Consolidated financial statements
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- Section 2: Table of contents: Section 2: Consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada and report of the Auditor General of Canada
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (Note 3d) |
Actual | Actual | |
| Revenues (Note 4, Note 5 and Note 24) | |||
| Tax revenues | |||
| Income tax revenues | |||
| Personal | 232,609 | 234,319 | 217,696 |
| Corporate | 90,749 | 96,954 | 82,468 |
| Non-resident | 13,052 | 13,528 | 12,541 |
| Total income tax revenues | 336,410 | 344,801 | 312,705 |
| Other taxes and duties | 75,774 | 71,904 | 69,415 |
| Total tax revenues | 412,184 | 416,705 | 382,120 |
| Employment insurance premiums | 30,055 | 31,530 | 29,560 |
| Pollution pricing proceeds | 12,746 | 13,552 | 10,503 |
| Other revenues | |||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | 8,704 | 8,048 | 3,217 |
| Net foreign exchange revenues and return on investments | 3,542 | 6,768 | 4,290 |
| Other program revenues | 30,587 | 34,348 | 29,859 |
| Total other revenues | 42,833 | 49,164 | 37,366 |
| Total revenues | 497,818 | 510,951 | 459,549 |
| Expenses (Note 6 and Note 24) | |||
| Program expenses | |||
| Transfer payments | |||
| Old age security benefits, guaranteed income supplement and spouse's allowance | 80,554 | 80,294 | 76,036 |
| Major transfer payments to other levels of government | 105,492 | 105,101 | 100,173 |
| Employment insurance and support measures | 26,640 | 24,880 | 23,130 |
| Children's benefits | 28,121 | 28,574 | 26,339 |
| COVID-19 income support for workers | – | (negative 2,169) | (negative 4,838) |
| Pollution pricing proceeds returned | 14,901 | 15,595 | 9,858 |
| Other transfer payments | 103,538 | 107,140 | 95,951 |
| Total transfer payments | 359,246 | 359,415 | 326,649 |
| Other expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 121,208 | 130,454 | 140,014 |
| Total program expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 480,454 | 489,869 | 466,663 |
| Public debt charges | 54,130 | 53,410 | 47,273 |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 534,584 | 543,279 | 513,936 |
| Annual operating deficit before net actuarial losses | (negative 36,766) | (negative 32,328) | (negative 54,387) |
| Net actuarial losses (Note 12 and Note 24) | (negative 3,065) | (negative 4,020) | (negative 7,489) |
| Annual operating deficit | (negative 39,831) | (negative 36,348) | (negative 61,876) |
| Accumulated operating deficit at beginning of year | (negative 1,245,494) | (negative 1,245,494) | (negative 1,183,618) |
| Accumulated operating deficit at end of year (Note 7) | (negative 1,285,325) | (negative 1,281,842) | (negative 1,245,494) |
Table 1 notesGeneral notes:
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| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ||
| Amounts payable related to tax | 94,790 | 87,737 |
| Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 8) | 68,392 | 79,894 |
| Provision for contingent liabilities (Note 9) | 54,721 | 56,588 |
| Environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations (Note 10) | 23,905 | 22,643 |
| Deferred revenue (Note 5) | 17,917 | 17,194 |
| Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 259,725 | 264,056 |
| Interest-bearing debt | ||
| Unmatured debt (Note 11) | 1,485,887 | 1,376,822 |
| Pensions and other future benefits (Note 12) | ||
| Public sector pensions | 162,746 | 165,354 |
| Other employee and veteran future benefits | 213,667 | 196,350 |
| Total pensions and other future benefits | 376,413 | 361,704 |
| Other liabilities (Note 14) | 7,031 | 6,963 |
| Total interest-bearing debt | 1,869,331 | 1,745,489 |
| Foreign exchange accounts liabilities (Note 18) | 47,697 | 44,106 |
| Derivatives (Note 13) | 5,583 | 4,131 |
| Total liabilities | 2,182,336 | 2,057,782 |
| Financial assets | ||
| Cash and accounts receivable | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents (Note 15) | 54,109 | 75,059 |
| Taxes receivable (Note 16) | 213,657 | 203,045 |
| Other accounts receivable (Note 17) | 13,628 | 13,999 |
| Total cash and accounts receivable | 281,394 | 292,103 |
| Foreign exchange accounts assets (Note 18) | 201,362 | 180,140 |
| Derivatives (Note 13) | 1,752 | 2,928 |
| Loans, investments and advances | ||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises (Note 19) | 227,356 | 165,344 |
| Other loans, investments and advances (Note 20) | 51,164 | 44,458 |
| Total loans, investments and advances | 278,520 | 209,802 |
| Public sector pension assets (Note 12) | 25,722 | 20,055 |
| Total financial assets | 788,750 | 705,028 |
| Net debt | (negative 1,393,586) | (negative 1,352,754) |
| Non-financial assets | ||
| Tangible capital assets (Note 21) | 115,091 | 104,552 |
| Inventories (Note 21) | 7,933 | 8,214 |
| Prepaid expenses and other | 4,078 | 3,837 |
| Total non-financial assets | 127,102 | 116,603 |
| Accumulated deficit (Note 7) | (negative 1,266,484) | (negative 1,236,151) |
| Accumulated deficit is comprised of: | ||
| Accumulated operating deficit | (negative 1,281,842) | (negative 1,245,494) |
| Accumulated remeasurement gains | 15,358 | 9,343 |
| Total | (negative 1,266,484) | (negative 1,236,151) |
| Contractual obligations and contractual rights (Note 23) | ||
Table 2 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accumulated remeasurement gains—beginning of year | 9,343 | 10,605 |
| Net unrealized gains (losses) attributable to: | ||
| Derivatives | 4,995 | (negative 1,075) |
| Other loans, investments and advances—Portfolio investments | 149 | 40 |
| Total net unrealized gains (losses) | 5,144 | (negative 1,035) |
| Amounts reclassified during the year to the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit: | ||
| Derivatives | – | (negative 8) |
| Other loans, investments and advances—Portfolio investments | (negative 49) | 2 |
| Total amounts reclassified during the year to the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit | (negative 49) | (negative 6) |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) of enterprise Crown corporations | ||
| Net change in unrealized gains on financial instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income | 401 | 146 |
| Net change in fair value of derivatives designated as hedges | (negative 1) | – |
| Actuarial gains (losses) on pensions and other employee future benefits | 520 | (negative 367) |
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) of enterprise Crown corporations | 920 | (negative 221) |
| Net remeasurement gains (losses) for the year | 6,015 | (negative 1,262) |
| Accumulated remeasurement gains—end of year | 15,358 | 9,343 |
Table 3 notesGeneral notes:
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| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Actual | Actual | |
| Net debt at beginning of year | (negative 1,352,754) | (negative 1,352,754) | (negative 1,282,757) |
| Change in net debt during the year | |||
| Annual operating deficit | (negative 39,831) | (negative 36,348) | (negative 61,876) |
| Changes due to tangible capital assets | |||
| Acquisition of tangible capital assets | (negative 13,467) | (negative 16,808) | (negative 13,585) |
| Amortization of tangible capital assets | 8,311 | 6,044 | 5,633 |
| Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets | 26 | 12 | 62 |
| Net loss on disposal and write-offs of tangible capital assets, including adjustments | 108 | 213 | 675 |
| Total change due to tangible capital assets | (negative 5,022) | (negative 10,539) | (negative 7,215) |
| Change due to inventories | 300 | 281 | 1,191 |
| Change due to prepaid expenses and other | 200 | (negative 241) | (negative 835) |
| Increase in net debt excluding remeasurement gains (losses) | (negative 44,353) | (negative 46,847) | (negative 68,735) |
| Net remeasurement gains (losses) for the year | – | 6,015 | (negative 1,262) |
| Net increase in net debt | (negative 44,353) | (negative 40,832) | (negative 69,997) |
| Net debt at end of year | (negative 1,397,107) | (negative 1,393,586) | (negative 1,352,754) |
Table 4 notesGeneral notes:
|
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| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||
| Annual operating deficit | (negative 36,348) | (negative 61,876) |
| Non-cash items | ||
| Share of annual (profit) loss in enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | (negative 3,239) | 660 |
| Effective interest on debt | 14,574 | 15,082 |
| Provision for valuation on other loans, investments and advances | 2,871 | 3,431 |
| Amortization of tangible capital assets | 6,044 | 5,633 |
| Net loss on disposal and write-offs of tangible capital assets, including adjustments | 213 | 675 |
| Net exchange loss (gain) and accrued interest on derivatives | 7,829 | (negative 224) |
| Pension and other future benefit and interest expenses | 30,991 | 32,363 |
| Provision for doubtful accounts | 12,905 | 12,638 |
| Net losses on write-offs and write-down of inventory and prepaid expenses | 1,012 | 1,499 |
| Net exchange gain on foreign exchange accounts and other foreign currency balances | (negative 7,629) | (negative 237) |
| Foreign exchange accounts net gain on investments and non-cash interest | (negative 896) | (negative 1,350) |
| Change in taxes receivable | (negative 18,974) | (negative 30,015) |
| Pension and other future benefit payments | (negative 23,892) | (negative 22,092) |
| Transfer addressing non-permitted surplus (Note 12(b)i) | 1,943 | – |
| Change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (negative 4,194) | 4,242 |
| Net change in cash collateral | (negative 1,596) | (negative 249) |
| Net change in other accounts | (negative 4,572) | (negative 7,130) |
| Cash used by operating activities | (negative 22,958) | (negative 46,950) |
| Capital investment activities | ||
| Acquisition of tangible capital assets | (negative 17,169) | (negative 13,560) |
| Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets | 12 | 62 |
| Cash used by capital investment activities | (negative 17,157) | (negative 13,498) |
| Investing activities | ||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | ||
| Dividends received and other equity adjustments | 839 | 1,515 |
| Purchases of other investments | (negative 28,245) | (negative 7,569) |
| Issuance of loans and advances | (negative 90,585) | (negative 65,098) |
| Repayment of loans and advances | 61,620 | 57,332 |
| Issuance of other loans, investments and advances and foreign exchange accounts loans | (negative 16,634) | (negative 12,971) |
| Repayment of other loans, investments and advances and foreign exchange accounts loans | 7,589 | 26,999 |
| Issuance of advances to the Exchange Fund Account | (negative 39,108) | (negative 41,234) |
| Repayment of advances to the Exchange Fund Account | 30,454 | 30,548 |
| Cash used by investing activities | (negative 74,070) | (negative 10,478) |
| Financing activities | ||
| Issuance of Canadian currency borrowings | 969,450 | 773,261 |
| Repayment of Canadian currency borrowings | (negative 883,059) | (negative 681,572) |
| Issuance of foreign currency borrowings | 26,652 | 24,573 |
| Repayment of foreign currency borrowings | (negative 19,602) | (negative 18,195) |
| Receipt of Canadian currency under swap contracts | 8,813 | 9,808 |
| Payment of Canadian currency under swap contracts | (negative 10,760) | (negative 17,603) |
| Receipt of foreign currency under swap contracts | 10,767 | 17,603 |
| Payment of foreign currency under swap contracts | (negative 9,026) | (negative 10,896) |
| Cash provided by financing activities | 93,235 | 96,979 |
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (negative 20,950) | 26,053 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 75,059 | 49,006 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year (Note 15) | 54,109 | 75,059 |
| Supplementary information | ||
| Cash used for interest | 43,194 | 31,090 |
Table 5 notesGeneral notes:
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Notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada
1. Summary of significant accounting policies
Reporting entity
The reporting entity of the Government of Canada includes all of the government organizations which comprise the legal entity of the government as well as other government organizations, including Crown corporations, which are separate legal entities but are controlled by the government. For financial reporting purposes, control is defined as the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an organization with benefits from the organization’s activities being expected, or the risk of loss being assumed by the government. All organizations defined as departments and as Crown corporations in the Financial Administration Act are included in the reporting entity. The definition of control for financial reporting purposes may be met by other organizations not listed in the Financial Administration Act, these organizations are therefore included in the government’s reporting entity if their revenues, expenses, assets or liabilities are significant.
Some Crown corporations and not-for-profit organizations rely on the government for a portion of their financing. Examples of consolidated Crown corporations that received significant funding from the government include Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Canada Infrastructure Bank, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and VIA Rail Canada Inc. The consolidated not-for-profit organizations that receive significant funding are the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology. The financial activities of all of these entities are consolidated in these financial statements on a line-by-line and uniform basis of accounting after eliminating significant inter-governmental balances and transactions. Detailed information on the consolidated entities is included in Section 4 (unaudited) of this volume.
Enterprise Crown corporations are government business enterprises able to raise substantial portions of their revenues through commercial business activity and are therefore considered self-sustaining. The major enterprise Crown corporations include the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada Post Corporation and Export Development Canada. In addition, there are a number of self-sustaining government business enterprises that are not Crown corporations but which are controlled by the government. These include various Canada Port Authorities. Investments in government business enterprises are recorded under the modified equity method. Detailed information on the enterprise Crown corporations is included in Section 9 (unaudited) of this volume.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which includes the assets of CPP under the administration of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, is excluded from the reporting entity because changes to CPP require the agreement of two thirds of participating provinces and it is therefore not controlled by the government.
Basis of accounting
These consolidated financial statements are prepared using the government’s accounting policies stated below, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian public sector accounting standards.
Foreign currency translation
Transactions involving foreign currencies are translated into Canadian dollar equivalents using rates in effect at the time of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using rates at March 31. The government has elected to recognize gains and losses resulting from foreign currency translation, including those arising prior to settlement or derecognition of the financial instrument, directly in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit for all financial instruments.
Net exchange gains and losses are reported according to the activities to which they relate. Net exchange gains and losses relating to the foreign exchange accounts, foreign debt, swaps, foreign exchange forward agreements revaluations and loans, investments and advances are presented with investment revenues from foreign exchange accounts under net foreign exchange revenues and return on investments. Net exchange gains and losses relating to transfer payments are reported in the transfer payment expenses under other transfer payments. Net exchange gains and losses relating to departmental sale or purchase of goods or services in foreign currency are reported under other expenses. The carrying amounts of financial instruments denominated in a foreign currency are disclosed in the respective financial statement notes.
Fair value measurement
Fair value is the amount of the consideration that would be agreed upon in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties who are under no compulsion to act. For financial reporting purposes, fair value measurements are categorized as Level 1, 2 or 3 based on the degree to which the inputs to the fair value measurements are observable and the significance of the inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
- Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, which represent actual and regularly occurring arm's-length market transactions;
- Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, which are observable for the assets or liabilities either directly (e.g., prices for similar instruments, prices from inactive markets) or indirectly (e.g., interest rates, credit spreads);
- Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities that are not based on observable market data (e.g., market participant assumptions).
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market inputs wherever such inputs exist and in measuring fair value, a financial instrument is classified at the lowest level of the hierarchy for which a significant input has been considered.
Measurement uncertainty
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the government to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes at March 31. The estimates are based on facts and circumstances, historical experience, general economic conditions and reflect management’s best estimate of the related amount at the end of the reporting period. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed annually at March 31. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which estimates are revised if revisions affect only that period or in the period of revision and future periods if revisions affect both current and future periods.
Measurement uncertainty that is material exists when it is reasonably possible that a material variance could occur in the reported or disclosed amount in the near term. Near term is defined as a period of time not to exceed one year from March 31. The government has determined that material measurement uncertainty exists with respect to the reported amounts for:
- the accrual of tax revenues and the related amounts receivable, other accounts receivables, and the allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 4, Note 16 and Note 17)
- non-tax revenues (Note 5)
- expenses (Note 6)
- the provision for contingent liabilities (Note 9)
- environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations (Note 10)
- public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits (Note 12)
- enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises (Note 19)
- other loans, investments and advances (Note 20)
- the expected useful life of tangible capital assets (Note 21)
- inventories (Note 21)
- contractual obligations and contractual rights (Note 23)
It is reasonably possible that the government’s reassessments of these estimates and assumptions could require a material change in reported amounts or disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Refer to the specific note disclosures for more information on measurement uncertainty.
Measurement uncertainties exist at March 31, 2025, in light of continued global uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions. The consolidated financial statements reflect the impacts to the extent known and estimable at the reporting date. The government continues to assess and monitor the effects of these measurement uncertainties on its financial position, including related estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its statements. The full potential impact on the assumptions used for the year is unknown as it will depend on future developments that are uncertain.
In addition, these measurement uncertainties have impacted various estimates, assumptions, and judgments in the consolidated financial statements; the most critical areas are discussed within the specific notes below.
Additional significant accounting policies
To facilitate the understanding of these consolidated financial statements, the significant accounting policies related to the following financial statement line items are detailed in the referenced note.
- tax revenues (Note 4)
- non-tax revenues (Note 5)
- expenses (Note 6)
- other accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 8)
- contingent liabilities (Note 9)
- environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations (Note 10)
- unmatured debt (Note 11)
- public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits (Note 12)
- derivatives (Note 13)
- taxes receivable (Note 16)
- other accounts receivable (Note 17)
- foreign exchange accounts (Note 18)
- enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises (Note 19)
- other loans, investments and advances (Note 20)
- tangible capital assets and inventories (Note 21)
- financial instruments (Note 22)
- contractual obligations and contractual rights (Note 23)
- segmented information (Note 24)
2. Comparative information
Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. In particular, the Government has changed the presentation of the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit to group the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy with other transfer payments. This reflects the continued wind-down of the temporary COVID-19 support measures that have ended.
3. Spending and borrowing authorities
(a) Spending authorities
The authority of Parliament is required before moneys can be spent by the government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes. When Parliament is dissolved for the purposes of general election, section 30 of the Financial Administration Act authorizes the Governor General, under certain conditions, to issue a special warrant authorizing the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. During fiscal year 2025, there were no requirements to issue special warrants to support expenditures. The government uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare its Budget and present its current consolidated financial statements. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament are on an expenditure basis, which uses only a partial accrual method of accounting. During the year, expenditures were made under the authorities indicated in the following table:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual spending limits voted by Parliament | 225,107 | 249,276 |
| Expenditures permitted under other legislation | 271,115 | 259,825 |
| Total budgetary expenditures authorized | 496,222 | 509,101 |
| Less: amounts available for use in subsequent years and amounts that have lapsed | 21,790 | 34,220 |
| Total net budgetary expenditures | 474,432 | 474,881 |
| Effect of consolidation and full accrual accounting, excluding net actuarial losses | 68,847 | 39,055 |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 543,279 | 513,936 |
| Net actuarial losses | 4,020 | 7,489 |
| Total expenses | 547,299 | 521,425 |
The total net budgetary expenditures reported in the preceding table differs from the total expenses reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit. The difference is due to various factors. The transactions of consolidated specified purpose accounts and of certain Crown corporations and other controlled entities are consolidated in the financial statements but are not included in the budgetary expenditure authorities available for use. Transfer payments to organizations within the government reporting entity are recorded against a budgetary expenditure authority in the year they are disbursed to the organization, but they are recorded as a consolidated expense only when the transfer is authorized and all eligibility criteria have been met by the ultimate recipient outside of the government reporting entity. Provisions for valuation of assets and liabilities are also not included in spending authorities.
