2000-01. The increase in the year-over-year surplus was largely attributable to higher personal income tax settlement payments with respect to the 2000 taxation year. These payments related to extraordinary developments, primarily the strong increase in capital gains for the 2000 taxation year.
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June 2001: budgetary results
Budgetary revenues increased $0.2 billion, or 1.1 per cent, in June 2001 on a year-over-year basis. Among the major components, only personal income tax revenues were lower.
- Personal income tax revenues declined by $0.5 billion, or 7.4
per cent, primarily reflecting lower deductions from employment income,
largely attributable to the impact of the tax reduction measures announced
in the February 2000 budget and the October 2000 Economic Statement and
Budget Update, which came into effect on July 1, 2000, and
January 1, 2001. Lower refunds, reflecting timing factors, served to
dampen the overall decline.
- Corporate income tax revenues were up $0.2 billion, or 8.0 per
cent. As noted in previous Fiscal Monitors, the current year-over-year
increase primarily reflects the tax instalment procedures, as operating
profits of Canadian corporations declined in the first quarter of 2001.
Corporations are required to remit monthly instalments based on either
their previous year’s actual tax liability or their current year’s
projected tax liability, with final settlement payments made within 60
days of the end of their taxation year. Throughout most of 2000-01,
monthly tax instalments were based on the tax liability for 1999. However,
corporate profits grew strongly in 2000, with the result that the monthly
instalment payments understated the final tax liability for 2000-01. With
monthly instalments now based on the tax liability for 2000, the
year-over-year change in the monthly results could be misleading.
- Employment insurance (EI) premium revenues were virtually
unchanged, as the decline in premium rates (the employee rate for 2001 is
$2.25 per $100 of insurable earnings compared to $2.40 in 2000) offset the
impact of the growth in the number of people employed
and therefore paying premiums.
- Excise taxes and duties were up $0.4 billion, or 14.7 per
cent. This increase reflected strong advances in both goods and
service tax revenues and customs import duties, in part attributable to
the timing of payments and refunds.
- Non-tax revenues were up strongly, primarily reflecting the timing
of receipts.
Table 1 Summary statement of transactions
|
|
June |
April to June |
|
2000 |
2001 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
|
Budgetary transactions |
($ millions) |
Revenues |
14,860 |
15,029 |
45,229 |
47,631 |
Program spending |
-9,113 |
-9,446 |
-26,276 |
-27,816 |
Operating surplus |
5,747 |
5,583 |
18,953 |
19,815 |
Public debt charges |
-3,450 |
-3,111 |
-10,205 |
-9,904 |
Budgetary balance (deficit/surplus) |
2,297 |
2,472 |
8,748 |
9,911 |
Non-budgetary transactions |
-7,253 |
-7,567 |
-9,802 |
-10,704 |
Financial requirements/source
(excluding foreign exchange transactions) |
-4,956 |
-5,095 |
-1,054 |
-793 |
Foreign exchange transactions |
555 |
449 |
2,168 |
312 |
Net financial balance |
-4,401 |
-4,646 |
1,114 |
-481 |
Net change in borrowings |
353 |
-8,170 |
-5,286 |
-8,983 |
Net change in cash balances |
-4,048 |
-12,816 |
-4,172 |
-9,464 |
Cash balance at end of period |
|
|
8,789 |
3,708 |
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Note: Positive numbers indicate a net
source of funds. Negative numbers indicate a net requirement for
funds. |
On a year-over-year basis, program spending increased by $0.3 billion, or 3.7 per cent, reflecting strong increases in transfers to persons and other levels of government, dampened by lower direct program spending. Among the major components:
- Major transfers to persons were up $0.2 billion, or 8.4 per cent,
reflecting both higher elderly and EI benefit payments. The increase in EI benefit
payments primarily reflects the impact of policy enhancements announced in
the February 2000 budget and last September.
- Major transfers to other levels of government were up $0.4 billion,
or 20.4 per cent, reflecting higher cash transfers under the Canada
Health and Social Transfer (CHST) and fiscal transfer programs. The
increase in the CHST reflected the September 2000 agreement reached
by first ministers to increase base funding from $13.5 billion
in 2000-01 to $17.3 billion in 2001-02. The increase in
fiscal transfers is attributable to higher equalization entitlements.
