Bill C-24 Appropriation 1 2026/27

Read Full Bill Text Here

C-24 An Act for Granting to His Majesty Certain Sums of Money for the Federal Public Administration for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2027

Short title: Appropriation Act No. 1, 2026-27

Bill Type: House Government

Bill Sponsor: President of the Treasury Board

What Government Says This Bill Does

"This enactment grants the sum of $86,422,679,148 towards defraying charges and expenses of the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027 that are not otherwise provided for." — Official Summary, Bill C-24

What This Bill Does

  • Authorizes $86.4 billion in government spending before Parliament has passed a full 2026–27 budget
  • Covers dozens of federal departments and Crown corporations using fractional authority — 3 to 11 twelfths of each department's annual budget
  • Includes two separate $1 billion blank Cabinet reserves — no itemization, no further Parliamentary vote required
  • Creates contingent loan guarantees for Ukraine worth up to US$1 billion and €200 million — authorized for $1 each, no cash outlay yet
  • Allows $1.2 billion (Canada Revenue Agency) to be charged to either 2026–27 or 2027–28 at government's discretion

How This Works

Parliament hasn't approved the 2026–27 budget yet. Government is spending $86.4 billion of it anyway — in advance — using fractional authority. Parliament will vote on the full amount later.

Each department receives a fraction of its annual budget to keep operating in the meantime — anywhere from 3 to 11 twelfths depending on how urgently the money is needed.

The exception: two $1 billion blank Cabinet reserves. Those aren't fractional. They're full amounts — authorized now, no itemization required, no further Parliamentary vote. Cabinet decides where they go.

$86.4 billion spent before the budget passes. $2 billion of it with no public breakdown.

The Three Numbers That Matter

$1,000,000,000 — Treasury Board "Government Contingencies" reserve — Cabinet directs it to any department, no itemized breakdown, no further Parliamentary vote

$1,000,000,000 — Treasury Board "Defence and Security Initiatives" reserve — same conditions, second blank reserve

$15,512,573,529 — Department of Indigenous Services grants and contributions (interim portion of $20.68 billion annual)

Two blank $1 billion reserves. Approved in a single vote. Before a budget exists.

WHO GAINS POWER

  • Treasury Board gains two separate $1 billion discretionary reserves — one for general contingencies, one for defence and security — both directable to any department without further Parliamentary approval
  • Cabinet gains authority to allocate $2 billion with no public itemization
  • The Governor in Council retains authority to transfer Indigenous Services capital assets — buildings, land and equipment — to provinces or individual Indians at the Minister's discretion

WHO LOSES POWER

  • Parliament — approving $86.4 billion in interim spending before a full budget exists, including $2 billion in blank reserves with no itemization
  • Canadians — Parliament authorized up to US$1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine running to 2051, with terms set by Cabinet, not Parliament. If the loans fail, the liability falls on the public treasury with no further vote required
  • Canadians — no line-item transparency on either $1 billion reserve until Public Accounts are tabled

WHO GAINS MONEY

  • Department of Indigenous Services (grants/contributions): $15,512,573,529 interim
  • Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations (grants/contributions): $5,158,881,824 interim
  • Department of Employment and Social Development (grants/contributions): $6,256,537,009 interim
  • Department of Health (grants/contributions): $2,966,172,064 interim
  • Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities: $3,141,419,591 interim
  • Department of Veterans Affairs: $3,383,686,444 interim combined
  • RCMP (operating + disability/health): $1,676,259,802 interim
  • Treasury Board (contingencies + defence reserve): $1,833,333,334 interim
  • Canada Revenue Agency: $1,211,969,622 interim

WHO LOSES MONEY

  • Taxpayers — $86.4 billion authorized before a full budget vote
  • Ukraine-linked exposure: up to US$1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine via the World Bank (2026–27 to 2051–52) and up to €200 million in guarantees for Naftogaz loans (2026–27 to 2030–31) — authorized for $1 each, no cash outlay yet but contingent liability on the public books

THE CATCH

  • This is an interim appropriation — government is spending before Parliament approves a full budget, using fractional authority (3 to 11 twelfths depending on department urgency)
  • Two blank $1 billion reserves exist simultaneously — one for anything "miscellaneous, urgent or unforeseen," one for defence and security — both with Cabinet discretion and no itemization
  • The Ukraine loan guarantees are authorized for $1 each — they don't cost anything now but create contingent liabilities worth billions that don't appear as spending
  • Schedule 2 items can be charged to either 2026–27 or 2027–28 — same fiscal flexibility as C-23

Source: Bill C-24 — Appropriation Act No. 1, 2026–27 Royal Assent: March 26, 2026