In addition to the authorities for budgetary expenditures, non-budgetary spending of $376,123 million ($332,454 million in 2024) was authorized for loans, investments and advances. A net amount of $129,355 million ($47,245 million in 2024) was used, an amount of $54,741 million ($1 million in 2024) lapsed and an amount of $192,027 million ($285,208 million in 2024) is available for use in subsequent years. An amount of $5,128 million ($21,714 million in 2024) committed through guarantees and loan agreements has been included in the determination of the amount available for use in subsequent years, resulting in a corresponding reduction to the total available balance.
Details about the source and disposition of authorities (unaudited) and the details of ministerial expenditures are provided in Volume II of the Public Accounts of Canada.
(b) Exceeded authority limit
During the fiscal year, Global Affairs Canada exceeded its authority limit of $50 million for working capital advance for advances to posts abroad in accordance with Vote 630, Appropriation Act No. 2, 1954, amended by Vote L12, Appropriation Act No. 3, 1989-90. Details (unaudited) of this overexpended authority can be found in the ministerial sections of Volume II of the Public Accounts of Canada.
(c) Borrowing authorities
Through the Borrowing Authority Act (BAA) and the Financial Administration Act (FAA), Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance (the "Minister") to borrow money on behalf of His Majesty in right of Canada.
Borrowing Authority Act: Maximum Amount
Authority to borrow is granted through section 3 of the BAA up to the maximum amount on the total outstanding stock of debt set out under section 4 of the BAA.
Subject to limited exceptions, borrowings undertaken by the Minister – together with amounts borrowed by agent Crown corporations and Canada Mortgage Bonds (CMB) guaranteed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, excluding those purchased by the Minister and not resold – may not exceed the maximum amount specified in the BAA, which was $1,831,000 million as of May 6, 2021. On June 20, 2024, Bill C-69 received royal assent to amend the BAA, which increased the maximum amount to $2,126,000 million.
As at March 31, 2025, the outstanding borrowings subject to the maximum amount was $1,787,450 million ($1,688,386 million as at March 31, 2024).
Financial Administration Act: Annual Borrowing Authority
In addition to the maximum amount on the total outstanding stock of debt, pursuant to Part IV of the FAA, the Governor in Council (GIC) specifies a maximum aggregate principal amount of money that the Minister is authorized to borrow.
For the fiscal year 2025, the GIC specified a maximum amount of $604,000 million ($517,000 million for fiscal year 2024). The GIC authority is calculated as the sum of i) the maximum stock of treasury bills anticipated to be outstanding during the year, ii) the total value of new issuances of marketable bonds, and iii) the total value of new issuances intended to fund the Exchange Fund Account, plus a contingency margin to enable responses to changes in economic circumstances. During fiscal year 2025, $544,477 million ($475,268 million in fiscal year 2024) has been borrowed by the Minister.
(d) Source of budget amounts
The budget amounts included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit and the Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Debt are derived from the amounts that were budgeted for 2025 in the April 2024 Budget Plan (Budget 2024). To enhance comparability with actual 2025 results, Budget 2024 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation in the consolidated financial statements, with no overall impact on the budgeted 2025 annual deficit.
Since actual opening balances of the accumulated operating deficit and net debt were not available at the time of preparation of Budget 2024, the corresponding amounts in the budget column have been adjusted to the actual opening balances.
4. Tax revenues
Tax revenues are comprised of income tax revenues from personal, corporate and non-resident taxes, and other taxes and duties.
Significant accounting policies
Tax revenues are recognized in the period in which the taxable event occurs and when they are authorized by legislation or the ability to assess and collect the tax has been provided through legislative convention. The policy is applied in the following manner for the following tax revenue streams:
- Income tax revenue is recognized when the taxpayer has earned the income subject to the tax. Income is calculated net of tax deductions and credits allowed under the Income Tax Act, including refundable taxes resulting from current-year activity. For non-resident taxpayers (individuals and corporations), revenues are recognized when the taxpayers receive income from which tax is withheld on active and inactive income they earned in Canada.
- Domestic goods and services tax (GST) which includes the federal portion of the harmonized sales tax (HST) revenue is recognized at the time of the sale of goods or the provision of services. These revenues are reported net of input tax credits, GST rebates, and the GST quarterly tax credits. The GST quarterly tax credit for low-income individuals and families is recorded in the period the event giving rise to the GST quarterly credit occurred.
- Customs duties and goods and services tax revenue on imports are recognized when goods are authorized to enter Canada.
- Excise tax revenue is recognized when a taxpayer sells goods taxable under the Excise Tax Act.
- Excise duties revenue is recognized when the taxpayer manufactures goods taxable under the Excise Act and the Excise Act, 2001.
Tax revenues are measured from amounts assessed/reassessed and from estimates of amounts not yet assessed/reassessed based on cash received that relates to the fiscal year ended March 31. Revenues also include adjustments between the estimated revenues of previous years and actual amounts, as well as revenues from reassessments relating to prior years. Revenues do not include estimates of unreported taxes, or the impact of future reassessments that cannot yet be reliably determined.
Taxes under objection are assessed taxes for which the taxpayer filed a notice of objection. An amount for federal taxes under objection is recognized as a reduction of tax revenues for cases where it has been determined that the government had little or no discretion to avoid settlement. The amounts in objection for which a liability has not been recorded are disclosed in Note 4(b) to the financial statements.
Tax expenditures that reduce taxes paid or payable are considered tax concessions and are netted against the applicable tax revenue. Refundable tax credits, deductions, or exemptions provided by the government are considered tax concessions when they provide tax relief to taxpayers and relate to the types of taxes that are a revenue source. Tax expenditures that provide a financial benefit through the tax system, and are not related to the relief of taxes paid or payable, are recorded as transfer payments and are not netted against tax revenue.
Tax revenues that were not collected at year end and refunds that were not yet disbursed are reported respectively as taxes receivable (Note 16) and amounts payable related to tax in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. These amounts also include other receivables and payables for amounts collected through the tax system such as provincial and territorial taxes, as well as Employment Insurance premiums and Canada Pension Plan contributions receivable from individuals and employers as applicable.
Tax collected on behalf of the provincial/territorial governments is not included in tax revenues. It is recorded as payable to the provincial/territorial governments included within other accounts payable and accrued liabilities and distributed by the Department of Finance in accordance with associated agreements.
Measurement uncertainty
Tax revenues are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the use of estimates of amounts not yet assessed/reassessed based on cash received as well as taxpayer objections to assessed federal tax. A key assumption used in estimating tax revenues is that tax instalments, source deductions withheld and historical information on refund rates, and payments received upon filing tax returns, are good indicators of the amount of tax revenue earned to March 31 that has not yet been assessed. Relevant factors such as new administered activities, legislative changes, and economic factors may also be considered. These are also indicators of tax revenue earned to March 31 that has not yet been assessed. The estimates are reviewed in subsequent years and compared to actual results to assess if refinements to the estimation methodology are required.
Measurement uncertainties exist at March 31, 2025 as a result of the on-going uncertainties around the economic outlook. These measurement uncertainties will impact the estimation of tax revenues. Historical experiences related to the estimates of unassessed tax revenues may not be relevant to predict future outcomes which may lead to a greater possibility of a material variance in the upcoming year.
(a) Other taxes and duties
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Goods and services taxLinks to footnote 1 in Table 7 | 52,503 | 51,416 |
| Energy taxes | 5,650 | 5,599 |
| Customs import duties | 6,264 | 5,571 |
| Other excise taxes and duties | 7,487 | 6,829 |
| Total other taxes and duties | 71,904 | 69,415 |
Table 7 notes
|
||
(b) Federal tax objections
As of March 31, 2025, $29,428 million of federal taxes were under objection ($23,686 million for 2024).
5. Non-tax revenues
Non-tax revenues consist of exchange and non-exchange transactions, and other non-tax revenues. The government has three main types of exchange and non-exchange transactions: employment insurance premiums, pollution pricing proceeds and other program revenues.
Exchange and non-exchange transactions include exchange transactions (where goods or services are provided for consideration and a performance obligation exists), and non-exchange transactions (where no performance obligation exists to provide a good or service). These transactions can be recurring or non-recurring in nature. Recurring transactions are viewed as ongoing, routine activities that form part of the normal course of operations and can be reasonably expected to be earned again in future years.
Other non-tax revenue, not otherwise defined as exchange or non-exchange transactions above, include revenues from enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises and interest on bank deposits, income on loans, investments and advances, and other returns recognized on investments.
Significant accounting policies
Exchange and non-exchange transactions are recognized when they are earned, that is, as performance obligations are met and/or when they are authorized by legislation and the past transaction has occurred. The accounting policy is applied in the following manner for the following exchange and non-exchange transactions:
- Employment insurance premiums are non-exchange transactions that are levied under the provisions of the Employment Insurance Act. Employment insurance premiums are recognized as revenue in the period in which the insurable earnings are authorized and earned. This occurs when workers, through their employment, have generated these premiums and the related employer's contribution.
- Pollution pricing proceeds are non-exchange transactions and include revenues earned from fuel charge proceeds and excess emission charges revenue pursuant to the Output-based Pricing System (OBPS) Regulations. As part of the federal carbon pollution pricing framework, fuel and excess emission charges are collected pursuant to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and are applicable to jurisdictions that request the federal carbon pollution pricing backstop system in whole or in part and those that do not meet the federal benchmark requirements.
- Fuel charge proceeds are recognized as revenues in the period in which the charge is authorized and earned. This occurs as fuel is produced and delivered by registered distributors of the fuel under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. As of April 1, 2025, the government ceased the application of the federal fuel charge in all applicable jurisdictions, with the fuel charge rates set to zero.
- The compensation for excess emissions provided for under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act are recognized upon confirmation by the registered facility that the compensation is to be provided.
- Other program revenues from the sale of goods or services are exchange transactions and include: earnings from the sale of rights and privileges, the lease and use of public property, services of a regulatory and non-regulatory nature, the sale of goods and information products, and other fees and charges. Other program revenue from the sale of goods and services are recognized when earned as goods and services are provided either at a point in time or over a period of time depending on how the good or services are delivered, and when performance obligation(s) are met.
- Other miscellaneous revenues are primarily from interest and penalties (which are non-exchange transactions), but also include other miscellaneous exchange and non-exchange revenues. Miscellaneous revenues such as interest and penalties on taxes are recorded as other revenues when they are earned. Interest is charged on overdue balances using rates determined quarterly, which in most cases is based on the ninety day Treasury Bills rate rounded plus 4%. The interest rate applicable as at March 31, 2025 on most overdue balances was 8% (10% in 2024).
Notable revenues recognized over a period of time include:
- Spectrum licence fees which are recognized as rights and privileges under sales of goods and services within other program revenue as access to the frequency is provided, meeting the performance obligation, on a straight-line basis over the term of the licence. Deferred revenue consists of spectrum licence fees and other amounts received in advance of the delivery of goods and the rendering of services that will be recognized as revenue in a subsequent fiscal year as it is earned.
- Policing services revenue is presented as services of a non-regulatory nature under sales of goods and services within other program revenue and is recognized as the performance obligation is satisfied. Policing services are provided under the terms of various Police Service Agreements.
The following policies are applied for other non-tax revenue:
- Revenues from enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises reflect the government's share of profits and losses from those organizations that form part of the Government reporting entity consolidated under the modified equity basis of accounting. Where appropriate, adjustments are also made to present the accounts of these organizations on a basis consistent with the accounting policies of the Government and to eliminate significant inter‑organizational accounts and transactions.
- Other revenues from enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises include interest earned on loans to enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises. Interest on loans to enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises are recognized as earned and in accordance with the underlying terms and conditions of the loans and measured using the effective interest method.
- Net foreign exchange revenues include the revenues from investments held in the Exchange Fund Account and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the net gains or losses resulting from the translation of these investments to Canadian dollars as at March 31. Net foreign exchange revenues also include the net gains or losses resulting from foreign debt and currency swap revaluations. Net foreign exchange revenues are determined by reference to prevailing exchange rates at the time of the transaction and at the year-end date, as applicable, on foreign currency denominated items.
- Interest on bank deposits, income on loans, investments and advances, and other returns are recognized as return on investments and are earned in accordance with the terms and conditions of the underlying financial instrument measured using the effective interest rate method.
Measurement uncertainty
Employment insurance premium revenues are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the use of estimates of premiums earned but not yet assessed or reassessed and estimated annual payment accuracy rate related to unemployment and self-employment benefits. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Management's estimates are reviewed periodically and changes in estimates are recorded as necessary when they become known.
There are no other significant measurement uncertainties related to non-tax revenues.
(a) Disaggregated non-tax revenues
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange and non-exchange transactions | ||
| Employment insurance premiums (non-exchange) | 31,530 | 29,560 |
| Pollution pricing proceeds (non-exchange) | 13,552 | 10,503 |
| Other program revenues (exchange and non-exchange) | ||
| Sales of goods and services (exchange) | ||
| Rights and privileges | 3,569 | 2,848 |
| Lease and use of public property | 995 | 912 |
| Services of a regulatory nature | 2,998 | 2,959 |
| Services of a non-regulatory nature | 6,625 | 5,273 |
| Sales of goods and information products | 1,124 | 998 |
| Other fees and charges | 488 | 996 |
| Total sales of goods and services | 15,799 | 13,986 |
| Miscellaneous (exchange and non-exchange) | ||
| Interest and penalties (non-exchange) | 16,273 | 14,390 |
| Other (exchange and non-exchange) | 2,276 | 1,483 |
| Total miscellaneous | 18,549 | 15,873 |
| Total other program revenues | 34,348 | 29,859 |
| Other non-tax revenue | ||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | 8,048 | 3,217 |
| Net foreign exchange revenues and return on investments | 6,768 | 4,290 |
| Total other non-tax revenues | 14,816 | 7,507 |
| Total non-tax revenues | 94,246 | 77,429 |
There were no significant revenues from non-recurring activities. Non-recurring revenues are typically from gains on the sale of assets, court awards and revenues from the forfeitures of licenses.
There were no significant revenues for which the government did not recognize due to the lack of expectation to collect payment.
(b) Pollution pricing proceeds
As of March 31, 2025, there were $13,537 million of fuel charge proceeds recorded ($10,278 million in 2024).
As of March 31, 2025, the excess emission charges revenue pursuant to the output-based pricing system for industrial facilities with high emissions totalled $15 million ($225 million in 2024).
(c) Deferred revenues
Deferred revenues include:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | Receipts and other credits | Earned and other charges | Closing balance | Closing balance | |
| Deferred revenues | |||||
| Spectrum license fees | 15,451 | 1,898 | 1,283 | 16,066 | 15,451 |
| Other deferred revenues | 1,660 | 3,768 | 3,641 | 1,787 | 1,660 |
| Other deferred revenues—Specified purpose accounts | 83 | 69 | 88 | 64 | 83 |
| Total | 17,194 | 5,735 | 5,012 | 17,917 | 17,194 |
The majority of deferred revenues result from auctions of radio frequency licenses. Auction amounts are paid immediately in full and are recognized as revenue typically over a 20-year period (10-year period for some older auctions) for licenses arising from spectrum auctions.
6. Expenses
The government has three major types of expenses: transfer payments, other expenses and public debt charges.
Transfer payments are monetary payments, or transfers of goods, services, or assets to third parties. These transfers do not result in the acquisition by the government of any goods, services, or assets.
Other expenses include personnel, professional and special services, repair and maintenance, utilities, materials and supplies, as well as amortization of tangible capital assets. Provisions to reflect changes in the value of assets or liabilities, such as provisions for bad debts, loans, investments and advances and inventory obsolescence, are also included in other expenses. Public sector pension and other employee and veteran future benefit expenses are included in personnel expenses except for net actuarial losses which are presented separately in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit.
Public debt charges include effective interest calculated on market debt including amounts arising on the extinguishment of debt, as well as interest on obligations for public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits.
Significant accounting policies
Transfer payments are recorded as an expense in the year the transfer is authorized and all eligibility criteria have been met by the recipient. Certain transfer payments to individuals have legislated income thresholds where higher income recipients are required to repay a portion of the benefits they received. Overpayments or underpayments identified through post-payment verification are recorded in the year when the existence and amounts have been determined.
Other expenses are generally recorded when goods are received or services are rendered.
Public sector pension and other employee and veteran future benefit expenses are recorded as employees render services using the projected benefit method prorated on service, except for: veteran future benefits and workers’ compensation where benefits are accrued on an event driven basis; and accumulated sick leave entitlements where benefits are recognized using an accrued benefit method. Past service costs or cost reductions related to amendments and curtailments are recorded when amendments and curtailments are approved while past service costs or cost reductions related to settlements are recorded when benefits are paid.
To enhance financial reporting and decision-making for users of the consolidated financial statements, the impacts of re-measurements of public sector pension and other employee and veteran future benefit obligations were isolated as they are often significant and could potentially mask underlying events and trends in current government spending. These amounts are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit line item titled net actuarial losses.
Public debt charges are recorded when incurred. Interest on market debt and the amortization of premium and discounts are recorded in public debt charges using the effective interest rate method. Interest expense related to public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits is calculated on the basis of the average accrued benefit obligations of the various plans and is presented net of the expected return on the average market-related value of pension investments.
Measurement uncertainty
Measurement uncertainties that impact certain expenses are described in the following consolidated financial statement notes: Provision for contingent liabilities (Note 9), Environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations (Note 10), Public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits (Note 12), Taxes receivable (Note 16), Other accounts receivable (Note 17), Other loans, investments and advances (Note 20), and Tangible capital assets and inventories (Note 21).
Expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit include:
(a) Major transfer payments to other levels of government
Major transfer payments to other levels of government include the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care and fiscal arrangements pursuant to the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act. Other major transfers include contributions under the federal Canada Community-Building Fund program, and the Home Care and Mental Health Transfer.
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Health Transfer | 52,070 | 49,431 |
| Canada Social Transfer | 16,909 | 16,417 |
| Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care | 6,639 | 5,612 |
| Fiscal arrangements | 22,915 | 21,738 |
| Other major transfers | 6,568 | 6,975 |
| Total major transfer payments to other levels of government | 105,101 | 100,173 |
(b) Employment insurance and support measures
Pursuant to the Employment Insurance Act, employment insurance includes unemployment and self-employed benefits and support measures paid to/for individuals of $23,133 million ($21,141 million in 2024) and payments to provinces and territories related to Labour Market Development Agreements of $1,947 million ($2,374 million in 2024). The Employment Insurance Act was amended to authorize the emergency response benefit payments, as part of the Government's Economic Response Plan. As at March 31, 2025, benefit overpayments to be recovered of $200 million ($385 million in 2024) related to the Employment Insurance Emergency Response Benefit (EI-ERB) were recorded. Refer to Note 6(c) for information on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
(c) COVID-19 income support for workers
The government provided financial support to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (ended on October 3, 2020), the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (ended on May 7, 2022) and the Canada Recovery Benefits. The Canada Recovery Benefits included three temporary recovery benefits starting September 27, 2020: the Canada Recovery Benefit (ended on October 23, 2021), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (ended on May 7, 2022), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (ended on May 7, 2022). Post-payment verification activities commenced shortly after payment issuance and were primarily completed by March 31, 2025.
