Briefing binder created for the Deputy Minister of Finance on the occasion of his appearance at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on April 14, 2026 on the Comprehensive Expenditure Review 

Department of Finance Review

Key Messages

• The Department of Finance will implement Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER) measures resulting in savings of $10.7 million in 2026-27, increasing to $14.2 million in 2027-28 and $21.3 million in 2028-29 and ongoing.
• An estimated $5 million in ongoing savings is set to come from optimised risk management practices associated with the Exchange Fund Account (EFA). The savings are expected to materialize through lower public debt charges, due to lower funding costs for the EFA.
• CER savings are being implemented through a planned reduction in staffing levels over three years, supported by workforce realignment and organizational changes that maintain delivery of core policy and corporate functions.
• This represents a cumulative reduction of 94 full-time equivalent positions by 2028-29.
• As a result of careful planning, vacancy management, and limiting external staffing, the Department has already achieved approximately 60% of the position reductions required to meet CER targets.
• The remaining savings are being focused on reorganizing resources within and across policy branches, centralizing administrative functions across the Department, and achieving efficiencies in internal service areas by modernizing tools, processes, and functions.
• In December 2025, the Department provided affected letters to 84 employees, advising them that their services may no longer be required and introducing a voluntary departure program that ran to February 3. The Department planned to reduce up to 40 positions through the voluntary departure program or subsequent workforce adjustment measures, as required.
• The voluntary departure program resulted in 17 voluntary departures. The Department has since rescinded the affected status of 13 employees whose services will be retained. In addition, the Department has informed 8 employees that their positions have been declared surplus. There remain 42 affected employees whose services may no longer be required.

Details & Supplementary Information

Alongside the Department of Finance, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), as organizations within the Minister of Finance's portfolio, implemented CER-related measures, generating savings and spending reductions.

Department of Finance

Specifically, the Department of Finance will achieve the planned CER reductions by doing the following:

• Consolidating and reorganizing functions across policy branches to reduce duplication, strengthen coordination, and align resources with high-impact priority work.
• Centralizing administrative and back-office functions to improve consistency, streamline support services, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Rationalising operating expenditures, including travel, printing, and hospitality, to ensure responsible stewardship of public funds.
• Modernising internal processes through greater automation and the expansion of digital and artificial intelligence capabilities.
• Optimising risk management practices associated with the Exchange Fund Account.

No significant impacts on departmental operations or service delivery are anticipated.

Spending on professional services including the use of external contracting and consultants is not expected to increase as a result of CER.

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

FINTRAC is planning the following spending reductions to achieve its savings for CER:

• 2026-27: $3,289,000
• 2027-28: $4,385,000
• 2028-29: $6,578,000

It is anticipated that these spending reductions will involve a decrease of approximately 33 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2028-29.

Cost savings measures were identified across FINTRAC that focused on optimizing corporate expenditures, including travel and administrative expenses, and on our enabling functions to ensure they efficiently and effectively support FINTRAC's core programs.

FINTRAC's savings measures are also critical in supporting FINTRAC's broader modernization initiative, providing the organization with the flexibility to redirect resources toward the innovative tools, technology and capabilities needed for FINTRAC to remain relevant in the face of ever-advancing technology and a rapidly changing world.

Specifically, FINTRAC will achieve the planned CER reductions by doing the following:

• Streamlining operational costs across key functions.
• Workforce optimization – Strategic and operational support functions.
• Refocusing IM/IT resources for core deliverables.
• Strategic partnership, policy and analysis resource alignment.

No significant impacts on departmental operations or service delivery are anticipated.

Spending on professional services including the use of external contracting and consultants is not expected to increase as a result of CER.

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)

For OSFI, CER applies to the Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA), which is funded through parliamentary appropriations and provides actuarial services related to public sector pension and insurance plans. The remainder of OSFI is funded through assessments on financial institutions and private pension plans.