- Direct program spending, consisting of total program spending
less major transfers to persons and other levels of government,
declined by $0.3 billion, or 6.4 per cent. Subsidies and other transfers,
payments to Crown corporations and non-defence departmental operating
and capital expenditures were lower. The monthly fluctuations in
these components are due in large part to the timing of payments.
Public debt charges, on a year-over year basis, were down $0.3 billion, or 9.8 per cent, largely reflecting adjustments to previous months’ estimates.
April 2001 to June 2001: budgetary results
Over the first three months of fiscal year 2001-02, the budgetary surplus was estimated at $9.9 billion, up $1.2 billion from the surplus reported in the same period of 2000-01. This increase in the surplus primarily reflects higher personal income tax settlement payments with respect to the 2000 taxation year.
Table 2 Budgetary revenues
|
|
June |
April to June |
|
2000 |
2001 |
Change |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
Change |
|
|
($ millions) |
(%) |
($ millions) |
(%) |
Income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal income tax |
7,215 |
6,682 |
-7.4 |
21,842 |
22,860 |
4.7 |
Corporate income tax |
2,141 |
2,312 |
8.0 |
6,180 |
6,832 |
10.6 |
Other income tax revenue |
218 |
243 |
11.5 |
811 |
913 |
12.6 |
Total income tax |
9,574 |
9,237 |
-3.5 |
28,833 |
30,605 |
6.1 |
Employment insurance premium revenues |
1,750 |
1,748 |
-0.1 |
5,309 |
5,327 |
0.3 |
Excise taxes and duties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goods and services tax |
1,898 |
2,196 |
15.7 |
6,495 |
6,804 |
4.8 |
Customs import duties |
165 |
278 |
68.5 |
455 |
673 |
47.9 |
Sales and excise taxes |
786 |
794 |
1.0 |
2,079 |
2,174 |
4.6 |
Total excise taxes and duties |
2,849 |
3,268 |
14.7 |
9,029 |
9,651 |
6.9 |
Total tax revenues |
14,173 |
14,253 |
0.6 |
43,171 |
45,583 |
5.6 |
Non-tax revenues |
687 |
776 |
13.0 |
2,058 |
2,048 |
-0.5 |
Total budgetary revenues |
14,860 |
15,029 |
1.1 |
45,229 |
47,631 |
5.3 |
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Budgetary revenues were up $2.4 billion, or 5.3 per cent, on a year-over-year basis. Among the major components:
- Personal income tax collections were up $1.0 billion, or 4.7
per cent. All of this increase was attributable to final tax payments
received in April and May with respect to the 2000 taxation year,
reflecting extraordinary developments in taxation year 2000, primarily
strong increases in capital gains. Dampening the impact of these
settlement payments was the impact of the tax reduction measures announced
in the February 2000 budget and the October 2000 Economic
Statement and Budget Update. These included the reduction in
personal income tax rates, the elimination of the 5-per-cent surtax,
increases in the thresholds, the restoration of full indexation of the
personal income tax system and related benefits, and increases in the
Canada Child Tax Benefit.
- Corporate income tax revenues were up $0.7 billion, or 10.6
per cent. This is considerably stronger than the reported increase in
corporate profits so far this year, which suggests that the current
experience reflects the effects of the remittance procedures and
should be revised once corporations adjust their remittances to reflect
weaker profits in 2001.
- EI premium revenues were up marginally, as the decline in
premium rates for 2000 and 2001 virtually offset the impact of prior-year
adjustments and the growth in the number of people employed and
therefore paying premiums. The employee rate for 2001 is $2.25 per
$100 of insurable earnings, compared to $2.40 in 2000 and $2.55 in 1999.
- Excise taxes and duties increased by $0.6 billion, or 6.9 per
cent, in line with the underlying increase in consumer expenditures.
- Non-tax revenues were down slightly.