Details of COVID-19 income support provided to workers and the related benefit overpayments to be recovered are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Emergency Response Benefit—overpayments | (negative 942) | (negative 3,019) |
| Canada Recovery Benefits | 2 | 5 |
| Canada Recovery Benefits—overpayments | (negative 1,205) | (negative 1,818) |
| Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit | – | 1 |
| Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit—overpayments | (negative 24) | (negative 7) |
| Total COVID-19 income support for workers | (negative 2,169) | (negative 4,838) |
Table 11 notes
|
||
(d) Pollution pricing proceeds returned
All the direct proceeds from the federal carbon pollution pricing system were returned in the province and territory where they were collected. For the year ended March 31, 2025, these expenses for proceeds returned include $12,719 million ($9,648 million in 2024) in Canada Carbon Rebate payments for individuals and the new Canada Carbon Rebate payments for small businesses of $2,569 million.
(e) Other transfer payments
Other transfer payments totalling $107,140 million ($95,951 million in 2024), include various amounts paid or payable through federal programs to stabilize market prices for commodities, develop new technologies, conduct research, provide international development assistance, support health care and infrastructure of First Nations and Inuit communities, support social housing and families and promote educational and cultural activities. Also included are expenses of other consolidated entities and other miscellaneous payments. The various types of transfer payments are being delivered by departments according to their departmental legislative mandates.
As COVID-19 support measures ended, related transfer payment expenses in 2025 include:
- Benefit overpayments recoveries of $167 million ($420 million in 2024) for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy; and
- Transfer payment expense of $173 million for the forgiveness incentives on Canada Emergency Business Account loans (a reversal of $2,574 million in 2024). The amount of the reversal in 2024 was overestimated by $173 million due to a delay in obtaining final numbers on forgiveness amounts and adjusted in 2025. Refer to Note 20 for further details on the Canada Emergency Business Account.
Details can be found in Table 3.6 of Section 3 (unaudited) of this volume.
(f) Public debt charges
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Public debt charges related to unmatured debt and cross-currency swaps | ||
| Interest on market debt | 41,864 | 36,247 |
| Net interest on cross-currency swaps | 321 | 183 |
| Interest on capital lease obligations | 143 | 151 |
| Interest on obligations under public-private partnerships | 127 | 129 |
| Total | 42,455 | 36,710 |
| Interest expense related to pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits | 9,623 | 9,139 |
| Other liabilities | 1,332 | 1,424 |
| Total public debt charges | 53,410 | 47,273 |
(g) Total expenses by segment
The government has defined segments as Ministries which groups the activities of departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations and other entities for which a Minister is responsible to Parliament. Additional segmented information is provided in Note 24. The following table presents the total expenses by segment after the elimination of internal transactions:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministries | ||
| Agriculture and Agri-Food | 3,953 | 5,424 |
| Canadian HeritageLinks to footnote 1 in Table 13Links to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 7,386 | 6,797 |
| Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs | 12,612 | 20,864 |
| Democratic InstitutionsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 304 | 253 |
| Employment and Workforce Development | 130,264 | 124,372 |
| Energy and Natural Resources | 6,694 | 4,816 |
| Environment and Climate ChangeLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 3,102 | 2,396 |
| Finance | 147,112 | 135,130 |
| Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard | 3,699 | 3,654 |
| Global AffairsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 9,452 | 8,269 |
| Health | 14,055 | 14,645 |
| Housing, Infrastructure and Communities | 14,088 | 13,654 |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | 7,326 | 6,802 |
| Indigenous ServicesLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 26,737 | 23,824 |
| Innovation, Science and IndustryLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 11,876 | 11,733 |
| Justice | 2,782 | 2,443 |
| National Defence | 36,026 | 33,063 |
| National Revenue | 69,371 | 59,914 |
| Office of the Governor General's Secretary | 29 | 26 |
| ParliamentLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 954 | 932 |
| Privy CouncilLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 414 | 414 |
| Public SafetyLinks to footnote 2 in Table 13 | 18,452 | 18,519 |
| Public Services and Procurement | 7,029 | 6,884 |
| Transport | 6,006 | 5,356 |
| Treasury Board | 11,748 | 4,956 |
| Veterans Affairs | 546 | 532 |
| Provision for valuation and other items | (negative 8,738) | (negative 1,736) |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 543,279 | 513,936 |
| Net actuarial lossesLinks to footnote 3 in Table 13 | 4,020 | 7,489 |
| Total expenses | 547,299 | 521,425 |
Table 13 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
(h) Expenses by object
The following table presents the total expenses by main objects of expense:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer payments | 359,415 | 326,649 |
| Other expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | ||
| Personnel, excluding net actuarial losses | 76,283 | 71,902 |
| Transportation and communications | 2,908 | 3,379 |
| Information | 565 | 473 |
| Professional and special services | 19,598 | 17,776 |
| Rentals | 4,156 | 4,029 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 4,284 | 4,257 |
| Utilities, materials and supplies | 4,464 | 6,468 |
| Other subsidies and expenses | 12,098 | 26,039 |
| Amortization of tangible capital assets | 6,044 | 5,633 |
| Net loss on disposal of assets | 54 | 58 |
| Total other expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 130,454 | 140,014 |
| Total program expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 489,869 | 466,663 |
| Public debt charges | 53,410 | 47,273 |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial losses | 543,279 | 513,936 |
| Net actuarial losses | 4,020 | 7,489 |
| Total expenses | 547,299 | 521,425 |
7. Accumulated deficit
The accumulated deficit comprises accumulated operating deficit and accumulated remeasurement gains and losses.
Accumulated operating deficit
The accumulated operating deficit is equal to the net liabilities of the government less any accumulated remeasurement gains and losses. The government includes in its revenues and expenses certain accounts established for specified purposes. Legislation requires that revenues received for purposes specified in the legislation be credited to these accounts and that related payments be charged to these accounts. Any deficiency of revenues over payments must be met through future revenues or transfers credited to these accounts. The following table shows the balance of these consolidated accounts included in the accumulated operating deficit:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accumulated operating deficit, excluding consolidated specified purpose accounts | (negative 1,269,377) | (negative 1,228,654) |
| Consolidated specified purpose accounts | ||
| Employment Insurance Operating Account | (negative 14,250) | (negative 18,437) |
| Other insurance accounts | 928 | 722 |
| Other consolidated accounts | 857 | 875 |
| Accumulated operating deficit | (negative 1,281,842) | (negative 1,245,494) |
Accumulated remeasurement gains and losses
Remeasurement gains and losses are revenues and expenses recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Remeasurement Gains and Losses arising when financial instruments in the fair value category are remeasured. When a financial instrument is derecognized, previously reported remeasurement gains or losses are reclassified to the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit. Other comprehensive income or loss of enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises is also reported in accumulated remeasurement gains and losses.
8. Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities mainly consist of amounts owed to suppliers and employees that have been invoiced or accrued.
Significant accounting policies
Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities are recognized when the government becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial liability and are measured at the cost to settle the obligation given they are either short-term in nature or payable on demand.
Measurement uncertainty
There are no significant measurement uncertainties related to other accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities include:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts payable | 48,532 | 54,689 |
| Accrued salaries and benefits | 6,855 | 6,872 |
| Matured debt | 626 | 666 |
| Notes payable to international organizationsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 16 | 310 | 91 |
| Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Tax Agreements Account | 11,049 | 16,533 |
| Other | 1,020 | 1,043 |
| Total other accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 68,392 | 79,894 |
Table 16 notes
|
||
9. Provision for contingent liabilities
Contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown. Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events not wholly within the government’s control occur or fail to occur.
Significant accounting policies
For claims, if the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, a provision is accrued and an expense recorded. If the likelihood is not determinable or likely but an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed.
For guarantees, an allowance is recorded when it is determined that a loss is likely and the amount of the allowance can be estimated. The allowance is reviewed on an ongoing basis and changes in the allowance are recorded as other expenses in the year they become known.
Measurement uncertainty
Contingent liabilities are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the use of estimates relating to both the outcome of the future event as well as the value of the potential loss. The estimate of the provision for claims is continuously reviewed and refined considering several factors, including ongoing negotiations, settlements or agreements and decisions made by the courts and administrative tribunals. Rulings by the judiciary that contain elements applicable to other claims filed against Canada could also result in significant changes to the contingent liability recorded.
For guarantees, the estimate considers the nature of the guarantee, loss experience, assessments of individual companies, particular fields or markets as well as the broader Canadian and global economies which can result in changes to the contingent liability recorded.
The following table presents the different components of the provision for contingent liabilities:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Claims | ||
| Pending and threatened litigation and other claims | 16,142 | 19,725 |
| Specific claims | 27,781 | 26,336 |
| Comprehensive land claims | 10,348 | 9,957 |
| Provision for guarantees provided by the government | 450 | 570 |
| Total provision recorded | 54,721 | 56,588 |
(a) Claims
Where the government has assessed a claim as likely and measurable, an estimated provision is determined using relevant historical experience, facts and circumstances. In situations where the estimate of loss is based on a range of amounts, the amount accrued within the range is management’s best estimate of the potential loss which may be at an amount lesser than the maximum of the range. Significant exposure to a liability could exist in excess of what has been accrued.
The government has claims for which the outcome is likely to result in a liability, but management cannot reasonably measure the amount at the financial statement date. These claims are continually reassessed as they progress through the legal process. Until more information becomes available which would allow for a reasonable estimate of the liability or the extent, no amount is accrued or disclosed.
Claims for which the outcome is not determinable and for which an amount has not been accrued are estimated at $3,652 million ($3,314 million in 2024). The resolution of these claims may result in a liability, if any, that differs from the estimated amount.
Pending and threatened litigation and other claims
There are thousands of pending and threatened litigation cases as well as claims outstanding against the government. These claims include items with pleading amounts and items where an amount is not specified. While the total amount claimed in these actions is significant, their outcomes are not known in all cases. As a result, provisions that are recorded are based on management’s best estimate of the potential loss.
Specific claims
Specific claims deal with the past grievances of First Nations related to Canada's obligations under historic treaties or the way it managed First Nations' funds or other assets. The past grievances may be proceeding via the legal system or via the specific claims program. The Government of Canada will pursue a settlement agreement with the First Nation when a claim demonstrates an outstanding lawful obligation. There are currently 828 (747 in 2024) specific claims under negotiation, accepted for negotiation or under review. A liability is estimated and recorded for claims that have progressed to a point where quantification is possible. This estimate also includes projections based on historical rates and costs of settlement for similar claims and includes an estimate for claims which have been filed but not yet assessed.
Comprehensive land claims
Comprehensive land claims arise in areas of the country where Indigenous rights and title have not been resolved by treaty or by other legal means. There are currently 103 (104 in 2024) comprehensive land claims under negotiation, accepted for negotiation or under review. A liability is estimated and recorded for claims that have progressed to a point where quantification is possible. This estimate also includes projections based on historical rates and costs of settlement for similar claims.
(b) Guarantees provided by the government
Guarantees provided by the government include guarantees on the borrowings of enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises, loan guarantees, insurance programs managed by the government or agent enterprise Crown corporations, and other explicit guarantees. At March 31, guarantees provided by the government include:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Principal amount outstanding | Principal amount outstanding | |
| Guarantees with an authorized limit (2025 limit: $382,347; 2024 limit: $409,628) | 293,264 | 299,789 |
| Guarantees with no authorized limit (including borrowings of agent enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises) | 311,934 | 319,212 |
| Total | 605,198 | 619,001 |
| Less: provision for guarantees | 450 | 570 |
| Net exposure under guarantees | 604,748 | 618,431 |
| Borrowings held by the Government of Canada | ||
| Guarantees with no authorized limit – Canada Mortgage BondsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 18 | 36,557 | 7,580 |
Table 18 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
The authorized limit represents the aggregate total of various types of authorities of government bodies as stipulated in legislation, legal agreements or other documents that may be in force at any one time. The principal amount outstanding represents the total amount of guarantees provided as at the end of the fiscal year.
(c) Other
Assessed taxes under appeal
Contingent liabilities include previously assessed federal taxes where amounts are being appealed to the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, or the Supreme Court of Canada. As of March 31, 2025, an amount of $7,796 million ($7,354 million in 2024) was being appealed to the courts, for which the likelihood of an adverse outcome was not determinable or for which an amount could not be reasonably estimated. The government has recorded, in the amounts payable related to tax or in reduction of the amounts receivable from taxpayers, as applicable, the estimated amount of appeals that are considered likely to be lost and that can be reasonably estimated.
International organizations
The government has callable share capital whereby certain international organizations have the ability to require payments. As at March 31, 2025, the callable share capital amounts to $43,557 million ($40,949 million in 2024). No amounts (nil in 2024) have been requested by international organizations or paid by the government in the year related to the callable share capital.
Insurance programs of agent enterprise Crown corporations
Four agent enterprise Crown corporations operate insurance programs for the government. In the event that the corporations have insufficient funds, the government will have to provide financing. The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation operates the Deposit Insurance Fund which provides basic protection coverage to depositors for up to $100,000 of eligible deposits with each member bank, trust or loan company; the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation operates the Mortgage Insurance Fund which provides insurance for mortgage lending on Canadian housing by private institutions and the Mortgage-Backed Securities Guarantee Fund which guarantees the timely payment of the principal and interest for investors of securities based on the National Housing Act through the Mortgage-Backed Securities program and the bonds issued by the Canada Housing Trust through the Canada Mortgage Bond program, of which the government purchased $36,557 million (including accrued interest) during the year ($7,580 million in 2024) - refer to Other Investments in Note 19(a); Export Development Canada provides export and foreign investment insurance to help with export trade; and Farm Credit Canada sells group creditor life and accident insurance to its customers through a program administered by a major insurance provider and Farm Credit Canada’s risk of the insurance program is limited.
At March 31, 2025, total insurance in force amounts to $2,288,032 million ($2,165,120 million in 2024). The government expects that all four corporations will cover the cost of both current claims and possible future claims.
10. Environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations
Environmental liabilities represent the amount required to remediate contaminated sites to current minimum environmental standards.
Asset retirement obligations represent the estimated amount required to retire for legally obligated costs for the asset retirement activities of tangible capital assets.
Significant accounting policies
An environmental liability for the remediation of contaminated sites is recognized when all of the following criteria are satisfied: an environmental standard exists, contamination exceeds the environmental standard, the government is directly responsible or accepts responsibility, it is expected that future economic benefits will be given up and a reasonable estimate of the amount can be made. The liability reflects management’s best estimate of the amount required to remediate the sites to the current minimum environmental standard for its use prior to contamination.
A liability for unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) affected legacy sites is recognized when there is an appropriate basis for measurement and a reasonable estimate can be made. These liabilities are present obligations arising from past transactions or events, the settlement of which is expected to result in the future sacrifice of economic benefits.
An asset retirement obligation is recognized when all of the following criteria are satisfied: there is a legal obligation to incur retirement costs in relation to a tangible capital asset controlled by the government; the past event or transaction giving rise to the retirement liability has occurred; it is expected that the government will give up future economic benefits to retire the asset; and, a reasonable estimate of the amount can be made. The estimated amount to retire an asset is normally capitalized to the related tangible capital asset and amortized over the estimated remaining useful life. An asset retirement obligation may arise in connection with a tangible capital asset that is not recognized or no longer in productive use. In this case, the asset retirement cost would be expensed. The measurement of the liability is the government’s best estimate of the amount required to retire a tangible capital asset at the financial statement date.
When the future cash flows required to settle or otherwise extinguish a liability are estimable, predictable and expected to occur over extended future periods, a present value technique is used. The discount rate used reflects the government’s cost of borrowing, associated with the estimated number of years to complete the retirement or remediation.
The recorded liabilities are adjusted each year, as required, for the passage of time as an accretion expense, present value adjustments, inflation, new obligations, and changes in management estimates and actual costs incurred.
Measurement uncertainty
Environmental liabilities are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the evolving technologies used in remediation activities of contaminated sites, the use of discounted present value of future estimated costs, inflation and the fact that not all sites have had a complete assessment of the extent and nature of remediation costs. Changes to underlying assumptions, the timing of the expenditures, the technology employed, the revisions to environmental standards or changes in regulatory requirements could result in significant changes to the liabilities recorded.
Asset retirement obligations are also subject to measurement uncertainty, as asset retirement costs are typically based on long term estimates. These estimates rely on assumptions about the timing and cost of future retirement activities, the use of discounted present value of future estimated costs and inflation. The government utilizes various techniques, including models, historical cost analysis and expert opinions to make these estimates. Changes in these techniques or assumptions could result in a significant impact to the liabilities recorded.
The government’s ongoing efforts to assess contaminated sites, UXO affected sites, and asset retirement obligations may result in additional liabilities.
Environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations include:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Remediation liability for contaminated sites | 10,299 | 10,037 |
| Other environmental liabilities | 121 | 120 |
| Asset retirement obligations | 13,485 | 12,486 |
| Total environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations | 23,905 | 22,643 |
(a) Remediation of contaminated sites
The government’s “Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites” sets out a framework for management of contaminated sites using a risk-based approach. Under this approach the government has inventoried the contaminated sites identified on federal lands or on lands where the government has assumed responsibility for the clean-up, allowing them to be classified, managed and recorded in a consistent manner. This systematic approach aids in the identification of the high risk sites in order to allocate limited resources to those sites which pose the highest risk to human health and the environment.
The government has identified 5,365 sites (5,939 sites in 2024) where contamination may exist and assessment, remediation and monitoring may be required. Of these, the government has identified 2,194 sites (2,314 sites in 2024), where action is required and for which a liability of $10,027 million ($9,762 million in 2024) has been recorded. This liability estimate has been determined based on site assessments performed by environmental experts. In addition, a statistical model based upon a projection of the number of sites that will proceed to remediation and upon which current and historical costs are applied is used to estimate the liability for a group of unassessed sites. This group includes 2,410 unassessed sites (2,709 sites in 2024), of which 1,125 sites (1,264 sites in 2024) are projected to proceed to remediation and for which an estimated liability of $272 million ($275 million in 2024) has been recorded. These two estimates combined, totalling $10,299 million ($10,037 million in 2024), represents management's best estimate of the costs required to remediate sites to the current minimum environmental standard for its use prior to contamination, based on information available on March 31. For the remaining 761 sites (916 sites in 2024), no liability for remediation has been recognized. Some of these sites are at various stages of testing and evaluation and, if remediation is required, liabilities will be reported as soon as a reasonable estimate can be determined. For other sites, the government does not expect to give up any future economic benefits (there is likely no significant environmental impact or human health threats). These sites will be re-examined and a liability for remediation will be recognized if future economic benefits will be given up.
When the liability estimate is based on a future cash requirement, the amount is adjusted for inflation using a forecast CPI rate of 2.0% (2.0% in 2024). Inflation is included in the undiscounted amount. The Government of Canada's cost of borrowing by reference to the actual zero-coupon yield curve for Government of Canada bonds has been used to discount the estimated future expenditures. March 2025 discount rates range from 2.50% (4.53% in 2024) for a 1-year term to 3.27% (3.29% in 2024) for a 30 or greater year term.