OSFI is planning the following spending reductions to achieve its savings for CER:

• 2026-27: $99,000
• 2027-28: $132,000
• 2028-29: $199,000

These reductions represent total savings of $430,000 over three years, with ongoing savings of $199,000, and correspond to a reduction of 0.6 FTEs by 2028-29.

The proposed savings focus on a targeted reduction within the OCA, while ensuring that all statutory actuarial obligations continue to be met. The measures leverage modernized actuarial tools, enhanced data analytics, and automation, allowing OSFI to continue delivering its core mandate in a complex and evolving risk environment.

Specifically, OSFI will achieve the planned CER reductions by doing the following:

• Reducing the size of the Office of the Chief Actuary team in a phased manner.
• Maintaining statutory actuarial reporting capability, including legislated triennial and annual reports.
• Leveraging new valuation systems and analytics tools to improve efficiency.
• Shifting certain services toward self service tools, reducing manual effort (e.g., pension calculation tools for judges).

No significant impacts on OSFI's core mandate or statutory responsibilities are anticipated.

Spending on professional services, including the use of external contractors and consultants, is not expected to increase as a result of CER.

Table 1b.1
Comprehensive Expenditure Review: Update on FSP Agencies - FINTRAC and OSFI (April 2026)

Organization Name	Type	Responsible Department	Lead Branch	Tabling of Departmental Plan	Additional Comments
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)	Agency	Finance	FSP	NA	OSFI is about 99 per cent industry funded and receives a $1.3 million voted appropriation—representing about 1 per cent of its total budget— for the Office of the Chief Actuary. OSFI plans to meet its mandatory CER reductions on its appropriated funding, and is expected to realize approximately $420 thousand in savings over the 2026-27 to 2028-29 period, and a reduction of approximately 0.6 FTEs from the Office of the Chief Actuary by 2028-29. *Redacted*
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)	Agency	Finance	FSP	Tabled on March 13	Applying mandatory CER reductions to its 2025-26 voted appropriation of $61 million (48 per cent of total budget), resulting in savings of $14.3 million over three years (2026-27 to 2028-29), a decrease of approximately 33 FTEs by 2028-29. Note: FINTRAC's 2026-27 Departmental Plan has been tabled in Parliament.
Note: As government agencies receiving voted appropriations, OSFI and FINTRAC were subject to mandatory CER reductions to their voted appropriation received in 2025-26. OSFI and FINTRAC were not formally requested to adhere to the "spirit and intent" of the exercise, as Enterprise Crown corporations were.

Comprehensive Expenditure Review: Key Facts and Figures

Department of Finance

Savings by Dollar Value

• The Department of Finance's implementation of the CER will result in savings of:
  • $10.7 million in 2026-27,
  • $14.2 million in 2027-28, and
  • $21.3 million in 2028-29.
• An estimated $5 million in ongoing savings is set to come from optimised risk management practices associated with the Exchange Fund Account (EFA). The savings are expected to materialize through lower public debt charges due to lower funding costs for the EFA.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Reductions

• The CER represents a cumulative reduction of 94 FTE positions in the Department by 2028-29.
• After factoring in normal attrition and planned changes, the Department will decrease FTE positions from 934 in 2026-27 to 826 in 2028-29, for a total of 108 positions.
• The total decrease in use of full-time equivalents from 2026-27 to 2028-29 is primarily due to the CER initiative and time-limited funding sunsetting in areas such as tax policy, financial sector policy and economic development.

Federal Public Service

Savings by Dollar Value

• Results of the CER were announced in Budget 2025, with total savings of:
  • $9 billion in 2026-27,
  • $10 billion in 2027-28, and
  • $13 billion in 2028-29.
• Combined with other savings and revenues, this amounts to $60 billion over five years beginning in 2025-26.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Reductions

• The CER represents an estimated reduction of 16,000 FTE positions to the public service workforce by 2028-29.
• After factoring in the CER, normal attrition and previous savings exercises, a total decline in the public service population of about 40,000 positions or 10% is projected in Budget 2025.
• These reductions will support the trend towards a more sustainable public service size of roughly 330,000 by 2028-29 from the peak of almost 368,000 in 2023-24.
• As of April 1, 2026, according to Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), federal departments and agencies in the core public administration of the public service have announced that 17,792 positions would be reduced through CER, with 9,738 of those positions to be reduced through Workforce Adjustment (WFA) directives for employees or Career Transition (CT) processes for executives. 