Table 3 Budgetary expenditures
|
|
June |
|
April
to June |
|
|
2000 |
2001 |
Change |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
Change |
|
|
($ millions) |
(%) |
($ millions) |
(%) |
Transfer payments to: |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
Persons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elderly benefits |
1,967 |
2,050 |
4.2 |
5,936 |
6,204 |
4.5 |
Employment insurance benefits |
757 |
903 |
19.3 |
2,702 |
2,891 |
7.0 |
Total |
2,724 |
2,953 |
8.4 |
8,638 |
9,095 |
5.3 |
Other levels of government |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada Health and
Social Transfer |
1,125 |
1,442 |
28.2 |
3,375 |
4,325 |
28.1 |
Fiscal transfers |
991 |
1,057 |
6.7 |
2,886 |
3,099 |
7.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Payments for
Standing Programs |
-206 |
-200 |
-2.9 |
-617 |
-600 |
-2.8 |
Total |
1,910 |
2,299 |
20.4 |
5,644 |
6,824 |
20.9 |
Direct program spending |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidies and other transfers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agriculture |
5 |
152 |
|
27 |
381 |
|
Foreign Affairs |
99 |
141 |
42.4 |
243 |
325 |
33.7 |
Health |
66 |
75 |
13.6 |
254 |
273 |
7.5 |
Human Resources Development |
228 |
86 |
-62.3 |
296 |
239 |
-19.3 |
Indian and Northern
Development |
323 |
255 |
-21.1 |
1,481 |
1,171 |
-20.9 |
Industry and Regional
Development |
131 |
174 |
32.8 |
283 |
326 |
15.2 |
Veterans Affairs |
118 |
123 |
4.2 |
355 |
366 |
3.1 |
Other |
474 |
162 |
-65.8 |
812 |
542 |
-33.3 |
Total |
1,444 |
1,168 |
-19.1 |
3,751 |
3,623 |
-3.4 |
Payments to
Crown corporations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation |
70 |
80 |
14.3 |
285 |
320 |
12.3 |
Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation |
170 |
158 |
-7.1 |
470 |
474 |
0.9 |
Other |
144 |
96 |
-33.3 |
349 |
389 |
11.5 |
Total |
384 |
334 |
-13.0 |
1,104 |
1,183 |
7.2 |
Operating and capital
expenditures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defence |
874 |
1,109 |
26.9 |
2,032 |
2,318 |
14.1 |
All other departmental
expenditures |
1,777 |
1,583 |
-10.9 |
5,107 |
4,773 |
-6.5 |
Total |
2,651 |
2,692 |
1.5 |
7,139 |
7,091 |
-0.7 |
Total direct program spending |
4,479 |
4,194 |
-6.4 |
11,994 |
11,897 |
-0.8 |
Total program expenditures |
9,113 |
9,446 |
3.7 |
26,276 |
27,816 |
5.9 |
Public debt charges |
3,450 |
3,111 |
-9.8 |
10,205 |
9,904 |
-2.9 |
Total budgetary expenditures |
12,563 |
12,557 |
0.0 |
36,481 |
37,720 |
3.4 |
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Memorandum item: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total transfers |
6,078 |
6,420 |
5.6 |
18,033 |
19,542 |
8.4 |
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Program spending increased by $1.5 billion, or 5.9 per cent, in the April 2001 to June 2001 period, compared to the same period last year.
- Transfers to persons were up 5.3 per cent, attributable to higher
elderly and EI benefit payments. The increase in elderly benefit payments
reflects an increase in the number of individuals eligible for
benefits and higher average benefits, which are indexed to inflation. The
increase in EI benefit payments primarily reflects the impact of the
program enhancements.
- Major transfers to other levels of government were up 20.9 per
cent, reflecting higher cash transfers under the CHST and fiscal transfer
programs. The increase in the CHST reflected the September 2000
agreement reached by first ministers to increase base funding from
$13.5 billion in 2000-01 to $17.3 billion in 2001-02. The increase in
fiscal transfers was primarily due to higher equalization
entitlements, reflecting the continued stronger growth in Ontario than in
the equalization-receiving provinces.
- Direct program spending, consisting of total program spending less
the major transfers to persons and other levels of government,
declined by 0.8 per cent. During the first few months of the fiscal year,
developments in this component are largely affected by the timing
of payments.
Public debt charges were down 2.9 per cent, reflecting the impact of declines in both the stock of interest-bearing debt and in the average effective interest rate on that debt.