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of sites | Number of sites with a liability | Estimated liability | Estimated total undiscounted expenditures | Total number of sites | Number of sites with a liability | Estimated liability | Estimated total undiscounted expenditures | |
| Former mineral exploration sitesLinks to footnote 1 in Table 20 | 128 | 104 | 6,385 | 9,821 | 129 | 104 | 6,129 | 9,945 |
| Radioactive materialLinks to footnote 2 in Table 20 | 7 | 6 | 1,008 | 1,106 | 7 | 6 | 1,177 | 1,336 |
| Military and former military sitesLinks to footnote 3 in Table 20 | 380 | 197 | 686 | 788 | 409 | 203 | 615 | 735 |
| Fuel related practicesLinks to footnote 4 in Table 20 | 1,463 | 929 | 538 | 564 | 1,684 | 1,031 | 442 | 477 |
| Marine facilities/aquatic sitesLinks to footnote 5 in Table 20 | 1,508 | 1,018 | 728 | 808 | 1,682 | 1,085 | 707 | 821 |
| Landfill/waste sitesLinks to footnote 6 in Table 20 | 959 | 514 | 379 | 408 | 1,084 | 579 | 372 | 409 |
| OtherLinks to footnote 7 in Table 20 | 920 | 551 | 575 | 612 | 944 | 570 | 595 | 648 |
| Total | 5,365 | 3,319 | 10,299 | 14,107 | 5,939 | 3,578 | 10,037 | 14,371 |
Table 20 notes
|
||||||||
Also, during the year, 768 sites (588 sites in 2024) were closed as they were either remediated or assessed to confirm that they no longer meet all the criteria required to record a liability for contaminated sites. Estimated recoveries related to environmental liabilities amounted to $27 million as at year end ($27 million in 2024) and are reported as other accounts receivable.
(b) Other environmental liabilities
The government has identified approximately 481 unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) suspected sites (512 in 2024) for which clearance action may be necessary. Of these sites, 38 (37 in 2024) are confirmed UXO affected sites. Based on management's best estimates, a liability of $121 million ($120 million in 2024) has been recorded for clearance action on 8 of the confirmed UXO sites (8 in 2024). Following a risk assessment and review, 16 suspected sites (35 in 2024) were closed. The remaining 457 suspected sites (469 in 2024) are currently either still in the assessment phase or assessment has been completed, but a decision has not yet been made regarding risk mitigation or site closure. Of these sites, the obligation for clearance action is indeterminable for 54 (51 in 2024) and unlikely for the 403 remaining (418 in 2024).
(c) Asset retirement obligations
The government has recorded asset retirement obligations for the removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials in buildings, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, demilitarization or disarmament and other asset retirement obligations.
The changes in the asset retirement obligations during the year are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos and other hazardous material | Decommissioning of nuclear facilities | Demilitarization or disarmament | Others | Total | Asbestos and other hazardous material | Decommissioning of nuclear facilities | Demilitarization or disarmament | Others | Total | |
| Opening balance | 2,483 | 8,671 | 759 | 573 | 12,486 | 2,641 | 8,723 | 780 | 736 | 12,880 |
| Liabilities incurred | 9 | – | 45 | 3 | 57 | 24 | – | 50 | 10 | 84 |
| Liabilities settled | (negative 17) | (negative 597) | – | (negative 15) | (negative 629) | (negative 27) | (negative 595) | – | (negative 2) | (negative 624) |
| Revisions in estimate | 81 | 1,112 | 59 | (negative 92) | 1,160 | (negative 233) | 276 | (negative 106) | (negative 191) | (negative 254) |
| Accretion expenseLinks to footnote 1 in Table 21 | 80 | 285 | 25 | 21 | 411 | 78 | 267 | 35 | 20 | 400 |
| Closing balance | 2,636 | 9,471 | 888 | 490 | 13,485 | 2,483 | 8,671 | 759 | 573 | 12,486 |
Table 21 notes
|
||||||||||
The undiscounted future expenditures, adjusted for inflation, for the planned projects comprising the liability are $24,822 million ($24,067 million at March 31, 2024). Estimated recoveries related to asset retirement obligations amounted to nil as at year end (nil in 2024).
Key assumptions used in determining the provision are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos and other hazardous material | Decommissioning of nuclear facilities | Demilitarization or disarmament | Others | Asbestos and other hazardous material | Decommissioning of nuclear facilities | Demilitarization or disarmament | Others | |
| Discount rate | 1.0% - 4.5% | 3.3% | 2.0% - 3.0% | 1.0% - 4.5% | 3.3% - 4.5% | 3.3% | 3.3% - 4.5% | 3.3% - 4.5% |
| Time period over which the undiscounted expenditures are to be incurred | 1-50 years | 160 years | 3-39 years | 1-68 years | 1-58 years | 161 years | 1-40 years | 1-69 years |
| Long-term rate of inflation | 2.0% - 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
(d) Sensitivity analysis
Changes in assumptions can result in significantly higher or lower estimates of the environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations. The table below illustrates the possible impact of a 1% change in the principal assumptions.
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental liabilities | Asset retirement obligations | Environmental liabilities | Asset retirement obligations | |
| Possible impact due to: | ||||
| Increase of 1% in discount rates | (negative 645) | (negative 1,891) | (negative 642) | (negative 1,737) |
| Decrease of 1% in discount rates | 832 | 2,488 | 830 | 2,298 |
| Increase of 1% in rate of inflation | 776 | 2,333 | 781 | 2,145 |
| Decrease of 1% in rate of inflation | (negative 608) | (negative 1,835) | (negative 611) | (negative 1,681) |
11. Unmatured debt
Unmatured debt consists of market debt, capital lease obligations and the obligation under public-private partnerships.
Significant accounting policies
Market debt is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when the government becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument and is measured at amortized cost. At initial recognition, amortized cost is calculated by taking into account transaction costs, including debt issuance costs, and any discount or premium arising on issuance of the debt when the face value of the instrument issued differs from the proceeds received. Subsequently, the effective interest method is applied to determine the amortized cost of the instrument and allocate the unamortized portion and interest to public debt charges over the term to maturity of the instrument, or a shorter period when appropriate. Unmatured debt is derecognized when the obligation is legally discharged or otherwise extinguished.
When a marketable bond is exchanged or repurchased, and the transaction results in an extinguishment of the debt, the difference between the carrying amount of the debt instrument and the net consideration paid is recognized as a gain or loss in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit, and the debt instrument is derecognized. An extinguishment occurs on the repurchase of bonds. The government's holdings of its own securities, if any, are offset against market debt until they are legally cancelled to report unmatured debt owed to external parties.
Capital lease obligations are the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments under capital lease agreements.
Obligations under public-private partnerships (P3s) are the financial liabilities resulting from the government's agreements with private sector partners to design, build, acquire or better certain tangible capital assets. These liabilities are initially measured at the same amount as the portion of the infrastructure asset being financed and reduced for any consideration previously provided to the private sector partner. The government subsequently measures obligations under P3s at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The implicit contract rate is used to recognize interest expense.
Measurement uncertainty
There are no significant measurement uncertainties related to unmatured debt.
Unmatured debt includes:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Market debt | ||
| Payable in Canadian currency | 1,451,649 | 1,350,669 |
| Payable in foreign currencies | 29,557 | 21,246 |
| Total | 1,481,206 | 1,371,915 |
| Obligation related to capital leases | 2,188 | 2,366 |
| Obligation under public-private partnerships | 2,493 | 2,541 |
| Total unmatured debt | 1,485,887 | 1,376,822 |
Table 24 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
(a) Market debt
The following table presents the future principal repayments at the contractual maturity date of debt issues, interest rates by currency and type of instrument and the weighted average annual interest rates as at March 31, 2025:
| Maturing year | Marketable bonds | Treasury bills | Canada bills | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | USD | CAD | USD | ||
| 2026 | 186,373 | 5,035 | 285,200 | 4,210 | 480,818 |
| 2027 | 169,064 | 5,035 | – | – | 174,099 |
| 2028 | 66,361 | – | – | – | 66,361 |
| 2029 | 60,500 | 5,754 | – | – | 66,254 |
| 2030 | 90,899 | 9,349 | – | – | 100,248 |
| 2031 and subsequent | 589,848 | – | – | – | 589,848 |
| Subtotal | 1,163,045 | 25,173 | 285,200 | 4,210 | 1,477,628 |
| Less: Government holdings of unmatured debt and consolidation adjustmentsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 25 | (negative 137) | – | 260 | – | 123 |
| Total future principal repayments at contractual maturity | 1,163,182 | 25,173 | 284,940 | 4,210 | 1,477,505 |
| Less: Adjustment to amortized costLinks to footnote 2 in Table 25 | 6,215 | 191 | (negative 2,688) | (negative 17) | 3,701 |
| Total market debt | 1,169,397 | 25,364 | 282,252 | 4,193 | 1,481,206 |
| Nature of interest rateLinks to footnote 3 in Table 25 | FixedLinks to footnote 4 in Table 25 | Fixed | Variable | Variable | |
| Weighted average annual interest rates | 2.63 | 3.31 | 3.24 | 4.29 | |
| Range of interest rates | 0.43 - 9.05 | 0.86 - 4.80 | 2.60 - 4.18 | 4.03 - 4.58 | |
Table 25 notesGeneral notes:
|
|||||
(b) Obligation related to capital leases
The net obligation related to capital leases as at March 31, 2025, is $2,188 million ($2,366 million in 2024). Interest on this obligation of $143 million ($151 million in 2024) is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit as part of public debt charges. At March 31, 2025 future minimum lease payments are summarized as follows:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 366 |
| 2027 | 345 |
| 2028 | 341 |
| 2029 | 312 |
| 2030 | 299 |
| 2031 and subsequent | 1,320 |
| Total minimum lease payments | 2,983 |
| Less: imputed interest at the average discount rate of 4.78% | 795 |
| Obligation related to capital leases | 2,188 |
A significant number of leases have a duration from inception that falls within the range of 10 to 25 years.
(c) Obligation under public-private partnerships
Under the government's P3 arrangements, private sector partners provide financing for the tangible capital assets built, acquired, or bettered. The financing can be partial or complete, depending on the arrangement. The obligations under P3s represent financial liabilities to the private sector partners for the tangible capital asset component of the P3s. The financial liability related to P3s is $2,493 million as at March 31, 2025 ($2,541 million in 2024). Interest on this obligation of $127 million ($129 million in 2024) is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit as part of public debt charges and $17 million ($17 million in 2024) is capitalized as tangible capital assets. Repayment periods range between 25 and 35 years following the assets being ready for use. At March 31, 2025, the future minimum payments for the obligation under public-private partnerships are summarized as follows:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 193 |
| 2027 | 193 |
| 2028 | 193 |
| 2029 | 193 |
| 2030 | 193 |
| 2031 and subsequent | 3,368 |
| Total minimum payments for public-private partnerships | 4,333 |
| Less: imputed interest at the average discount rate of 5.67% | 1,840 |
| Obligation under public-private partnerships | 2,493 |
12. Public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits
The accrued benefit obligations in respect of public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits are presented net of pension assets, unrecognized net actuarial gains or losses and valuation allowance, as well as contributions and benefits paid by some of the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities after their measurement date of December 31 up to March 31, in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
Significant accounting policies
Public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits are measured on an actuarial basis. The actuarial valuations estimate the current value of benefits earned and use various actuarial assumptions in the process. When actual experience of the plans varies from estimates or when actuarial assumptions change, actuarial gains or losses arise. Actuarial gains and losses are not recognized immediately but rather over the expected average remaining service life (EARSL) of the employees, which varies across plans, or the average remaining life expectancy (ARLE) of the benefit recipients under wartime veteran plans. Recognition commences in the year following the determination of the actuarial gains and losses. In addition, an unrecognized net actuarial loss is recognized immediately upon plan amendment, up to a maximum of the related decrease in the accrued benefit obligation; similarly, an unrecognized net actuarial gain is recognized immediately, up to a maximum of the related increase in the accrued benefit obligation. The unrecognized net actuarial loss or gain, relating to the obligation that is curtailed or settled, is recognized immediately upon a plan curtailment or settlement.
Pension plan and other future benefit assets are mostly comprised of investments held by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB), which are valued at market-related value. Under this valuation methodology, the expected return on investments is recorded immediately while the difference between the expected and the actual return on investments is recorded over a five-year period through actuarial gains and losses. The market-related value of investments is adjusted, if necessary, to ensure that it does not fall outside a limit of plus or minus 10% of the market value of investments at year end; any amount outside this limit is recorded immediately through actuarial gains and losses.
Contributions receivable from employees for past service buyback elections are discounted to approximate their fair value.
Measurement uncertainty
As the accrued benefit obligations for public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits are actuarially determined, the actual experience may differ significantly from the assumptions used in the calculation of the accrued benefit obligations. The actuarial assumptions used in measuring the accrued benefit obligations are outlined in Section (g) below and a sensitivity analysis showing how the accrued benefit obligations would have been affected by changes in the principal actuarial assumptions is found in Section (h) below.
The economic environment continues to be subject to global uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions, which could impact the actuarial assumptions used to measure the present value of the accrued benefit obligations and the market value of the PSPIB's portfolio. The accrued benefit obligations and the investments held by PSPIB, as at March 31, 2025, as well as the return on investments for the year, reflect the impacts resulting from these events to the extent known and estimable at the reporting date.
(a) Overview of benefits
i. Pension benefits
The government sponsors a number of defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all the employees of the federal public service, as well as certain Public Service corporations as defined in the Public Service Superannuation Act, territorial governments, members of the Canadian Forces (including the Reserve Force), members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federally appointed judges and Members of Parliament, including Senators. The public service, Canadian Forces - Regular Force and Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension plans represent the three main public sector pension plans sponsored by the government. In addition, some of the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities maintain their own defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of their employees. In this note, the term “employees” is used in a general manner to apply to plan members of the different groups.
The defined benefit pension plans are designed to provide employees with a retirement income during their lifetime and, in the case of government-sponsored plans, are indexed to inflation. The indexation for Crown corporations and other entities pension plans varies depending on the specific plan. In the event of death, the pension plans also provide an income for a plan member’s eligible survivors and dependants.
Pension benefits generally accrue as follows:
- For the three main public sector pension plans, pension benefits generally accrue based on a member's average earnings during the best five consecutive years of earnings and years of pensionable service. Plan members can accrue up to a maximum of 35 years at a rate of 2% per year of pensionable service. Pension benefits are coordinated with the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plan benefits at age 65, without considering the enhancements that were phased-in between 2019 and 2025.
- For the Canadian Forces - Reserve Force pension plan, pension benefits accrue at a rate of 1.5% per year up to a maximum of 35 years based on total pensionable service and pensionable earnings over the service period, and are coordinated with the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plan benefits at age 65, without considering the enhancements that were phased-in between 2019 and 2025.
- For the Members of Parliament retiring allowance plan, basic allowances accrue at a rate of 3% per year of pensionable service multiplied by the average of the best five consecutive years of sessional indemnity and/or pensionable earnings up to a maximum of 75% of the plan member's average sessional indemnity and/or pensionable earnings as applicable. For service after December 31, 2015, retiring allowance benefits are coordinated with the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plan benefits at age 60. Members of Parliament are entitled to benefits after they have contributed to the plan for at least six years.
- For federally appointed judges, pension benefits do not have an explicit accrual rate. Instead, federally appointed judges may retire with a pension equivalent to two thirds of the salary annexed to their office once the member has completed 15 years of pensionable service and the sum of the member's age and years of service equals 80 or more.
- For the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities pension plans, pension benefits accrue depending on the terms of the plans; generally based on a combination of an accrual rate per year of pensionable service and pensionable earnings average as per plan terms. Some plans are closed to new entrants.
ii. Other future benefits
In addition to pension plans, the government and the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities sponsor different types of future benefit plans, with varying terms and conditions. The benefits are available to employees during or after employment or upon retirement. Other future benefits include disability and associated benefits available to war veterans, current and retired members of the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their survivors and dependants, health care and dental benefits available to retired employees and their dependants, accumulated sick leave entitlements, severance benefits and workers’ compensation benefits.
(b) Financing arrangements
The government has a statutory obligation to pay the pension benefits it sponsors. Pursuant to pension legislation, the transactions for funded and unfunded pension benefits are tracked in the pension accounts within the accounts of Canada. The details (unaudited) of the pension accounts can be found in Section 6 of this volume.
i. Funded pension benefits
Pension benefits are generally financed from employee and employer contributions, as well as investment earnings. Pension benefits funded by the government relate to post March 2000 service that falls within the Income Tax Act limits for the three main public sector pension plans and all service for the Canadian Forces—Reserve Force pension plan. An amount equal to contributions less benefit payments and other charges is invested by the PSPIB. Funded pension benefits also relate to consolidated Crown corporations and other entities where pension plans’ assets are held in external trusts that are legally separate from Crown corporations and other entities.
During the year ended March 31, 2025, PSPIB transferred $1,943 million (nil in 2024), from the Public Service Pension Fund to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Government of Canada in order to eliminate a non-permitted surplus in the Public Service Pension Fund (relating to service on or after April 1, 2000), as recommended by the President of the Treasury Board pursuant to subparagraph 44.4(2)(b) of the Public Service Superannuation Act.
ii. Unfunded pension benefits
For unfunded pension benefits, separate invested funds are not maintained. These relate to all pre April 2000 service, and only to post March 2000 service that falls above the Income Tax Act limits for the three main public sector pension plans, all service periods for the pension plans of the federally appointed judges and Members of Parliament, and some of the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities' pension plans. Employee and employer contributions for unfunded pension benefits sponsored by the government are part of general government funds. Contributions amounted to $6,722 million ($3,590 million in 2024) of which $209 million ($180 million in 2024) represents regular employer contributions, $6,425 million ($3,333 million in 2024) represents special employer contributions, and $88 million ($77 million in 2024) represents employee contributions.
iii. Other future benefits
Other employee and veteran future benefits sponsored by the government and almost all of the other employee future benefits sponsored by the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities are unfunded. The health care and dental plans for retired employees are contributory plans, whereby contributions by retired plan members are made to obtain coverage. These contributions amounted to $545 million ($536 million in 2024). The cost of benefits earned and benefits paid are presented net of these contributions. Additional details can be found in Section 6 (unaudited) of this volume.
(c) Actuarial valuations
i. For funding purposes
Pursuant to the Public Pensions Reporting Act, actuarial valuations of the pension plans sponsored by the government are performed at least every three years to determine the state of the pension plans, as well as to assist in making informed decisions regarding the financing of the government’s pension benefit obligations. The actuarial valuation report in respect of a pension plan must be filed with the Minister responsible for that pension plan within eighteen months of the valuation date. The Minister then has thirty sitting days to present the actuarial valuation to the Parliament. The actuarial assumptions underlying the valuations for funding purposes are based on the actuary’s best estimates.
The most recent triennial actuarial valuations were conducted as at March 31, 2023, for the public service pension plan; as at March 31, 2022, for the Canadian Forces - Regular Force and Reserve Force, the Members of Parliament and the federally appointed judges pension plans; and as at March 31, 2021, for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension plan.