Budget 2025 Comprehensive Expenditure Review: Process

Key Messages

• Launched on July 7, 2025, the Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER) required Ministers to provide savings proposals representing up to 15% of their review base, which was tied to each organization's planned spending in the 2025-26 Main Estimates.
• The review was focused on modernizing government operations to achieve greater efficiency and slow the growth in direct program spending. Statutory transfer payments to provinces, territories and individuals were outside the scope of the review.
• Ministers were tasked with undertaking a thorough review of their organizations, identifying programs and activities that were underperforming, duplicative, or that had strayed away from the core federal mandate.
• Direction was provided to develop savings proposals using Gender-Based Analysis Plus to understand how Canadians, including vulnerable groups, would be affected.
• Central agencies (Finance Canada, the Privy Council Office (PCO) and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS)) worked with departments to ensure their proposals were sustainable and did not create program integrity pressures or impact the health, safety and the national security of Canadians.
• Evaluation of the proposals was done thoroughly, with strong governance. Supported by central agency officials, the Cabinet Committee on Government Transformation evaluated all proposals to ensure appropriate oversight and to apply a consistent approach.
• Following the Committee's review, the Minister of Finance, supported by Finance Canada, and the Prime Minister, supported by the Privy Council Office, made decisions for inclusion in Budget 2025.

Details & Supplementary Information

• The CER was not an across-the-board reduction exercise. It was a measured and strategic approach to improve public service productivity. To achieve this objective, federal departments and agencies undertook a thorough review of their organizations, identifying programs and activities that were underperforming, duplicative, or that had strayed away from the core federal mandate.
• The process applied to federally appropriated organizations, with the following exceptions:
  • Agents of Parliament and arms-length organizations to preserve their independence, and
  • Cost-recovered organizations, because including them would not generate savings.
• Departments were directed to develop proposals using Gender-Based Analysis Plus to understand how Canadians, including vulnerable groups, would be affected.
• Planned savings fall under three themes generally:
• Modernizing Government Operations ($25.2 billion over four years, 2026-27 to 2029-30)
• Streamlining Program Delivery ($1.5 billion over four years)
• Recalibrating Government Programs ($17.5 billion over four years)
• Savings from the CER across departments and programs vary, reflecting the need to protect the important mandates that some organisations have in delivering frontline services, social programs, and priorities such as defence and security. As such, the government set a lower savings target of 2% for the following organizations:
• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
• Communications Security Establishment (CSE)
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
• Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE)
• Department of National Defence (DND)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Budget 2025 Comprehensive Expenditure Review: Results

Key Messages

• Over the last decade, from 2015 to 2024, the federal public service grew by more than 40 per cent—double the rate of economic growth. Even after direct program expenses began to fall from their COVID-19 peak in 2020-21, the federal public service continued to expand.
• Recognizing that these increases were straining federal finances, the government launched the Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER), to identify savings by reducing duplication, inefficiencies and overlap across the federal government. Results were announced in Budget 2025, with total savings of $9 billion in 2026-27, $10 billion in 2027-28 and $13 billion in 2028-29. Combined with other savings and revenues, this amounts to $60 billion over five years, beginning in 2025-26.
• Savings achieved through the CER are supporting the government's fiscal anchor of balancing day-to-day operating spending with revenues by 2028-29, while creating fiscal room to redirect federal spending towards investments that will increase capital formation and enhance productivity.
• Importantly, this is not an across-the-board reduction exercise. It is a measured and strategic approach, that ensures savings do not impact the health, safety and security of Canadians. Accordingly, savings vary across departments and programs, with lower targets applied where necessary to protect the important mandate some organizations have in delivering frontline services, social programs, and priorities such as defence and security.
• As detailed in Budget 2025, Chapter 5, and Annex 3, efficiencies achieved fall under three categories generally:

1. Modernizing Government Operations ($25.2 billion over four years, 2026-27 to 2029-30). This includes increasing the efficiency of back-office and administrative functions, leveraging new technology, and limiting spending on discretionary travel and training, and the use of external consultants.
2. Streamlining Program Delivery ($1.5 billion over four years). To make programs more accessible for Canadians and improve administrative efficiency, this includes streamlining program delivery to improve services and reduce duplication.
3. Recalibrating Government Programs ($17.5 billion over four years). This represents refocusing several programs to prioritize spending that will deliver the greatest impact.

• By 2028-29, it is expected that reductions from CER will represent 4.9 per cent of projected direct program expenses as forecast in Budget 2025, with an estimated reduction of 16,000 full-time equivalents positions to the public service workforce.
• For comparison, the Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP) launched in Budget 2012 announced reductions of 4.5 per cent of direct program expenses at maturity, with an estimated reduction of approximately 19,200 full-time equivalents.
• After factoring in the CER, normal attrition and previous savings exercises, a total decline in the public service population of about 40,000 positions or 10 per cent is projected in Budget 2025, from the peak of almost 368,000 in 2023-24, to roughly 330,000 by the end of 2028-29.
• Departmental Plans, tabled in March 2026, provide additional details about how departments are implementing savings from the CER on a cash basis. The savings announced in Budget 2025 align with those in Departmental Plans, with two exceptions. For the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Veterans Affairs Canada, there are measures for which the savings profiles are different, reflecting the accrual basis of the Budget. Given this, Budget 2025 also included information on the cash savings for these two organizations.
• Budget 2025 included new spending to advance the government's objectives. The CER did not represent a freeze to departmental budgets. It allowed the government to spend less on day-to-day operating spending to invest more in priorities.

Details & Supplementary Information

Examples of Outcomes

• Adjusting Medical Cannabis Benefits to Reflect Market Price ($4.4 billion over four years): The government is aligning more closely with the current market prices for medical cannabis while providing the same benefits.
• Modernizing Supports for Canadian Industries and Workers ($2.1 billion over four years): Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Net Zero Accelerator has faced declining demand, despite targeted calls. To respond to the significant economic challenges resulting from U.S. tariffs and other geopolitical developments, the government is investing in the Strategic Response Fund to support Canadian industries and workers. This Fund will provide timely and robust supports to those who need it most to help grow our economy.
• Wrapping Up the Tree Planting Program ($0.2 billion over four years): The government is winding down the 2 Billion Tree program. Existing contribution agreements and commitments will be honoured, and uncommitted funds will be returned. The government remains committed to sustainable forest management practices – to date, the program has committed to planting nearly 1 billion trees. A new climate competitiveness strategy will drive investment in clean growth through the Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits.

Workforce Impacts

• The savings identified through CER are contributing to returning the size of the public service to a more sustainable level, with an estimated reduction of 16,000 full-time equivalents, or roughly 4.5% of the workforce as of March 2025. Of these reductions, some 650 will be executive positions, representing about 7% of the executive population. These reductions will support the trend towards a more sustainable public service size of roughly 330,000 by 2028-29.
• As at April 1, 2026, according to Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), federal departments and agencies in the core public administration of the public service have announced that 17,792 positions would be reduced through CER, with 9,738 of those positions to be reduced through Workforce Adjustment (WFA) directives for employees or Career Transition (CT) processes for executives.
• Savings will involve workforce adjustments and attrition to return the size of the public service to a more sustainable level. To manage these reductions to the greatest extent possible through attrition and voluntary departures, Budget 2025 introduced an Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program to be delivered through the Public Service Pension Plan. From March 26, 2026, to July 24, 2026, public servants at age 50 or above for Group 1 and age 55 or above for Group 2 who have at least ten years of employment, with at least two years of pensionable service in the Plan may apply to participate under criteria set by Treasury Board and approval by the organizational Deputy Head.
• Deputy Heads must consider the following Treasury Board-approved criteria when assessing ERI applications:
  • The organization needs to reduce its workforce;
  • Services to Canadians will be maintained; and,
  • Current and future operational or business needs will continue to be met.
• Eligible employees will be able to retire with an immediate pension based on years of service with no penalty for early retirement, with a date of retirement being no later than January 20, 2027.