Financial requirement of $0.8 billion (excluding foreign exchange
transactions) for April 2001 to June 2001
The budgetary balance is presented on a modified accrual basis of accounting, recording government liabilities when they are incurred, regardless of when the cash payment is made. In addition, the budgetary balance includes only those activities over which the Government has legislative control.
In contrast, financial requirements/source measures the difference between cash coming in to the Government and cash going out. Financial requirements/source differs from the budgetary balance as the former includes transactions in loans, investments and advances, federal employees’ pension accounts, other specified purpose accounts, and changes in other financial assets and liabilities. These activities are included as part of non-budgetary transactions. The conversion from accrual to cash is also reflected in non-budgetary transactions.
Non-budgetary transactions resulted in a net requirement of $10.7 billion in the first three months of 2001-02, compared to a net requirement of $9.8 billion in the same period in 2000-01. Traditionally, there are large requirements in the first half of any fiscal year, reflecting the payment of personal income tax refunds and certain liabilities, which were recognized in previous years’ budgetary results.
As a result, with a budgetary surplus of $9.9 billion and a net requirement of $10.7 billion from non-budgetary transactions, there was a financial requirement (excluding foreign exchange transactions) of $0.8 billion in the April 2001 to June 2001 period, compared to a net requirement of $1.1 billion in the same period last year.
Net financial requirement of $0.5 billion for April 2001 to June
2001
Foreign exchange transactions represent all transactions in international reserves held in the Exchange Fund Account. The purpose of the Exchange Fund Account is to promote order and stability in the foreign exchange market. The buying of Canadian dollars represents a source of funds from exchange fund transactions, while the selling of Canadian dollars represents a requirement. Changes in foreign currency liabilities, which are undertaken to change the level of Canada’s foreign exchange reserves, also impact on foreign exchange transactions. Taking all of these factors into account, there was a net source of $0.3 billion in the first three months of 2001-02, compared to a net source of $2.2 billion in the same period in 2000-01.
Table 4 The budgetary balance and financial requirements/source
|
|
June |
April
to June |
|
2000 |
2001 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
|
($ millions) |
Budgetary balance (deficit/surplus) |
2,297 |
2,472 |
8,748 |
9,911 |
Loans, investments and advances |
|
|
|
|
Crown corporations |
188 |
52 |
196 |
232 |
Other |
18 |
92 |
113 |
34 |
Total |
206 |
144 |
309 |
266 |
Specified purpose accounts |
|
|
|
|
Canada Pension Plan Account |
150 |
-670 |
-26 |
-443 |
Superannuation accounts |
97 |
-302 |
640 |
-496 |
Other |
-134 |
-75 |
-227 |
-22 |
Total |
113 |
-1,047 |
387 |
-961 |
Other transactions |
-7,572 |
-6,664 |
-10,498 |
-10,009 |
Total non-budgetary transactions |
-7,253 |
-7,567 |
-9,802 |
-10,704 |
Financial requirements/source |
|
|
|
|
(excluding foreign exchange transactions) |
-4,956 |
-5,095 |
-1,054 |
-793 |
Foreign exchange transactions |
555 |
449 |
2,168 |
312 |
Net financial balance |
-4,401 |
-4,646 |
1,114 |
-481 |
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Table 5 Net financial balance and net borrowings
|
|
June |
April
to June |
|
2000 |
2001 |
2000-01 |
2001-02 |
|
($ millions) |
Net financial balance |
-4,401 |
-4,646 |
1,114 |
-481 |
Net increase (+)/decrease (-) in borrowings |
|
|
|
|
Payable in Canadian dollars |
|
|
|
|
Marketable bonds |
3,963 |
-3,187 |
9,226 |
-2,041 |
Canada Savings Bonds |
-256 |
-86 |
-403 |
-166 |
Treasury bills |
-3,600 |
-3,600 |
-12,500 |
-4,600 |
Other |
500 |
-4 |
700 |
-4 |
Total |
607 |
-6,877 |
-2,977 |
-6,811 |
Payable in foreign currencies |
|
|
|
|
Marketable bonds |
|
|
-2,174 |
-1,576 |
Notes and loans |
|
-41 |
|
-41 |
Canada bills |
-254 |
1,252 |
-85 |
-382 |
Canada notes |
|
|
|
-173 |
Total |
-254 |
1,211 |
-2,259 |
-2,172 |
Net change in borrowings |
353 |
-5,666 |
-5,236 |
-8,983 |
Change in cash balance |
-4,048 |
-10,312 |
-4,122 |
-9,464 |
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With a budgetary surplus of $9.9 billion, a net requirement of $10.7 billion from non-budgetary transactions and a net source of $0.3 billion from foreign exchange transactions, there was a net financial requirement of $0.5 billion in the April 2001 to June 2001 period, compared to a net source of $1.1 billion in the same period in 2000-01.