Federally regulated private pension plans sponsored by consolidated Crown corporations and other entities are governed by the provisions of the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 and are required to adhere to the directives of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. The actuarial valuations are conducted at least every three years, or more often depending on the financial situation of the plan.
ii. For accounting purposes
Actuarial valuations of the public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits are performed every year to measure and report the obligations and to attribute the costs of the benefits to the period. Actuarial valuations are conducted as at March 31, except for some of the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities for which the actuarial valuations are conducted as at December 31. The actuarial valuations are based on the most recent actuarial valuation for funding purposes, as applicable, in regards to the majority of the demographic assumptions. The other assumptions underlying the valuations are based on best estimates of the government or of the management of the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities.
(d) Change to benefits
No plan amendments, curtailments or settlements occurred this year.
(e) Net future benefit liabilities and assets
The net future benefit liabilities and assets are comprised of different components. The details are as follows:
i. Accrued benefit obligations
The changes in the accrued benefit obligations during the year are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension benefits | Other future benefits | Pension benefits | Other future benefits | |||||
| Funded | Unfunded | Total | Funded | Unfunded | Total | |||
| Accrued benefit obligations at beginning of year | 211,333 | 157,939 | 369,272 | 227,911 | 199,295 | 167,272 | 366,567 | 223,206 |
| Benefits earned | 9,149 | 428 | 9,577 | 12,802 | 8,605 | 416 | 9,021 | 12,036 |
| Interest on average accrued benefit obligations | 12,943 | 5,198 | 18,141 | 7,679 | 12,409 | 4,943 | 17,352 | 6,835 |
| Benefits paid | (negative 6,758) | (negative 9,873) | (negative 16,631) | (negative 8,918) | (negative 6,135) | (negative 9,684) | (negative 15,819) | (negative 7,548) |
| Administrative expenses | (negative 144) | (negative 62) | (negative 206) | (negative 181) | (negative 150) | (negative 70) | (negative 220) | (negative 127) |
| Net transfers to other plans | (negative 322) | (negative 24) | (negative 346) | – | (negative 293) | (negative 24) | (negative 317) | – |
| Amendment costs (cost reductions) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Actuarial (gains) losses | 7,523 | 6,445 | 13,968 | 15,697 | (negative 2,398) | (negative 4,914) | (negative 7,312) | (negative 6,491) |
| Accrued benefit obligations at end of year | 233,724 | 160,051 | 393,775 | 254,990 | 211,333 | 157,939 | 369,272 | 227,911 |
Table 28 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||||||
ii. Pension and other future benefit assets
Pension and other future benefit assets include investments held by the PSPIB and external trusts of consolidated Crown corporations and other entities and contributions receivable from employees for past service buyback elections.
The changes in pension and other future benefit assets during the year are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funded pension benefits | Other future benefits | Funded pension benefits | Other future benefits | |
| Investments at beginning of year | 265,281 | – | 241,394 | – |
| Expected return on average market-related value of investments | 16,195 | – | 15,048 | – |
| Contributions | ||||
| Employees | 4,843 | – | 4,695 | – |
| Public Service corporations, territorial governments and Crown corporations and other entities | 233 | – | 215 | – |
| Government | 4,838 | – | 4,805 | – |
| Benefits paid, transfers and others | (negative 7,133) | – | (negative 6,663) | – |
| Transfer addressing non-permitted surplus | (negative 1,943) | – | – | – |
| Actuarial gains | 11,444 | – | 5,787 | – |
| Investments at end of year | 293,758 | – | 265,281 | – |
| Contributions receivable from employees for past service | 293 | – | 327 | – |
| Total pension and other future benefit assets at end of year | 294,051 | – | 265,608 | – |
Table 29 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||
As at March 31, the market value of the investments is $312,539 million ($277,141 million in 2024). The actual return on investments is $34,585 million ($18,512 million in 2024) and the actual net rate of return on investments, calculated on a time-weighted basis, is 12.5 % (7.2% in 2024) for the year.
iii. Net future benefit liabilities and assets
A reconciliation of the accrued benefit obligations to the amounts of net future benefit liabilities and assets follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension benefits | Other future benefits | Pension benefits | Other future benefits | |||||
| Funded | Unfunded | Total | Funded | Unfunded | Total | |||
| Accrued benefit obligations | 233,724 | 160,051 | 393,775 | 254,990 | 211,333 | 157,939 | 369,272 | 227,911 |
| Less: Pension and other future benefit assets | 294,051 | – | 294,051 | – | 265,608 | – | 265,608 | – |
| Subtotal | (negative 60,327) | 160,051 | 99,724 | 254,990 | (negative 54,275) | 157,939 | 103,664 | 227,911 |
| Plus: Unrecognized net actuarial gains (less losses) | 33,164 | 2,695 | 35,859 | (negative 41,321) | 32,918 | 7,415 | 40,333 | (negative 31,560) |
| Less: | ||||||||
| Contributions after measurement date up to March 31 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Benefits paid after measurement date up to March 31 | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Subtotal | (negative 27,163) | 162,746 | 135,583 | 213,667 | (negative 21,357) | 165,354 | 143,997 | 196,350 |
| Plus: Valuation allowance | 1,441 | – | 1,441 | – | 1,302 | – | 1,302 | – |
| Net future benefit liabilities (assets) | (negative 25,722) | 162,746 | 137,024 | 213,667 | (negative 20,055) | 165,354 | 145,299 | 196,350 |
| The net future benefit liabilities and assets are recognized and presented in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as follows: | ||||||||
| Public sector pension liabilitiesLinks to footnote 1 in Table 30 | – | 162,746 | 162,746 | – | – | 165,354 | 165,354 | – |
| Other employee and veteran future benefit liabilities | – | – | – | 213,667 | – | – | – | 196,350 |
| Less: Public sector pension assetsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 30 | 25,722 | – | 25,722 | – | 20,055 | – | 20,055 | – |
| Net future benefit liabilities (assets) | (negative 25,722) | 162,746 | 137,024 | 213,667 | (negative 20,055) | 165,354 | 145,299 | 196,350 |
Table 30 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||||||
(f) Benefit and interest expenses
The components of public sector pension and other employee and veteran future benefit expenses are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension benefits | Other future benefits | Pension benefits | Other future benefits | |||||
| Funded | Unfunded | Total | Funded | Unfunded | Total | |||
| Benefit expense | ||||||||
| Benefits earned, net of employee contributions | 4,072 | 333 | 4,405 | 12,802 | 3,697 | 333 | 4,030 | 12,036 |
| Amendment costs (cost reductions) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Valuation allowance | 139 | – | 139 | – | (negative 332) | – | (negative 332) | – |
| Total benefit expense included in personnel expenses | 4,211 | 333 | 4,544 | 12,802 | 3,365 | 333 | 3,698 | 12,036 |
| Actuarial (gains) losses recognized during the year | (negative 3,643) | 1,723 | (negative 1,920) | 5,940 | (negative 3,063) | 3,348 | 285 | 7,205 |
| Total benefit expense | 568 | 2,056 | 2,624 | 18,742 | 302 | 3,681 | 3,983 | 19,241 |
| Interest expense | ||||||||
| Interest on average accrued benefit obligations | 12,943 | 5,198 | 18,141 | 7,679 | 12,409 | 4,943 | 17,352 | 6,835 |
| Expected return on average market-related value of investments | (negative 16,195) | – | (negative 16,195) | – | (negative 15,048) | – | (negative 15,048) | – |
| Total interest expense | (negative 3,252) | 5,198 | 1,946 | 7,679 | (negative 2,639) | 4,943 | 2,304 | 6,835 |
Table 31 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||||||
Net actuarial losses of $4,020 million ($7,489 million in 2024) are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit. The net actuarial losses are comprised of actuarial gains of $3,643 million ($3,063 million in 2024) on funded pension benefits, actuarial losses of $1,723 million ($3,348 million in 2024) on unfunded pension benefits and actuarial losses of $5,940 million ($7,205 million in 2024) on other future benefits.
(g) Actuarial assumptions
The assumptions used in the actuarial valuations for accounting purposes are based on the government’s or the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities management’s best estimates of expected long-term experience and short-term forecasts, as well as the majority of the demographic assumptions underlying the most recent actuarial valuations for funding purposes, as applicable. The assumptions include estimates of discount rates, future inflation, returns on investments, general wage increases, workforce composition, retirement rates and mortality rates.
The discount rates used to measure the present value of the accrued obligations for public sector pensions and other employee and veteran future benefits sponsored by the government are as follows:
- For funded pension benefits, the streamed expected rates of return on invested funds.
- For unfunded pension and other future benefits, the government's cost of borrowing derived from the yields on the actual zero-coupon yield curve for Government of Canada bonds which reflects the timing of the expected future cash flows.
The principal actuarial assumptions used in measuring the accrued benefit obligations as at March 31 for government-sponsored benefits, as well as the related benefit and interest expenses for the year, are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accrued benefit obligations | Benefit and interest expenses | Accrued benefit obligations | Benefit and interest expenses | |
| Discount rates | ||||
| Funded pension benefitsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 32 | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.2% |
| Unfunded pension benefitsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 32 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.0% |
| Other employee and veteran future benefitsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 32 | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.0% |
| Expected rate of return on investments | – | 6.1% | – | 6.2% |
| Long-term rate of inflation | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| Long-term general wage increase | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| Assumed health care cost trend rates | ||||
| Initial health care cost trend rate | 3.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 6.5% |
| Cost trend rate is expected to stabilize at | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Year that the rate is expected to stabilize | 2039 | 2039 | 2039 | 2039 |
Table 32 notes
|
||||
The discount rates used to measure the significant classes of pensions and other employee future benefits sponsored by the consolidated Crown corporations and other entities are based on a variety of methodologies. To measure the present value of their accrued benefit obligations, these consolidated Crown corporations and other entities used expected rates of return on invested funds ranging from 5.0% to 6.2% (5.2% to 6.2% in 2024) for the funded pension benefits, discount rates ranging from 3.1% to 4.7% (3.1% to 4.9% in 2024) for the unfunded pension benefits and discount rates ranging from 3.1% to 4.8% (3.1% to 4.9% in 2024) for the other employee future benefits. The long-term general wage increase ranged from 2.5% to 3.5% (2.5% to 4.0% in 2024). The long-term inflation rate has remained consistent at 2.0% (2.0% in 2024).
The expected average remaining service life (EARSL) of the employees represent periods ranging from 4 to 23 years (4 to 23 years in 2024) according to the plan in question; more specifically, from 11 to 15 years (11 to 15 years in 2024) for the three main public sector pension plans. The average remaining life expectancy (ARLE) of the benefit recipients under wartime veteran plans represent periods ranging from 5 to 7 years (5 to 7 years in 2024).
(h) Sensitivity analysis
Changes in assumptions can result in significantly higher or lower estimates of the accrued benefit obligations. The table below illustrates the possible impact of a 1% change in the principal actuarial assumptions.
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension benefits | Other future benefits | Pension benefits | Other future benefits | |||
| Funded | Unfunded | Funded | Unfunded | |||
| Possible impact on the accrued benefit obligations due to: | ||||||
| Increase of 1% in discount rates | (negative 33,700) | (negative 16,400) | (negative 40,700) | (negative 30,000) | (negative 16,000) | (negative 35,800) |
| Decrease of 1% in discount rates | 43,600 | 19,900 | 53,800 | 38,600 | 19,200 | 48,100 |
| Increase of 1% in rate of inflation | 29,400 | 18,800 | 46,000 | 26,700 | 18,300 | 43,300 |
| Decrease of 1% in rate of inflation | (negative 24,400) | (negative 15,900) | (negative 34,600) | (negative 22,000) | (negative 15,600) | (negative 31,200) |
| Increase of 1% in general wage increase | 10,900 | 400 | 400 | 8,700 | 200 | 300 |
| Decrease of 1% in general wage increase | (negative 9,600) | (negative 400) | (negative 400) | (negative 7,500) | (negative 400) | (negative 300) |
| Increase of 1% in assumed health care cost trend rates | – | – | 6,000 | – | – | 6,000 |
| Decrease of 1% in assumed health care cost trend rates | – | – | (negative 4,500) | – | – | (negative 4,500) |
Table 33 notes
|
||||||
13. Derivatives
Derivatives are financial contracts whose value is derived from movements in one or more underlying assets, indexes, interest rates, currency exchange rates, or other market-based factors. The government uses derivatives for hedging purposes and in conjunction with its other risk management activities.
Significant accounting policies
Derivatives are measured at fair value and reported as derivative assets or derivative liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Unrealized fair value gains and losses arising on derivatives, excluding those relating to changes in foreign exchange rates, are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Remeasurement Gains and Losses. All exchange gains and losses arising on remeasurement or settlement of cross currency swaps and foreign exchange forward contracts are recognized as part of net foreign exchange revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit. Net interest paid or payable and received or receivable on all swap transactions is recorded as part of public debt charges. When derivatives are derecognized, any cumulative remeasurement gain or loss associated with the derecognized item, is reversed and reclassified to the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit.
Fair values of the swap and foreign exchange forward agreements are the estimated amount that the government would receive or pay, based on market factors, if the agreements were terminated on March 31. They are established by discounting the expected cash flows of the swap and foreign exchange forward agreements, calculated from the contractual or notional principal amounts, using year-end market interest and exchange rates. A positive (negative) fair value indicates that the government would receive (make) a payment if the agreements were terminated on March 31. The government classifies the fair value measurement of cross currency swaps and foreign exchange forward agreements as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Measurement uncertainty
The measurement of cross currency swaps and foreign exchange forward agreements is based on observable inputs for market interest rates and exchange rates and classified at level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Consequently, there are no significant measurement uncertainties related to these derivatives.
The following table presents derivatives at March 31:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fair value | Fair value | |
| Liabilities | ||
| Cross-currency swaps | 5,398 | 4,125 |
| Foreign exchange forward agreements and other derivatives | 185 | 6 |
| Total | 5,583 | 4,131 |
| Assets | ||
| Cross-currency swaps | 1,741 | 2,872 |
| Foreign exchange forward agreements and other derivatives | 11 | 56 |
| Total | 1,752 | 2,928 |
(a) Cross-currency swap agreements
The government has entered into individual cross-currency swap contracts with various counterparties to facilitate management of its debt structure. Terms and conditions associated with these outstanding contracts are established using International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreements, which are in place with each counterparty. Cross-currency swaps are used primarily to fund foreign-denominated asset levels in the foreign exchange accounts. Using cross-currency swap agreements, Canadian dollar and other foreign currency debt has been converted into US dollars or other foreign currencies with either fixed interest rates or variable interest rates. As a normal practice, the government’s swap positions are held to maturity.
The fair value of cross-currency swaps as at March 31, 2025 in terms of maturity date, stated in Canadian dollars, are as follows:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 407 |
| 2027 | (negative 709) |
| 2028 | (negative 209) |
| 2029 | (negative 832) |
| 2030 | (negative 38) |
| 2031 and subsequent | (negative 2,276) |
| Total | (negative 3,657) |
(b) Foreign exchange forward agreements
The government’s lending arrangements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), included in the foreign exchange accounts, are denominated in special drawing rights (SDR). However, the government funds some of these loans with US dollars, while other are made directly in SDRs. Consequently, since the value of the SDR is based upon a basket of key international currencies (US dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, British pound sterling and Chinese renminbi), a currency mismatch results, whereby fluctuations in the value of the loan asset are not equally offset by fluctuations in the value of the related funding liability. Therefore, the government enters into forward agreements to hedge this foreign exchange risk.
The notional principal amount of a foreign exchange forward agreement refers to the principal amount used to calculate contractual cash flows. Foreign exchange forward agreements outstanding at March 31, with notional principal amounts in Canadian dollars of $5,239 million ($5,106 million at March 31, 2024), mature during the next fiscal year.
14. Other liabilities
Other liabilities include:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Pension Plan Accounts | 465 | 159 |
| Others | ||
| Government Annuities Account | 53 | 60 |
| Deposit and trust accounts | 1,706 | 2,016 |
| Other specified purpose accounts | 4,807 | 4,728 |
| Subtotal | 6,566 | 6,804 |
| Total other liabilities | 7,031 | 6,963 |
Table 36 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
(a) Canada Pension Plan Accounts
As explained in Note 1, the financial activities of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) are not included in these consolidated financial statements.
The CPP is a federal/provincial social insurance program established by an Act of Parliament. It is compulsory and in operation in all parts of Canada, except for the Province of Quebec. The objective of the program is to provide a measure of protection to workers and their families against the loss of earnings due to retirement, disability or death. The CPP is financed from employee, employer and self-employed worker contributions, as well as investment earnings. The CPP's investments are held and managed by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). As administrator of the CPP, the government’s authority to provide benefits is limited to the consolidated net assets of the CPP. As at March 31, the fair value of the CPP’s consolidated net assets is $662,288 million ($600,471 million in 2024) for the CPP Account and $59,903 million ($39,742 million in 2024) for the Additional CPP Account.
Pursuant to the Canada Pension Plan Act, the transactions of the CPP are recorded in the Canada Pension Plan Accounts (the Accounts) within the accounts of Canada. The Accounts also record the amounts transferred to or received from the CPPIB. The $465 million ($159 million in 2024) balance in the Accounts represents the CPP's deposit with the Receiver General for Canada and, therefore, is reported as a liability. The CPP's deposit with the Receiver General for Canada is comprised of the CPP Account balance of $389 million ($126 million in 2024) and the Additional CPP Account balance of $76 million ($33 million in 2024).
(b) Others
Deposit and trust accounts are a group of liabilities representing the government’s financial obligations in its role as administrator of certain funds that it has received or collected for specified purposes and that it will pay out accordingly. The net liability of the government is presented after reducing applicable accounts for securities held in trust. Certain accounts earn interest which is charged to interest on the public debt. Some of the largest deposit and trust accounts are the swap collateral guarantee deposit account of $255 million ($687 million in 2024) and the Indian band funds account in the amount of $587 million ($571 million in 2024). These accounts were established to record cash received as credit support under a collateral agreement with financial institutions and to record funds belonging to Indian bands throughout Canada pursuant to the Indian Act.
Other specified purpose accounts are liability accounts that are used to record transactions made under authorities obtained from Parliament through either the Financial Administration Act or other specific legislation. Certain accounts earn interest which is charged to interest on the public debt. The largest other specified purpose account is the Public Service Death Benefit Account totalling $4,314 million ($4,222 million in 2024). This account was established under the Public Service Superannuation Act to provide life insurance to contributing members of the public service.
15. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash consists of public moneys on deposit and cash in transit less outstanding cheques and warrants. Cash equivalents consist mainly of term deposits usually not exceeding 31 days.
Cash and cash equivalents are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| CashLinks to footnote 1 in Table 37 | 38,259 | 67,059 |
| Cash equivalents | 15,850 | 8,000 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 54,109 | 75,059 |
Table 37 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
16. Taxes receivable
Taxes receivable include taxes, interest, penalties, and other revenues assessed or estimated but not yet collected as at March 31. They also include other receivables for amounts collectible through the tax system such as provincial and territorial taxes, Employment Insurance premiums and Canada Pension Plan contributions receivable from individuals and employers as applicable.