Comparisons with Previous Exercises

Other Savings and Revenues

• The Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER) identified savings of $9 billion in 2026-27, $10 billion in 2027-28 and $13 billion in 2028-29; for a total of $44 billion over five- year Budget 2025 forecast horizon.
• Budget 2025 identified other savings and revenue measures, including:
  • $4.0 billion over five years in new revenue/lower expenses enabled by efficiencies at the Canada Revenue Agency
  • $7.75 billion over three years, starting in 2027-28, for Optimizing Productivity in Government (with further details to be provided in Budget 2026).
  • $1.2 billion over five years, starting in 2025-26, for Equitable Public Sector Retirement Benefits.
  • $1.0 billion over four years, starting in 2026-27, for Improving the Integrity of Student Financial Assistance.
  • $1.4 billion over five years, starting in 2025-26, for Protecting the Integrity of the Tax System.
• Altogether, these measures will save the government $60 billion over five years.

Budget 2025 Chapter 5 - $60 billion savings and revenues

Alto Conflict of Interest Filter

Key Messages

• In July 2025, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue notified the department that he was proactively putting in place a filter to safeguard against any real or perceived conflict of interest in relation to Alto. This screen was then formalized in September 2025.
• As Deputy Minister of Finance, it is a fundamental part of my role to protect the integrity of government decision-making and maintain public confidence in government institutions. Conflict of interest screens are a means of achieving that.
• The filter prevents the Minister from participating in any discussion or decision, other than those of a general nature, involving Alto.
• To ensure proper ministerial oversight and involvement, Secretary of State Wayne Long has been delegated to take the Minister's place when the filter is engaged.
• The Minister has undertaken to recuse himself if a matter covered by the conflict-of-interest filter is inadvertently referred to him.

*Redacted*

• A Minister's Conflict of Interest screen is developed in consultation between the Minister, their Chief of Staff, and the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner – not with the department.
• My role is to ensure the department administers screens in place, and this is done through clear and broad communications within the department as well as regular assessment of materials before they reach the Office of the Minister.

*Redacted*

• The Minister's screen on Alto was in place during development of Budget 2025 and BIA.
• As imposed by the screen, departmental officials ensured that Minister Champagne was removed from documents and specific discussions related to Alto, and Secretary Long provided Ministerial oversight.

Details & Supplementary Information

The media has reported on potential conflict of interest issues concerning the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and Alto.

On April 7, 2026, Michael Barrett, Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament, and critic for Ethics and Accountable Government, wrote to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, asking him to investigate his "concerns that the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, may have breached his obligations under the Conflict of Interest Act in relation to the interests of Anne-Marie Gaudet, Vice-President, Environment of Alto".

Among other things, Mr. Barrett raises the prospect that the Minister may have been in a conflict of interest by debating and voting on the Budget and 2025 Budget Implementation Act (C-15) in Parliament.

Timeline of Key Events Related to Conflict-of-Interest Filter

• July 28, 2025: Finance Deputy Minister's Chief of Staff e-mailed senior departmental management informing them that a screen was being put in place so that the Minister is not involved in issues relating to Alto and asking for their assistance in managing it.
• September 10, 2025: Minister of Finance and National Revenue wrote to the Prime Minister informing him of the implementation of a conflict-of-interest filter related to Bionest Technologies, and Alto "a wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Canada, with regard to a personal connection with an individual employed by the organization." The letter provides the details of the filter. On September 11, 2025, this letter was forwarded to the Minister's Office staff and departmental officials in the Deputy Minister's Office.

