Mr. Chair, it is a pleasure to rise to lend my voice to the debate on the 2025-2026 main estimates.

Indeed, the ability to exercise spending oversight is one of the most important responsibilities we have as members of Parliament. The principle of accountability requires that parliamentarians know and approve how public funds are spent so they can hold the government accountable for its actions.

It is a principle that the government and I, as a member of Parliament, take very seriously. That is why the government continues to make every effort necessary to ensure that parliamentarians and Canadians have timely access to accurate and understandable information about government spending.

As members know, the main estimates serve as the mechanism to seek Parliament's approval of government expenditures. The document has two parts. Part I is the government expenditure plan, which provides a summary of and highlights year-over-year changes in departmental spending and transfer payments. This helps provide perspective on the major issues influencing the government's planned spending.

Part II is the main estimates, which many members of Parliament refer to as the blue book. It directly supports the appropriation acts for the main estimates. Part II also provides a list of resources individual departments and agencies require for the upcoming fiscal year so they can deliver their programs and services to Canadians. It is forward-looking in that it identifies proposed spending that will be included in a future appropriation bill that Parliament will be asked to approve. Once approved, these funds will allow federal departments and agencies to continue delivering the critical programs and services Canadians rely on.

I would like to take a few moments to talk about what is in the main estimates for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, but first, for those new to the chamber, I will provide a quick overview. The Treasury Board Secretariat, or TBS, is a central agency that supports the Treasury Board. It helps departments put government policies into action and ensures public funds are used wisely and effectively. TBS sets the direction for how departments manage people, money, technology and even their environmental footprint through its administrative leadership role. Some of its responsibilities in this area include providing guidance on financial management, advancing the government's digital transformation and making government operations greener and more climate resilient. For this work, TBS is requesting $140 million, which includes a $12.8-million increase in funding for the low-carbon fuel procurement program, $3.7 million for the renewal of the office of public service accessibility and a $3.2-million increase in funding to strengthen cybersecurity.

Next, TBS plays a big role as the employer for the core public administration for which these estimates propose $4.1 billion primarily for public service insurance plans. It handles compensation, labour relations and workplace policies, everything from negotiating collective agreements to promoting diversity and inclusion. TBS is also responsible for spending oversight, making sure government programs are efficient, effective and aligned with our priorities. It reviews departmental spending proposals and advises Treasury Board ministers on funding decisions. Some of the proposed spending in support of oversight responsibility include $3.75 billion for the operating and capital budget carry forward, $1 billion for government contingencies to address urgent and unforeseen pressures such as natural disasters, and $600 million to reimburse departments for certain paylist expenditures, including maternity and parental leave.

Finally, TBS oversees regulatory policy. It works to modernize regulations, reduce unnecessary red tape and ensure that the rules protect Canadians' health, safety and the environment, while also supporting innovation and co-operation with other jurisdictions. For this work, the department is requesting $10.5 million. Altogether, TBS is seeking $9.8 billion in these main estimates. With this funding, the secretariat can continue to support a modern, responsive and accountable government, one that delivers real results for Canadians and makes smart use of every tax dollar.

Let me now turn to the overall 2025-26 main estimates. These main estimates present information on $222.9 billion in voted expenditures, meaning spending to be approved by Parliament, and $264 billion in statutory spending already authorized through existing legislation. This adds up to a total of $489.9 billion in planned budgetary spending for 130 organizations.

Transfer payments to other levels of government, other organizations and individuals account for $294.8 billion in these estimates. For their part, operating and capital expenditures total $143.1 billion. The remaining $49.1 billion in the estimates would be used to pay down interest and administrative costs on the public debt.

Before I conclude, I would be remiss if I did not also address the Governor General's special warrants that were issued to fund government operations during this year's general election, the fundamental element of our democracy. The total amount of the two special warrants issued in this period is $73.4 billion. The first was for $40.3 billion and provided supply for the period from April 1 to May 15. The second total is $33.1 billion, which provides additional supply for the period from May 16 to June 29. The spending authorized through these special warrants is included in the main estimates total, and the amounts shown for each organization take this spending into account.

To support transparency, details on the special warrant issued during the period of time that Parliament was dissolved for the purpose of the 2025 general election are available through the Canada Gazette and the orders in council online database. A summary report on special warrants is also tabled in Parliament and posted on Canada.ca within 15 days of the return of Parliament.

Ensuring information is readily accessible allows Canadians and parliamentarians to explore the main estimates and other government financial reports to see how public money is spent. These main estimates demonstrate how the government plans to invest public resources to meet the serious challenges and opportunities that are before us and address the priorities that matter most to Canadians.

The government is committed to ensuring that Canadians can continue to rely on the critical services they need. When appropriation act No. 1, 2025-2026 is introduced, I urge all members to pass the bill without delay.

Through you, Mr. Chair, I first want to congratulate my colleague on his re-election and his appointment as the President of the Treasury Board. I would like to thank him for appearing before the committee of the whole this evening to discuss the main estimates for 2025 and 2026. I know Canadians do not often see the behind-the-scenes coordination required to ensure that departments are properly resourced to deliver the programs and services they rely on every day, and I think it is important to recognize the central role the Treasury Board plays in that process.

As we all know, the main estimates provide Parliament with a detailed snapshot of how government plans to allocate public funds in the coming fiscal year, reflecting key policy priorities and commitments. With that in mind, recognizing that we are still early in the fiscal year, I would like to ask the President of the Treasury Board if he could please walk us through some of the high-level themes or priorities that Canadians should take away from the 2025-2026 main estimates.

In particular, are there any shifts in spending or areas of focus that he would highlight as especially significant with respect to supporting government commitments, responding to economic pressures or advancing service delivery improvements for Canadians?

Sima Acan