Significant accounting policies
Tax revenues and other revenues that were not collected at year end are reported as taxes receivable in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
Taxes receivable are measured at net realizable value. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded where recovery is considered uncertain. The annual provision for the allowance for doubtful accounts is reported as a bad debt expense which is charged against other expenses.
The allowance for doubtful accounts for taxes receivable is management’s best estimate of the uncollectible amounts that have been assessed, including the related interest and penalties.
The allowance for doubtful accounts for taxes receivable has two components. A general allowance is calculated based on the age and type of tax accounts using rates based on historical collection experience. A specific allowance is calculated based on an annual review of all accounts over $25 million. The allowance for doubtful accounts is adjusted every year through a provision for doubtful accounts and is reduced by amounts written off as uncollectible during the year.
Measurement uncertainty
Taxes receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the use of estimates of amounts not yet assessed/reassessed based on cash received as well as taxpayer objections to assessed federal tax.
Key assumptions used in estimating tax revenues are tax instalments, source deductions withheld and historical information on refund rates, and payments received on filing tax returns.
Measurement uncertainties exist at March 31, 2025 as a result of the on-going uncertainties around the economic outlook. Historical experiences related to the estimated tax receivables and the allowance for doubtful accounts, may not be relevant to predict future outcomes which may lead to a greater possibility of a material variance in the upcoming year.
The details of the taxes receivable and other amounts collectible through the tax system and allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total taxes receivable | Allowance for doubtful accountsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 38 | Net | Total taxes receivable | Allowance for doubtful accountsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 38 | Net | |
| Income taxes receivable | ||||||
| Individuals | 117,232 | 12,140 | 105,092 | 107,183 | 10,565 | 96,618 |
| Employers | 34,638 | 2,990 | 31,648 | 34,930 | 2,284 | 32,646 |
| Corporations | 44,522 | 7,106 | 37,416 | 40,787 | 6,212 | 34,575 |
| Non-residents | 5,262 | 626 | 4,636 | 4,436 | 643 | 3,793 |
| Goods and services tax receivable | 38,669 | 7,144 | 31,525 | 38,972 | 6,764 | 32,208 |
| Customs import duties receivable | 1,039 | 196 | 843 | 821 | 196 | 625 |
| Other excise taxes and duties receivable | 3,446 | 949 | 2,497 | 3,157 | 577 | 2,580 |
| Total | 244,808 | 31,151 | 213,657 | 230,286 | 27,241 | 203,045 |
Table 38 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||||
17. Other accounts receivable
Other accounts receivable consist of billed or accrued financial claims arising from amounts owed to the government at year end, including COVID-19 benefit overpayments receivable, and cash collateral pledged to counterparties.
Significant accounting policies
Revenues (other than tax revenues) that were not collected at year end are reported as other accounts receivable in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
A recipient of a COVID-19 benefit payment is obligated to repay benefits for any amounts for which they were not eligible. These overpayments are reported as other accounts receivable when determined and management has an appropriate basis of measurement.
Other accounts receivable are measured at amortized cost. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded where recovery is considered uncertain. The annual provision for the allowance for doubtful accounts is reported as a bad debt expense which is charged against other expenses.
The allowance for doubtful accounts for billed or accrued financial claims represents management's best estimate of uncollectable amounts receivable. The allowance is determined based on an analysis of historic loss experience, characteristics of the debt, expected collections activities and/or an assessment of current economic conditions. Overpayments receivable balances are written off upon management's determination that such overpayments are uncollectible.
Measurement uncertainty
Measurement uncertainties exist at March 31, 2025 as a result of the on-going uncertainties around the economic outlook.
Historical experiences related to other accounts receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts, may not be relevant to predict future outcomes which may lead to a greater possibility of a significant variance in the upcoming year.
There is no significant measurement uncertainty related to cash collateral pledged to counterparties.
The details of the other receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross receivables | Allowance for doubtful accounts | Net receivables | Gross receivables | Allowance for doubtful accounts | Net receivables | |
| Other receivables | 10,258 | 2,557 | 7,701 | 8,854 | 2,214 | 6,640 |
| COVID-19 benefit overpayments | 12,962 | 10,491 | 2,471 | 11,356 | 6,291 | 5,065 |
| Subtotal | 23,220 | 13,048 | 10,172 | 20,210 | 8,505 | 11,705 |
| Cash collateral pledged to counterpartiesLinks to footnote 1 in Table 39 | 3,456 | – | 3,456 | 2,294 | – | 2,294 |
| Total | 26,676 | 13,048 | 13,628 | 22,504 | 8,505 | 13,999 |
Table 39 notesGeneral notes:
| ||||||
The following table provides an aging analysis of billed or accrued financial claims:
| 2025 | 2024Links to footnote 2 in Table 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Billed or accrued financial claims | ||
| Not past due and not impaired | 5,548 | 4,754 |
| Number of days past due | ||
| 1 to 30 | 195 | 641 |
| 31 to 60 | 208 | 428 |
| 61 to 90 | 373 | 122 |
| 91 to 365 | 664 | 2,108 |
| Over 365 | 3,126 | 3,580 |
| Total net past due | 4,566 | 6,879 |
| ImpairedLinks to footnote 1 in Table 40 | 58 | 72 |
| Total | 10,172 | 11,705 |
Table 40 notes
|
||
18. Foreign exchange accounts
Foreign exchange accounts represent financial assets and liabilities related to Canada's official international reserves, primarily held in the Exchange Fund Account (EFA), and its membership in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Significant accounting policies
Purchases and sales of securities held in the EFA are recognized on the trade date. Short-term deposits and marketable securities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Amortized cost is calculated by taking into account transaction costs and any discount or premium arising on purchase of the securities. Special drawing rights are recorded at cost.
The government assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there has been a loss in the value of the investments held in the EFA. When the assessment, which considers both qualitative and quantitative factors, indicates a loss in value that is other than a temporary decline, the carrying value of the investment is written down to reflect its recoverable amount. Once an investment has been written down, no reversals of the impairment are recognized in subsequent periods. A loss in value of a portfolio investment that is other than a temporary decline occurs when the actual value of the investment to the government becomes lower than the carrying value and the impairment is expected to remain for a prolonged period or when the carrying value may not be realizable.
Foreign exchange accounts assets also include Canada’s subscriptions to the capital of the IMF and loans receivable from the IMF and IMF-established trusts, which are recorded at cost.
Foreign exchange accounts liabilities include special drawing rights allocations and notes payable to the IMF, which are recorded at cost.
Investment income earned with respect to foreign exchange accounts, write-downs to reflect other-than-temporary declines in the value of securities, and interest revenues and charges related to the IMF balances are included in net foreign exchange revenues.
Measurement uncertainty
There are no significant measurement uncertainties related to foreign exchange accounts.
The following table presents the balances of foreign exchange accounts assets:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| International reserves held in the Exchange Fund Account | ||
| Deposits | ||
| US dollar | 8,706 | 11,710 |
| Euro | 107 | 552 |
| British pound sterling | 743 | 431 |
| Japanese yen | 282 | 93 |
| Short-term deposits | 1,603 | 218 |
| Total | 11,441 | 13,004 |
| Marketable securitiesLinks to footnote 1 in Table 41 | ||
| US dollar | 92,964 | 77,649 |
| Euro | 20,299 | 18,344 |
| British pound sterling | 13,595 | 12,128 |
| Japanese yen | 6,517 | 6,298 |
| Total | 133,375 | 114,419 |
| Special drawing rights holdings | 32,775 | 31,992 |
| Total international reserves held in the Exchange Fund Account | 177,591 | 159,415 |
| International Monetary Fund assets | ||
| Subscriptions | 21,070 | 19,757 |
| Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust | 1,911 | 494 |
| Resilience and Sustainability Trust | 790 | 474 |
| Total foreign exchange accounts assets | 201,362 | 180,140 |
Table 41 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
The following table presents the balances of foreign exchange accounts liabilities:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange Fund Account liabilities | ||
| Due to broker | 316 | – |
| International Monetary Fund liabilities | ||
| Special drawing rights allocations | 31,640 | 29,668 |
| Notes payable | 15,741 | 14,438 |
| Total | 47,381 | 44,106 |
| Total foreign exchange accounts liabilities | 47,697 | 44,106 |
Table 42 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
(a) International reserves held in the Exchange Fund Account
The purposes of the EFA, as specified in the Currency Act, are to aid in the control and protection of the external value of the Canadian dollar and to provide a source of liquidity for the government, if required. The EFA holds the largest component of Canada’s official international reserves in a portfolio consisting of high-quality liquid foreign currency securities, deposits and IMF special drawing rights (SDR) holdings.
SDR holdings are interest-bearing international reserve assets created by the IMF. The SDR is not considered a currency, nor is it a direct claim on the IMF; rather, SDR holdings represent a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of other IMF members. The IMF allocates SDRs to its members who are also participants in its SDR department, such as Canada. In an SDR allocation by the IMF, a participant receives SDR holdings (assets) and assumes an equal amount of SDR allocations (liabilities). As a holder of SDRs, Canada has the right to exchange them for an equivalent amount of freely usable currency, or other reserve assets, with other IMF members. The exchange value of the SDR is determined by a weighted basket of major international currencies (US dollar, euro, Japanese yen, British pound sterling and Chinese renminbi). The SDR can also be used in a variety of transactions between the holder and other participants in the SDR department, the IMF, and other prescribed SDR holders. Also, the SDR serves as the unit of account for the IMF and certain other international organizations.
There were no impairments of the marketable securities held in the EFA in 2025 (nil in 2024).
(b) International Monetary Fund assets
As an IMF member, Canada has subscribed to the capital of the IMF in an amount corresponding to its quota, which broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy. IMF quotas are denominated in SDRs. Canada’s subscription to the IMF, or its quota, is SDR 11,024 million, or $21,070 million, at March 31, 2025 (SDR 11,024 million, or $19,757 million, in 2024). Subscriptions to the IMF are also a key determinant of a member’s voting power in the IMF, a member’s share in new general SDR allocations, a member’s maximum amount of loans that can be obtained from the IMF under normal access, and the maximum amount of financial resources a member may be required to provide to the IMF.
Canada also lends funds to the IMF and certain IMF-established trusts, which are used by the IMF to provide financing to other members. Canada, along with certain other IMF-member countries, participates in lending arrangements with the IMF (New Arrangements to Borrow, or NAB, and Bilateral Borrowing Agreements, or BBAs) and with the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST). The loans resulting from these arrangements that are considered part of Canada’s official international reserves are included in foreign exchange accounts assets.
Collectively, the maximum direct lending under the NAB and BBAs is limited to no more than the equivalent of SDR 11,279 million, or $21,558 million, at March 31, 2025 (SDR 11,279 million, or $20,214, million in 2024). The total lending committed to the PRGT is SDR 2,700 million at March 31, 2025 (SDR 2,700 million, in 2024). Total outstanding PRGT loans at March 31, 2025 are SDR 1,656 million, or $3,165 million (SDR 960 million, or $1,720 million, in 2024), of which SDR 1,000 million, or $1,911 million, is included in foreign exchange accounts assets (SDR 276 million, or $494 million, in 2024) and SDR 656 million, or $1,254 million, is included in other loans, investments and advances (SDR 684 million, or $1,226 million, in 2024). The RST lending commitment is for the equivalent of $2,000 million at March 31, 2025 ($2,000 million in 2024).
(c) International Monetary Fund liabilities
Canada is a participant in the IMF's SDR Department (participant), and as such it has received SDR allocations from the IMF. In an SDR allocation by the IMF, a participant assumes the obligations associated with its SDR allocations (liability) and receives an equal amount of SDR holdings (assets). SDR allocations represent an obligation to provide, on demand, freely usable currency to another participant(s) in exchange for an equivalent amount of SDRs, where that other participant(s) has a balance of payments or reserve position need. The SDR market generally functions on a voluntary basis and Voluntary Trading Arrangements (VTAs) are intermediated by the IMF, which handles most SDR transactions between a group of SDR participants who have agreed to exchange SDRs for specific currencies within set trading limits. Canada’s obligation to provide currency in exchange for an equivalent amount of SDRs is generally limited as Canada has a standing arrangement with the IMF which specifies the range of Canada’s SDR holdings and the maximum number of transactions per week. Canada’s SDR allocations are SDR 16,554 million, or $31,640 million, at March 31, 2025 (SDR 16,554 million, or $29,668 million, in 2024).
In partial consideration for its subscription to the capital of the IMF, Canada has issued promissory notes to the IMF which are non-interest bearing, payable on demand, and are subject to redemption or reissue, depending on the needs of the IMF for Canadian currency. These promissory notes have an outstanding amount of SDR 8,236 million, or $15,741 million, at March 31, 2025 (SDR 8,056 million, or $14,438 million, in 2024).
19. Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises
The net assets and liabilities of enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises are recognized as an investment by the government. The government holds other investments issued by Crown corporations and other government business enterprises. In addition, the government has loans and advances receivable from these entities.
Significant accounting policies
Investments in enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises are recorded under the modified equity method whereby the cost of the government’s investment is reduced by dividends and adjusted to include the annual profits and losses of these corporations, and the elimination of unrealized inter-organizational gains and losses. All of these corporations follow International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Under the modified equity method, the corporations’ accounts are not adjusted to the government’s basis of accounting and other comprehensive income or loss is recorded to the government’s accumulated deficit and net debt through the Consolidated Statement of Remeasurement Gains and Losses.
Other investments include the purchase of financial instruments in the primary market, such as bonds, that are issued by enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises. Other investments are measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method. The temporary transfer of a financial instrument asset under securities lending agreements does not result in its derecognition if the government retains substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership. The financial instrument continues to be recognized as an asset by the government.
Some enterprise Crown corporations provide loans to borrowers outside the government reporting entity. Some of these loans will be repaid through future appropriations of the government under various subsidy programs, which provide funds directly related to the repayment of the loan. For these loans receivable, the amount expected to be repaid from future appropriations is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the loan to an amount that approximates the amount to be recovered from sources outside the government reporting entity.
Measurement uncertainty
Each enterprise Crown corporation and other government business enterprise has measurement uncertainties that are inherent to their organization such as those relating to pension and employee future benefits and other liabilities. Measurement uncertainty exists with regards to the estimate of the amount of loans expected to be repaid through future appropriations which is based upon the amount qualified borrowers are expected to receive under various government subsidy programs and the percentage of the subsidy expected to be applied to the outstanding loan balance.
(a) Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises
The following table presents the government's recorded loans, investments and advances in significant enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investments in enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | ||
| Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationLinks to footnote 1 in Table 43 | 14,614 | 12,831 |
| Export Development Canada | 11,340 | 12,157 |
| Farm Credit Canada | 8,650 | 8,736 |
| Business Development Bank of Canada | 15,328 | 16,527 |
| Canada Port Authorities | 5,038 | 4,723 |
| Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation | 8,060 | 6,849 |
| Canada Development Investment Corporation | (negative 874) | (negative 686) |
| Canada Growth Fund | 4,462 | 1,359 |
| Canada Post Corporation | 5,045 | 5,257 |
| Bank of Canada | (negative 8,970) | (negative 6,660) |
| Other | 942 | 842 |
| Inter-organizational adjustments | (negative 12,465) | (negative 14,085) |
| Total investments | 51,170 | 47,850 |
| Other investments | ||
| Canada Mortgage BondsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 43 | 36,557 | 7,580 |
| Loans and advances | ||
| Farm Credit Canada | 47,503 | 43,097 |
| Business Development Bank of Canada | 33,801 | 29,490 |
| Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation | 24,245 | 22,128 |
| Canada Development Investment CorporationLinks to footnote 2 in Table 43 | 35,603 | 16,896 |
| Other | 376 | 297 |
| Total loans and advances | 141,528 | 111,908 |
| Less: | ||
| Loans expected to be repaid from future appropriations | 1,899 | 1,994 |
| Total loans, investments and advances to enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | 227,356 | 165,344 |
Table 43 notesGeneral notes:
|
||
The following table presents the summary financial position and results of enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third Parties | Government, Crown corporations and other entities | Total | Third Parties | Government, Crown corporations and other entities | Total | |
| Assets | ||||||
| Financial assets | 532,051 | 262,694 | 794,745 | 497,112 | 315,574 | 812,686 |
| Non-financial assets | 51,360 | 51,360 | 49,193 | 49,193 | ||
| Total assets | 583,411 | 262,694 | 846,105 | 546,305 | 315,574 | 861,879 |
| Liabilities | 577,113 | 205,357 | 782,470 | 623,868 | 176,076 | 799,944 |
| Equity of Canada as reported | 63,635 | 61,935 | ||||
| Inter-organizational adjustments | (negative 12,465) | (negative 14,085) | ||||
| Equity of Canada | 51,170 | 47,850 | ||||
| Revenues | 36,992 | 9,589 | 46,581 | 34,631 | 9,949 | 44,580 |
| Expenses | 40,407 | 4,798 | 45,205 | 42,814 | 4,265 | 47,079 |
| Profit as reported | 1,376 | (negative 2,499) | ||||
| Adjustments and others | 1,863 | 1,839 | ||||
| Profit (Loss) | 3,239 | (negative 660) | ||||
| Other changes in equity | ||||||
| Equity adjustments and other | (negative 11) | 13 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 920 | (negative 221) | ||||
| DividendsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 44 | (negative 1,184) | (negative 1,423) | ||||
| CapitalLinks to footnote 2 in Table 44 | 356 | 290 | ||||
| Subtotal | 3,320 | (negative 2,001) | ||||
| Equity of Canada at beginning of year | 47,850 | 49,851 | ||||
| Equity of Canada at end of year | 51,170 | 47,850 | ||||
| Contingent liabilities | 9,396 | 8,652 | ||||
| Contractual obligations | 62,253 | |||||
Table 44 notesGeneral notes:
| ||||||
(b) Non-public property
Non-public property (NPP), as defined under the National Defence Act, consists of money and property contributed to or by Canadian Forces members and is administered for their benefit and welfare by the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). Morale and welfare and military family programs, services and activities are provided across Canada and overseas through NPP entities, including CFMWS, Canadian Forces Charitable Fund (CFCF), Canadian Forces Exchange System (CANEX), Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP), Canadian Forces Charitable Funds and those local to Bases and Wings. Under the National Defence Act, NPP is explicitly excluded from the Financial Administration Act. The government provides some services related to NPP activities such as accommodation and security for which no amount is charged. The cost of providing these services is included in the consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada. In 2025, NPP administered estimated revenues and expenses of $543 million ($462 million in 2024) and $470 million ($420 million in 2024) respectively, and had net equity of $989 million at March 31, 2025 ($897 million at March 31, 2024). These amounts are excluded from the consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada.
20. Other loans, investments and advances
Other loans, investments and advances are financial claims through debt instruments held by others that are owing to the government and ownership interests acquired through the use of parliamentary appropriations, excluding investments in enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises.
Significant accounting policies
Other loans, investments and advances are initially recorded at cost, and where applicable, are discounted to reflect any concessionary terms. Concessionary terms include cases where loans are made on a long-term, low interest or interest-free basis, or include forgiveness clauses, and are recorded as a transfer payment expense at the time of initial recognition. Other loans and advances are subsequently measured at amortized cost.