Table 6 Condensed statement of assets and liabilities
|
|
March 31, 2001 |
June 30, 2001 |
Change |
|
|
($ millions) |
Liabilities |
|
|
|
Accounts payable,
accruals and allowances |
43,511 |
33,502 |
-10,009 |
Interest-bearing debt |
|
|
|
Pension and other accounts |
|
|
|
Public sector pensions |
129,692 |
129,196 |
-496 |
Canada Pension Plan
(net of
securities) |
6,409 |
5,966 |
-443 |
Other pension and other
accounts |
7,080 |
7,058 |
-22 |
Total pension and other
accounts |
143,181 |
142,220 |
-961 |
Unmatured debt |
|
|
|
Payable in Canadian dollars |
|
|
|
Marketable bonds |
294,627 |
292,586 |
-2,041 |
Treasury bills |
88,700 |
84,100 |
-4,600 |
Canada Savings
Bonds |
25,753 |
25,587 |
-166 |
Other |
3,473 |
3,469 |
-4 |
Subtotal |
412,553 |
405,742 |
-6,811 |
Payable in foreign currencies |
33,171 |
30,999 |
-2,172 |
Total unmatured debt |
445,724 |
436,741 |
-8,983 |
Total interest-bearing debt |
588,905 |
578,961 |
-9,944 |
Total liabilities |
632,416 |
612,463 |
-19,953 |
Assets |
|
|
|
Cash and accounts receivable |
18,612 |
9,148 |
-9,464 |
Foreign exchange accounts |
50,010 |
49,698 |
-312 |
Loans, investments and
advances (net of allowances) |
14,268 |
14,002 |
-266 |
Total assets |
82,890 |
72,848 |
-10,042 |
|
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit (net public debt) |
549,526 |
539,615 |
-9,911 |
|
Note: Assumes fiscal balance of $15 billion for 2000-01. |
Net borrowings down $9 billion for April 2001 to June 2001
Although there was a net financial requirement in the first three months of 2001-02, the Government did reduce its holding of market debt by $9 billion through the drawing down of cash balances. The level of cash balances varies from month to month based on a number of factors including periodic large debt maturities, which can be quite volatile on a monthly basis. At the end of June 2001, they stood at $3.7 billion, down $9.5 billion from March 31, 2001.
Note to Readers:
The Government’s financial statements are presented on a modified accrual basis of accounting. This means that while most operating expenditures and non-tax revenues are recorded in the financial statements when they are incurred or earned (even if cash is not paid out or received until later), tax revenues are accounted for when cash is received and the entire amount of capital acquisitions, such as buildings, are treated as expenditures when acquired. In the February 1995 budget, the Government announced its intention to adopt full accrual accounting. To this end, it has successfully introduced the Financial Information Strategy (FIS), a multi-year project which modernized financial systems and accounting practices. FIS consists of three components: the implementation of new financial systems, the adoption of full accrual accounting, and the provision of improved financial information to managers. In the 2000 budget, the Government set a target date of 2001-02 for implementation of the first two components of FIS.
For the time being, the monthly results for 2001-02 will continue to be presented on a modified accrual basis of accounting. However, the final audited financial statements for 2001-02, scheduled for release in the fall of 2002, will be presented on a full accrual basis of accounting. Previous years’ results will also be restated on a full accrual basis. For more information, see the backgrounder Implementation of Full Accrual Accounting in the Federal Government’s Financial Statements at www.fin.gc.ca.
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