When necessary, an allowance for valuation is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of other loans, investments and advances to amounts that approximate their net recoverable value. The valuation allowance for other loans, investments and advances reflects the collectability and risk of loss based on past events, current conditions, known circumstances and if applicable a provision for forgiveness. The determination of the valuation allowance considers the borrower's or group of borrowers' credit risk rating, collateral provided, recent collection history, economic situation in the country or industry of operation, repayment mechanisms in place and any other known circumstances impacting collectability. Subsequent changes in valuation allowances are recognized as expenses. When other loans, investments and advances are determined to be uncollectible, with no realistic prospect of recovery, they are written off. Subsequent recoveries are recorded as revenue when received.
Portfolio investments are measured at amortized cost unless quoted in an active market, in which case they are measured at fair value.
Measurement uncertainty
Other loans, investments and advances are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the use of estimates relating to the valuation allowance that reflects the possibility of losses associated with potential defaults, as well as for determining whether investments are concessionary in nature and the valuation of the concession.
The estimate of the provision for other loans, investments and advances is regularly reviewed and refined in light of several factors, including: historical loan loss rates, residual values, expert judgment, management assumptions, and model-based approaches that consider current economic conditions. Credit risk exposure for loans to national governments can lead to material variances in the valuation allowance for other loans and advances. Similarly, any changes to the terms of Canada's investments (such as changes to the interest rate, forgiveness terms, the expected return on investment, and how much of the initial capital is expected to be returned) would result in a review of the estimates used to determine any associated concessions. There is limited historical experience to assess the expected recoveries of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans which may lead to a material variance in the valuation of the loans receivable.
The following table presents a summary of the balances of other loans, investments and advances by category:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrying Amount | Valuation allowance | Net Carrying Amount | Carrying Amount | Valuation allowance | Net Carrying Amount | |
| Portfolio InvestmentsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 45 | 2,240 | 66 | 2,174 | 2,394 | 70 | 2,324 |
| Capital Subscriptions - international organizations | 19,039 | 19,039 | – | 18,350 | 18,350 | – |
| Loans and Advances | ||||||
| Canada Emergency Business Account Loans | 7,758 | 5,354 | 2,404 | 8,507 | 4,942 | 3,565 |
| Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans | 25,351 | 5,258 | 20,093 | 22,814 | 4,926 | 17,888 |
| Unconditionally repayable contributions | 9,828 | 1,112 | 8,716 | 9,053 | 995 | 8,058 |
| Other loans and advances | 31,221 | 13,444 | 17,777 | 25,799 | 13,176 | 12,623 |
| Total Loans and Advances | 74,158 | 25,168 | 48,990 | 66,173 | 24,039 | 42,134 |
| Total other loans, investments and advances | 95,437 | 44,273 | 51,164 | 86,917 | 42,459 | 44,458 |
Table 45 notesGeneral notes:
| ||||||
The following table presents a summary of the balances of other loans, investments and advances by currency:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loans, investments and advances in base currency | Foreign exchange rate | Loans, investments and advances in CAD | Loans, investments and advances in CAD | |
| Canadian dollar | 86,278 | 86,278 | 78,827 | |
| US dollar | 5,253 | 1.4385 | 7,556 | 6,751 |
| Special drawing rights | 656 | 1.9113 | 1,254 | 1,226 |
| Various other currencies | 349 | 113 | ||
| Total | 95,437 | 86,917 | ||
Table 46 notesGeneral notes:
| ||||
Portfolio investments include investments such as bonds, equity investments, money market funds, fixed income securities, and hybrid capital.
Capital subscriptions are composed of both paid-in and callable capital of multilateral development banks. These investments are treated as concessionary as they do not provide a return on investment, but are repayable on termination of the organization or withdrawal from it.
Loans under the CEBA program were provided interest free until January 18, 2024. These loans included repayment incentives of up to a maximum of $20,000 forgiveness on loans of $60,000, where loan repayment was made in full by January 18, 2024 (March 28, 2024 with refinancing application). Loans not repaid by January 18, 2024, were not eligible for forgiveness but are subject to a one-time extension of three years and 5% interest per annum commencing on January 19, 2024. No principal repayments are required until December 31, 2026, at which time the entire loan becomes due and payable. In 2025, $258 million of loans were repaid and a valuation allowance of $5,354 million for estimated credit losses was applied to the outstanding loans ($21,339 million of loans were repaid in 2024 and a valuation allowance of $4,942 million). The valuation allowance includes $5,006 million of loans ($4,842 million in 2024) that were determined to be impaired due to events of default including overdue payments and bankruptcy. The following table provides an aging analysis of CEBA loans:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Emergency Business Account Loans | ||
| Not past due and not impaired | 2,752 | 3,665 |
| Past due | – | – |
| Impaired | 5,006 | 4,842 |
| Subtotal | 7,758 | 8,507 |
| Less: Allowance | 5,354 | 4,942 |
| Total | 2,404 | 3,565 |
Table 47 notes
|
||
Effective April 1, 2023, loans under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and Canada Apprentice Loans are provided interest-free and no longer accrue interest. A concessionary amount of $1,108 million for newly issued loans ($1,016 million in 2024) is recognized as a transfer payment expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit. The loans are recorded net of the concessionary amount, which will be amortized over the term of the loans. The repayment period is generally 10 years, with a maximum of 15 years. Repayments are not required while borrowers are completing their studies, enrolled in their apprentice program, or during a 6-month period following completion. The following table provides an aging analysis of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans | ||
| Not past due and not impaired | 21,589 | 19,113 |
| Number of days past due | ||
| 1 to 90 | 818 | 977 |
| 91 to 365 | 184 | 154 |
| Impaired | 2,760 | 2,570 |
| Subtotal | 25,351 | 22,814 |
| Less: Allowance | 5,258 | 4,926 |
| Total | 20,093 | 17,888 |
Unconditionally repayable contributions are administered under a transfer payment program to achieve objectives such as stimulating economic development and providing international assistance in support of sustainable development goals. The recipients are expected to repay all or part of the amounts advanced. As there is an expected financial return, they are in substance loans. Certain contributions are non-interest bearing and others bear interest at rates varying from 0.3% to 7.0%. Generally, unconditionally repayable contributions have concessional terms, with final instalments due within 1 to 30 years of initial disbursement. Unconditionally repayable contributions are recorded in part as transfer payment expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit when their economic value is reduced due to their concessionary terms.
Other loans and advances consist primarily of loans to international organizations and loans to national governments. Loans and advances to international organizations are primarily made to banks and associations that use these funds to make loans to developing countries at significant concessionary terms. Loans to national governments consist mainly of loans to support economic resilience, development assistance, or development of export trade. In 2025, the Government provided $2,900 million ($2,000 million in 2024) in financial assistance in the form of interest-bearing loans to Ukraine. As at March 31, 2025, the outstanding loan balance to Ukraine was $9,842 million ($6,908 million as at March 31, 2024). Certain loans are non-interest bearing and others bear interest at rates varying from 0.6% to 10.3%. These loans are repayable over 1 to 55 years, with final instalments due in 2071.
21. Tangible capital assets and inventories
Tangible capital assets consist of acquired, built, developed or improved tangible assets whose useful lives extend beyond the fiscal year and which are intended to be used on an ongoing basis for producing goods or delivering services, including military activities. Tangible capital assets include land; buildings; works and infrastructure; machinery and equipment including computer hardware and software; vehicles including ships, aircraft and others; leasehold improvements; and assets under construction. Tangible capital assets also include assets under capital lease. Renewal options for assets under capital leases are typically for periods of 3 to 5 years and are exercisable at the discretion of the lessee. Certain tangible capital assets relate to public-private partnerships (P3s), where the government enters into long-term agreements with private sector partners to design, build, acquire or better tangible capital assets, and for operating and/or maintaining those assets once they are ready for use. The government’s private sector partners, who provide partial or complete financing for the transactions, are not granted ownership interests in the assets. Detailed information on tangible capital assets is provided in Section 10 (unaudited) of this volume.
Inventories are comprised of spare parts and supplies held for future program delivery and are not primarily intended for resale.
Significant accounting policies
The costs of acquiring land, buildings, equipment and other capital property are capitalized as tangible capital assets and, except for land, are amortized to expense over the estimated useful lives of the assets. For certain tangible capital assets where the costs were not readily available, such as older buildings, estimated current costs have been extrapolated retroactively in a systematic and rational manner to approximate original costs. When significant parts of a tangible capital asset have different useful lives, they may be accounted for as separate items (major components) of capital assets with amortization being recognized over the useful life of each major component. Estimated useful lives of assets are included in the table below.
Assets acquired under capital leases are recorded at the present value of the minimum lease payments using the appropriate discount rate, which is generally the lower of the interest rate implicit in the lease and government’s rate of incremental borrowing at the inception of the lease. These assets are amortized over the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset in accordance with the asset type when terms allow ownership to pass to the government. The corresponding lease obligations are recorded under unmatured debt in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
When conditions indicate that a tangible capital asset no longer contributes to the government’s ability to provide goods and services, or that the value of future economic benefits associated with the tangible capital asset is less than its net book value, the cost of the tangible capital asset is reduced to reflect the decline in the asset’s value.
Tangible capital assets do not include immovable assets located on reserves as defined in the Indian Act; works of art, museum collections and Crown land to which no acquisition cost is attributable; and developed and non-purchased intangibles. Acquisitions of works of art and museum collections consisting mainly of paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, monuments, films and videos are expensed in the fiscal year in which they are acquired.
Inventories are valued at cost. Inventories that no longer have service potential are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Items for which the costs are not readily available are valued using management’s best estimate of original cost, based on available information.
Measurement uncertainty
Tangible capital assets are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the estimation of the expected useful lives of the assets. In determining the expected useful lives, factors taken into account include experience, industry trends, changing technologies and expectations for the in-service period of these assets.
The appropriateness of useful lives of assets and amortization methods is assessed periodically, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis. Changes to useful life estimates would affect future amortization expenses and future carrying values of tangible capital assets.
Judgment is used in determining the appropriate level of componentization when a tangible capital asset comprises individual components for which different amortization rates are appropriate.
Inventory is subject to measurement uncertainty due to the estimation of the net realizable value at year-end which considers the estimated value of obsolete inventory.
Except for land, the cost of tangible capital assets used in government operations is generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:
| Buildings | 10 to 125 years |
|---|---|
| Works and infrastructure | 5 to 100 years |
| Machinery and equipment | 1 to 40 years |
| Vehicles | 2 to 50 years |
| Leasehold improvements | lesser of useful life of improvement or lease term |
| Assets under construction | once in service, in accordance with asset type |
| Assets under capital leases | in accordance with asset type or over the lease term |
The following table presents a summary of the transactions and balances for the main categories of tangible capital assets:
| Cost | Accumulated amortization | Net book value 2025Links to footnote 2 in Table 50 | Net book value 2024 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | Acquisitions | Disposals | AdjustmentsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 50 | Closing balance | Opening balance | Amortization expense | Disposals | Adjustments | Closing balance | |||
| Land | 2,386 | 13 | (negative 4) | 16 | 2,411 | – | – | – | – | – | 2,411 | 2,386 |
| Buildings | 42,822 | 211 | (negative 136) | 1,611 | 44,508 | 23,143 | 1,052 | (negative 107) | 1 | 24,089 | 20,419 | 19,679 |
| Works and infrastructure | 25,391 | 136 | (negative 67) | 949 | 26,409 | 12,536 | 687 | (negative 53) | 20 | 13,190 | 13,219 | 12,855 |
| Machinery and equipment | 47,379 | 1,063 | (negative 2,691) | 1,269 | 47,020 | 33,787 | 2,333 | (negative 2,651) | (negative 426) | 33,043 | 13,977 | 13,592 |
| Vehicles | 52,281 | 435 | (negative 696) | 2,796 | 54,816 | 33,757 | 1,540 | (negative 580) | 345 | 35,062 | 19,754 | 18,524 |
| Leasehold improvements | 4,531 | 21 | (negative 77) | 225 | 4,700 | 2,895 | 225 | (negative 63) | 7 | 3,064 | 1,636 | 1,636 |
| Assets under construction | 33,403 | 14,730 Links to footnote 3 in Table 50 | (negative 121) | (negative 6,759) | 41,253 | – | – | – | – | – | 41,253 | 33,403 |
| Assets under capital leases | 4,374 | 199Links to footnote 3 in Table 50 | (negative 42) | (negative 97) | 4,434 | 1,897 | 207 | (negative 42) | (negative 50) | 2,012 | 2,422 | 2,477 |
| Total | 212,567 | 16,808 | (negative 3,834) | 10 | 225,551 | 108,015 | 6,044 | (negative 3,496) | (negative 103) | 110,460 | 115,091 | 104,552 |
Table 50 notes
| ||||||||||||
22. Financial instruments
The government uses various financial instruments to manage financial risks associated with its financial assets and liabilities. The government does not hold or use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
(a) Classification and risks overview
The government's financial instruments, the classification, and the nature of certain risks to which they may be exposed are as set out in the following table:
| $ millions | Note | Credit | Liquidity | Currency | Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial liabilities by class | ||||||
| Measured at amortized cost | ||||||
| Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 68,392 | 8 | X | |||
| Market debt | ||||||
| Domestic debtLinks to footnote 1 in Table 51 | 1,451,649 | 11 | X | X | ||
| Foreign debt | 29,557 | 11 | X | X | X | |
| Swap collateral deposit | 255 | 14 | X | |||
| Loan guarantees | 604,748 | 9 | X | |||
| Measured at fair value | ||||||
| Derivative liabilities | 5,583 | 13 | X | X | X | |
| Financial assets by class | ||||||
| Measured at cost or amortized cost | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 54,109 | 15 | X | |||
| Other accounts receivable, net of allowanceLinks to footnote 2 in Table 51 | 11,157 | 17 | X | |||
| Cash collateral pledged | 3,456 | 17 | X | X | X | |
| Foreign Exchange Accounts | 18 | X | X | X | ||
| Exchange Fund Account | ||||||
| Deposits | 11,441 | X | X | |||
| Marketable securities | 133,375 | X | X | X | ||
| Investment in Canada Mortgage Bonds—on loan | 1,834 | 19 | X | |||
| Other loans, investments and advances: | 20 | |||||
| Unconditionally repayable contributions | 8,716 | X | X | |||
| Loans receivable: | ||||||
| Student loans | 20,093 | X | ||||
| CEBA loans | 2,404 | X | ||||
| Capital Subscriptions—International Organizations | – | X | ||||
| Other | 17,777 | X | X | |||
| Measured at fair value | ||||||
| Derivative assets | 1,752 | 13 | X | X | X | |
| Portfolio investmentsLinks to footnote 3 in Table 51 | 1,115 | 20 | X | X | X | |
Table 51 notesGeneral notes:
|
||||||
(b) Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss.
Except for loan guarantees, the government's maximum exposure to credit risk is the carrying amount of its financial assets. The maximum exposure to credit risk related to guarantees is the principal amount outstanding as outlined in Note 9(b).
Cash and cash equivalents
The government has deposited cash with the Bank of Canada, from which management believes the risk of loss to be remote. The prudential liquidity balance is held by the Bank of Canada.
Exchange Fund Account
As specified in the Statement of Investment Policy (SIP) for the Government of Canada that sets out the policy governing the acquisition, management, and divestiture of assets held in the Exchange Fund Account (EFA), to help achieve the objective of preserving capital value, an entity must be deemed to have a credit rating of A - or higher to be eligible for investment by the EFA. The determination of credit quality is informed by external credit ratings and internal credit analysis.
Investment in Canada Mortgage Bonds – on loan
The government made its Canada Mortgage Bond holdings available to borrow through a securities lending program. As of March 31, 2025, $1,834 million of Canada Mortgage Bond holdings were on loan to third parties. The market value of the collateralized securities held totaled $1,926 million, representing 105% of the market value of securities loaned.
As of March 31, 2025, the majority of these investments were given a rating of AAA by external credit rating agencies. The external ratings are based on the second highest rating among those provided by Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Dominion Bond Rating Service.
| Maximum exposure to credit risk | |
|---|---|
| AAA | 108,022 |
| AA- to AA+ | 18,298 |
| A- to A+ | 7,055 |
| Total | 133,375 |
Concentration of credit risk
Concentrations of credit risk occur when a significant proportion of the portfolio is invested in securities subject to credit risk with similar characteristics or subject to similar economic, political or other conditions. The EFA may hold fixed income securities of highly rated sovereigns, central banks, government-supported entities and supranational organizations. The EFA may also make deposits and execute other transactions, up to prescribed limits and subject to credit rating criteria, with commercial financial institutions. The SIP ensures that the EFA's asset portfolio is prudently diversified with respect to credit risk by placing limits on holdings by class of issuer (sovereign, agency, supranational, corporation or commercial financial institution), by individual issuer or counterparty, and by type of instrument. It also specifies the treatment of holdings that do not meet eligibility criteria or limits due to exceptional circumstances such as ratings downgrades. The following table provides the fair value of the investments held in the EFA as at March 31, 2025, by currency and class of issuer:
| EUR | GBP | JPY | USD | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | |
| Securities issued by: | ||||||||||
| Sovereigns | 8,717 | 44 | 7,867 | 60 | 6,274 | 100 | 55,582 | 62 | 78,440 | 61 |
| Sub-sovereign entities | 752 | 4 | 565 | 4 | – | – | 3,938 | 4 | 5,255 | 4 |
| Supranational entities | 5,960 | 31 | 3,483 | 26 | – | – | 20,316 | 22 | 29,759 | 23 |
| Implicit agencies | 3,994 | 21 | 1,287 | 10 | – | – | 10,797 | 12 | 16,078 | 12 |
| Fair value of securities held by the EFA | 19,423 | 100 | 13,202 | 100 | 6,274 | 100 | 90,633 | 100 | 129,532 | 100 |
| Carrying value of securities held by the EFA | 20,299 | – | 13,595 | – | 6,517 | – | 92,964 | – | 133,375 | – |
Table 53 notes
|
||||||||||
Other accounts receivable
There is no significant concentration of credit risk related to billed and accrued financial claims. An analysis of the age of these financial assets and the associated valuation allowances used to reflect these accounts at their net recoverable value is disclosed in Note 17.
Other accounts receivable also includes cash collateral pledged to counterparties on swap agreements. Credit risk related to these agreements is discussed with respect to derivatives below.
Other loans, investments and advances
The government intentionally takes on counterparty risk related to other loans, investments and advances with concessionary terms in order to support various policy aims. Other loans are issued pursuant to legislation or based on the established criteria set out under various loan programs. These loans have been provided to different borrowers such as small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, students, national governments, and international organizations.
Loans under the CEBA program to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations were provided to help these entities navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and remain resilient. Loans to students under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program are provided to help students pay for their post-secondary education. Other loans and unconditionally repayable contributions are provided to various recipients including international organizations, banks, associations and national governments under various acts or programs, these instruments can include concessionary terms. These instruments are not provided based on a credit risk assessment of the borrower, but based on individual program criteria. Under these programs, various levels of credit risk are assumed. Credit risk is reduced on loans provided to national governments through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) mechanism as the principal and interest of bilateral loan commitments is repaid by extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets.
Valuation allowances are applied accordingly to reflect these accounts at their net recoverable amount. The valuation allowances take into consideration the borrower’s or group of borrowers’ credit risk rating, recent collection history, economic situation in the country or industry of operation, repayment mechanisms in place and any other known circumstances impacting collectability. These accounts are described in detail in Note 20.
Derivatives
For cross-currency swaps and foreign exchange forward contracts, the government manages its exposure to credit risk by dealing with counterparties having acceptable credit ratings.
The credit risk associated with cross-currency swaps is mitigated through netting provisions in the ISDA Master Agreements, which govern cross-currency swaps entered into by the government and which give the government the right, upon default of a counterparty, to settle all contracts with that counterparty under the particular ISDA Master Agreement on a net basis. This reduces the maximum exposure to credit risk from cross-currency swaps in the event of a counterparty’s default, in that the government may offset the amounts due from that counterparty with the obligations due to that counterparty under all derivative contracts covered by the particular ISDA Master Agreement.
Credit risk is also managed through collateral provisions in swap and foreign exchange forward agreements. The government enters into two-way Credit Support Annex (CSA) agreements for cross-currency swaps with certain counterparties pursuant to ISDA Master Agreements. Under the terms of those agreements, the government may be required to pledge and/or receive eligible collateral. In the normal course of business, these pledged collateral amounts (which may include cash and/or securities) will be returned to the pledgor when there are no longer any outstanding obligations. Collateral held in securities from counterparties has not been recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as the government does not obtain economic ownership unless the pledgor defaults. Collateral pledged by counterparties to the government may be liquidated in the event of default to mitigate credit losses.
Collateral pledged by counterparties under two-way CSA agreements as at March 31, 2025, is presented in the following table:
| Nominal amount | Fair value | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 255 | 255 |
| Securities | 4,006 | 4,138 |
| Total | 4,261 | 4,393 |
The collateral posted by counterparties is sufficient to cover the government’s entire net exposure to credit loss under derivative contracts. The government does not have a significant concentration of credit risk with any individual institution and does not anticipate any counterparty credit loss with respect to its swap and foreign exchange forward agreements.
The following table presents the contractual or notional principal amounts of the swap and foreign exchange forward agreements organized by credit ratings based on published Standard & Poor's credit ratings and stand-alone credit profiles at year end:
| Credit ratings | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 27,515 | 37,190 |
| A | 80,316 | 64,310 |
| A- | 23,201 | 20,105 |
| Total | 131,032 | 121,605 |
(c) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting its obligations associated with financial liabilities.
The fundamental objective of the government’s debt management strategy is to provide stable, low-cost funding to meet the government’s financial obligations and liquidity needs. The government has access to multiple active borrowing programs, including those in the domestic Canadian market and those in foreign currency markets. Through the Borrowing Authority Act (BAA) and the Financial Administration Act (FAA), parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to borrow money on behalf of His Majesty in right of Canada. Details of these programs are provided in Note 3(c) Borrowing Authorities.
Under its prudential liquidity plan, the government’s overall liquidity is maintained at a level sufficient to cover at least one month of net projected cash flows, including coupon payments and debt refinancing needs. The government holds liquid financial assets in the form of domestic cash deposits, including $20 billion in cash expressly designated for prudential liquidity, and foreign exchange reserves to safeguard its ability to meet payment obligations in situations where normal access to funding markets may be disrupted or delayed.
Proceeds of the government’s foreign currency borrowings are held in the Exchange Fund Account to provide liquidity and provide funds needed to promote orderly conditions for the Canadian dollar in foreign exchange markets.
The following table details the contractual maturities for the government’s significant financial liabilities. The amounts represent undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date the government can be required to pay. The table includes both principal and interest cash flows:
| Undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities | Less than one year or on demand | Later than one year and less than five years | Later than 5 years | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market debtLinks to footnote 1 in Table 56 (Note 11) | 510,073 | 486,946 | 724,262 | 1,721,281 |
| DerivativesLinks to footnote 2 in Table 56 (Note 13) | 17,421 | 51,560 | 81,343 | 150,324 |
| Other financial liabilitiesLinks to footnote 3 in Table 56 (Note 8) | 67,438 | 803 | 476 | 68,717 |
| Total | 594,932 | 539,309 | 806,081 | 1,940,322 |
Table 56 notes
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(d) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market risk comprises three types of risk: currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk.
i. Currency risk
Currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The government is exposed to currency risk through fluctuations in foreign-denominated future cash flows, namely those related to investments in the Exchange Fund Account, foreign debt, loans to international organizations and derivatives including collateral.
Exchange Fund Account
Currency risk is managed using a strategy of matching the currency and the duration of the Exchange Fund Account assets and the related foreign currency borrowings of the government. As at March 31, 2025, the impact of exchange rate changes affecting the Exchange Fund Account assets and the liabilities funding the assets naturally offset each other, resulting in no significant impacts to the government’s net debt.
The majority of the Exchange Fund Account foreign currency assets and liabilities are held in 4 currency portfolios: US dollar, Euro, British pound sterling, and Japanese yen. The following table presents the net impact to the Exchange Fund Account, and the related foreign-denominated debt, cross-currency swaps and foreign exchange forward contracts of a 1% appreciation in the Canadian dollar as at March 31, 2025, as compared to the US dollar, euro, British pound sterling and the Japanese yen.
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign currency | ||
| US dollar | (negative 7) | (negative 2) |
| Euro | 1 | 2 |
| British pound sterling | (negative 5) | (negative 4) |
| Japanese yen | (negative 2) | (negative 1) |
| (Loss) net impact of 1% appreciation in Canadian dollar against foreign currencies | (negative 13) | (negative 5) |
The net foreign exchange gain included in net foreign exchange revenues, other revenues and other expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Deficit amounts to $303 million (net foreign exchange gain of $158 million in 2024).
ii. Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates.
The government’s exposure to interest rate risk principally arises from possible fluctuations in the future cash flows related to variable-rate cross-currency swaps due to changes in market interest rates.
The table below shows the sensitivity analysis of the possible net impact of an increase in interest rates of 100 basis points as at March 31 on cross-currency swaps.
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Decrease in derivativesLinks to footnote 1 in Table 58 | 1,558 |
| Increase in interest expense | 263 |
Table 58 notes
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|
Interest rate risk for the Exchange Fund Account is managed using a strategy of matching the duration of the assets with the related borrowings of the government, the foreign debt and cross-currency swaps, under the asset-liability matching strategy. By matching the duration of the assets with that of the liabilities, a change in interest rates has a similar effect on the fair value of both assets and liabilities.
The government’s domestic debt, cash equivalents and certain other loans, investments and advances generally bear fixed interest rates. Although subject to interest rate risk because the fair value of these instruments will be affected by changes in market interest rates, there is no impact in the consolidated financial statements as these financial instruments are measured at cost or amortized cost.
iii. Other price risk
Other price risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices, other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk, whether those changes are caused by factors specific to the individual financial instrument or its issuer, or factors affecting all similar financial instruments traded in the market.
In 2022, the government stopped issuing new real-return bonds. However, the government is exposed to inflation risk through its existing real return bonds, as interest and principal payments are adjusted for changes in the consumer price index (CPI). If the CPI applicable to real return bonds were to increase by 5% at March 31, 2025, the carrying amount of the bonds as at that date would increase by $3,831 million ($3,769 million in 2024), with the adjustment recognized immediately as an expense charge. Such a change would also increase annual interest expenses by $81 million. A decrease in the CPI would have the opposite effect, by decreasing the carrying amount of the bonds, with the adjustment recognized immediately as income, and by decreasing annual interest expense.
Other than inflation risk, the government is not exposed to significant other price risk.
23. Contractual obligations and contractual rights
(a) Contractual obligations
The nature of government activities results in large multi-year contracts and agreements, including international treaties, protocols and agreements of various size and importance. Detailed information on contractual obligations is provided in Section 11 (unaudited) of this volume.
Significant accounting policies
Contractual obligations are financial obligations of the government to others that will become liabilities when the terms of those contracts or agreements for the acquisition of goods and services or the provision of transfer payments are met. Major outstanding contractual obligations are disclosed when terms allow for a reasonable estimate. In the case of perpetual agreements, disclosure is provided for a ten-year period despite the obligation existing in perpetuity. Contractual obligations do not include the government’s obligations related to ongoing programs such as health, welfare, education and major transfers to provinces and persons. In these cases, the government does not have a contractual obligation to others and maintains complete discretion as to whether to modify the delivery of these programs.
Measurement uncertainty
While there are no significant measurement uncertainties related to contractual obligations, some measurement uncertainty is inherent in all estimates. Contractual obligations for transfer payment agreements and international organizations are subject to some measurement uncertainty where obligations are dependent upon a future activity of the other underlying party to the agreement, requiring the use of estimates in the disclosure of future expenses. These estimates also consider factors such as experience or general economic conditions. For perpetual agreements specifically, there exists measurement uncertainty due to the selection of a ten-year basis of measurement, as well as through the use of a price index in developing an estimate.
Major contractual obligations that will generate expenditures in future years and that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:
| Minimum payments expected to be made in: | Transfer payment agreementsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 59 | Capital assets and purchases | Operating leases | International organizationsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 59 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 65,971 | 30,260 | 478 | 2,084 | 98,793 |
| 2027 | 40,194 | 21,237 | 456 | 1,035 | 62,922 |
| 2028 | 31,731 | 18,048 | 429 | 589 | 50,797 |
| 2029 | 23,049 | 11,263 | 367 | 371 | 35,050 |
| 2030 | 18,366 | 7,321 | 270 | 261 | 26,218 |
| 2031 and subsequent | 37,695 | 27,177 | 1,329 | 638 | 66,839 |
| Total | 217,006 | 115,306 | 3,329 | 4,978 | 340,619 |
Table 59 notes
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(b) Contractual rights
The activities of government sometimes involve the negotiation of contracts or agreements with outside parties that result in the government having rights to both assets and revenues in the future. They principally involve sales of goods and services, leases of property, and royalties and revenue/profit-sharing arrangements while all other contractual rights are combined for reporting purposes. The government has agreements that provide contractual rights to future revenue based on a percentage of revenue or profits of the other party to the agreement or based on receiving an amount for each unit of goods sold. The terms of these contracts or agreements may not allow for a reasonable estimate of future revenues.
Significant accounting policies
Contractual rights to economic resources arising from contracts and agreements that will result in both an asset and revenue in the future are disclosed when terms allow for a reasonable estimate.
Measurement uncertainty
Contractual rights are subject to measurement uncertainty due to the terms and conditions of certain agreements resulting in contractual rights. Certain rights are dependent on the sales or other future activity of the other party to the agreement, requiring the use of estimates in the disclosure of future revenue. Estimates may be based on factors such as experience or general economic conditions.
Where the terms of contracts and agreements allow for a reasonable estimate, the major contractual rights are summarized in the table presented below. Detailed information on contractual rights is provided in Section 11 (unaudited) of this volume.
| Revenue expected to be received in: | Sales of goods and services | Leases of property | Royalties and revenue/profit-sharing arrangements | Other | Contractual rights subject to non-disclosure clauses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3,590 | 631 | 4 | 591 | 2 | 4,818 |
| 2027 | 3,836 | 662 | 2 | 488 | 2 | 4,990 |
| 2028 | 4,036 | 694 | 2 | 773 | 3 | 5,508 |
| 2029 | 4,293 | 723 | 5 | 816 | 3 | 5,840 |
| 2030 | 4,547 | 736 | 4 | 919 | 3 | 6,209 |
| 2031 and subsequent | 10,207 | 918 | 6 | 6,308 | 165 | 17,604 |
| Total | 30,509 | 4,364 | 23 | 9,895 | 178 | 44,969 |
24. Segmented information
The government segmented information is based on the ministry structure, which groups the activities of departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations and other entities for which a Minister is responsible, and the enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises as described in Note 1 and Note 19.
Significant accounting policies
The presentation by segment is prepared in accordance with the accounting policies adopted for preparing and presenting the consolidated financial statements of the government. Inter-segment transfers are measured at the exchange amount.
Measurement uncertainty
There are no significant measurement uncertainties related to segmented information.
In the table below, the five main ministries are reported separately, and the Other ministries column includes amounts for all other ministries as well as the provision for valuation and other items. The following tables present the segmented information by Ministry and enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises before the elimination of internal transactions that are eliminated in the adjustments column before arriving at the total for the year ended March 31:
| 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment, Workforce and Development | Finance | National Defence | National Revenue | Public Safety | Other ministries | Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | AdjustmentsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 61 | Total | |
| Revenues | |||||||||
| Tax revenues | |||||||||
| Income tax revenues | – | – | – | 344,801 | – | – | – | – | 344,801 |
| Other taxes and duties | – | – | – | 30,207 | 41,697 | – | – | – | 71,904 |
| Total tax revenues | – | – | – | 375,008 | 41,697 | – | – | – | 416,705 |
| Employment insurance premiums | 32,104 | – | – | – | – | – | – | (negative 574) | 31,530 |
| Pollution pricing proceeds | – | – | – | 13,537 | – | 15 | – | – | 13,552 |
| Other revenues | |||||||||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,048 | – | 8,048 |
| Net foreign exchange revenues and return on investments | 15 | 5,792 | (negative 9) | – | – | 970 | – | – | 6,768 |
| Other program revenues | 4,748 | 1,051 | 377 | 17,154 | 3,757 | 29,572 | – | (negative 22,311) | 34,348 |
| Total other revenues | 4,763 | 6,843 | 368 | 17,154 | 3,757 | 30,542 | 8,048 | (negative 22,311) | 49,164 |
| Total revenues | 36,867 | 6,843 | 368 | 405,699 | 45,454 | 30,557 | 8,048 | (negative 22,885) | 510,951 |
| Expenses | |||||||||
| Program expenses | |||||||||
| Transfer payments | |||||||||
| Old age security benefits, guaranteed income supplement and spouse's allowance | 80,294 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 80,294 |
| Major transfer payments to other levels of government | 6,639 | 91,794 | – | – | – | 6,668 | – | – | 105,101 |
| Employment insurance and support measures | 24,880 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 24,880 |
| Children's benefits | 1 | – | – | 28,573 | – | – | – | – | 28,574 |
| COVID-19 income support for workers | (negative 2,169) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (negative 2,169) |
| Pollution pricing proceeds returned | – | – | – | 15,450 | – | 145 | – | – | 15,595 |
| Other transfer payments | 10,581 | 832 | 1,592 | 9,257 | 737 | 84,776 | – | (negative 635) | 107,140 |
| Total transfer payments | 120,226 | 92,626 | 1,592 | 53,280 | 737 | 91,589 | – | (negative 635) | 359,415 |
| Other expenses, excluding net actuarial losses (gains) | 12,598 | 3,219 | 34,733 | 16,719 | 18,233 | 67,188 | – | (negative 22,236) | 130,454 |
| Total program expenses, excluding net actuarial losses (gains) | 132,824 | 95,845 | 36,325 | 69,999 | 18,970 | 158,777 | – | (negative 22,871) | 489,869 |
| Public debt charges | – | 53,153 | 63 | – | 1 | 207 | – | (negative 14) | 53,410 |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial losses (gains) | 132,824 | 148,998 | 36,388 | 69,999 | 18,971 | 158,984 | – | (negative 22,885) | 543,279 |
| Net actuarial losses (gains) | – | – | 4,698 | – | 1,141 | (negative 1,819) | – | – | 4,020 |
| Total expenses | 132,824 | 148,998 | 41,086 | 69,999 | 20,112 | 157,165 | – | (negative 22,885) | 547,299 |
Table 61 notesGeneral notes:
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| 2024 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment, Workforce and DevelopmentLinks to footnote 2 in Table 62 | Finance | National Defence | National RevenueLinks to footnote 2 in Table 62 | Public SafetyLinks to footnote 2 in Table 62 | Other ministriesLinks to footnote 2 in Table 62 | Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | AdjustmentsLinks to footnote 1 in Table 62 | Total | |
| Revenues | |||||||||
| Tax revenues | |||||||||
| Income tax revenues | – | – | – | 312,705 | – | – | – | – | 312,705 |
| Other taxes and duties | – | – | – | 29,507 | 39,908 | – | – | – | 69,415 |
| Total tax revenues | – | – | – | 342,212 | 39,908 | – | – | – | 382,120 |
| Employment insurance premiums | 30,156 | – | – | – | – | – | – | (negative 596) | 29,560 |
| Pollution pricing proceeds | – | – | – | 10,278 | – | 225 | – | – | 10,503 |
| Other revenues | |||||||||
| Enterprise Crown corporations and other government business enterprises | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3,217 | – | 3,217 |
| Net foreign exchange revenues and return on investments | 16 | 3,949 | 2 | – | – | 323 | – | – | 4,290 |
| Other program revenues | 4,441 | 827 | 402 | 15,204 | 3,624 | 26,869 | – | (negative 21,508) | 29,859 |
| Total other revenues | 4,457 | 4,776 | 404 | 15,204 | 3,624 | 27,192 | 3,217 | (negative 21,508) | 37,366 |
| Total revenues | 34,613 | 4,776 | 404 | 367,694 | 43,532 | 27,417 | 3,217 | (negative 22,104) | 459,549 |
| Expenses | |||||||||
| Program expenses | |||||||||
| Transfer payments | |||||||||
| Old age security benefits, guaranteed income supplement and spouse's allowance | 76,036 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 76,036 |
| Major transfer payments to other levels of government | 5,612 | 87,893 | – | – | – | 6,668 | – | – | 100,173 |
| Employment insurance and support measures | 23,130 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23,130 |
| Children's benefits | 1 | – | – | 26,338 | – | – | – | – | 26,339 |
| COVID-19 income support for workers | (negative 4,838) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (negative 4,838) |
| Pollution pricing proceeds returned | – | – | – | 9,783 | – | 75 | – | – | 9,858 |
| Other transfer paymentsLinks to footnote 2 in Table 62 | 14,474 | (negative 604) | 1,131 | 8,259 | 1,757 | 71,452 | – | (negative 518) | 95,951 |
| Total transfer payments | 114,415 | 87,289 | 1,131 | 44,380 | 1,757 | 78,195 | – | (negative 518) | 326,649 |
| Other expenses, excluding net actuarial losses (gains) | 12,562 | 2,319 | 32,187 | 16,169 | 17,241 | 81,108 | – | (negative 21,572) | 140,014 |
| Total program expenses, excluding net actuarial (gains) losses | 126,977 | 89,608 | 33,318 | 60,549 | 18,998 | 159,303 | – | (negative 22,090) | 466,663 |
| Public debt charges | – | 47,007 | 64 | – | 1 | 216 | – | (negative 15) | 47,273 |
| Total expenses, excluding net actuarial (gains) losses | 126,977 | 136,615 | 33,382 | 60,549 | 18,999 | 159,519 | – | (negative 22,105) | 513,936 |
| Net actuarial (gains) losses | – | – | 6,540 | – | 1,503 | (negative 554) | – | – | 7,489 |
| Total expenses | 126,977 | 136,615 | 39,922 | 60,549 | 20,502 | 158,965 | – | (negative 22,105) | 521,425 |
Table 62 notesGeneral notes:
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