Parliamentary Environment Analysis

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates

Study on the Comprehensive Expenditure Review

Background

• On March 10, 2026, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) began its study of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER). At the time of writing, the committee has held three meetings and has heard testimony from the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), Library and Archives Canada, unions, and agricultural stakeholders.
• OGGO has expressed interest in hearing about the Department of Finance's role as the central agency responsible for preparing the federal budget, and the policy rationale behind the CER.
• They are also interested in hearing details about how the Department's implemented CER measures, which include resulting savings, the number of staffing reductions, potential impacts on the department's operations and services, as well as best practices for undertaking spending reviews.
• Opposition parties have expressed mixed views about the CER. While many MPs have voiced support for reducing the number of public service positions, there is concern that job cuts could lead to a reduction or elimination of essential services for Canadians. Opposition MPs have also raised concerns that the cuts will impact regional employment in their ridings.

Conservative Party of Canada (CPC)

• The CPC has been broadly supportive of the CER, as it aligns with their advocacy for reduced government spending and a smaller federal public service. The party frames the CER as a necessary corrective measure based on its view that the public service has grown too rapidly since 2015 and that the government spending has contributed to high debt and deficits. Members have previously argued that expanding the size of the public service does not translate into improved performance.
• The CPC has linked the CER to the Government's stated commitment to maintaining a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio. Members have expressed skepticism about the Government's credibility following its decision to change fiscal anchors. CPC MPs may raise concerns about increased debt servicing costs and their impact on the government's ability to deliver programs and services. More broadly, the party has criticized the government's overall financial management, noting that federal spending on debt servicing has exceeded health care transfers, which they argue translates into "more money for bankers and bondholders than for doctors and nurses".
• While the party has generally supported reductions to "bureaucracy" and "red tape" within the public service, they have raised concerns that these reductions will negatively impact the government's ability to deliver services and programs. Members have also questioned the government's internal capacity to deliver services, pointing to spending on external contracts.
• OGGO's CPC members have strongly advocated for greater transparency over CER-related information. In November 2025, OGGO Chair Kelly McCauley raised a question of privilege in the House of Commons, asserting that the government failed to provide CER-related information to the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) in a timely manner, limiting the House's ability to hold an informed debate on the Budget. The Speaker subsequently ruled that no breach of privilege had occurred. Shortly after the ruling, OGGO adopted a motion requiring departments with late submissions to provide CER documentation to both the PBO and the committee. The motion did not apply to the Department of Finance, as it already provided its documentation to the PBO.
• MP Jeremy Patzer (Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley) has raised concerns that the CER will lead to job losses at regional research stations under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), particularly those in the prairie provinces and within his Saskatchewan riding. He has argued that these facilities play a critical role in supporting agricultural productivity, innovation, and rural economies, and that reductions would disproportionately affect small communities that rely on federal employment. More broadly, CPC members have emphasized that workforce reductions should be focused on Ottawa-based positions rather than regional services.
• CPC members have questioned the role of TBS in providing guidance to departments on how to achieve CER targets. They have raised concerns about the risk of uneven application across departments, the absence of clear performance metrics, and the potential for short‑term savings to generate longer‑term operational pressures.

Bloc Québécois

• The Bloc has expressed mixed views about the CER. While the party generally supports efforts to reduce government bureaucracy, members have raised concerns that spending and workforce reductions could negatively affect programs and services important to their constituents and central to their party's priorities. For example, some MPs have raised concerns about cuts to Environmental and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), arguing that these reductions are inconsistent with the Bloc's climate objectives. Marilène Gill (Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan) has expressed concern about potential workforce reductions to Correctional Services Canada (CSC), highlighting the importance of CSC employment in their riding.
• The Bloc has criticized the government for promoting job creation and economic growth while simultaneously eliminating 40,000 public service positions through the CER. Members have argued that the government does not support the creation and maintenance of well-paying jobs, nor recognize the importance of essential public services.
• MP Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Laurentides—Labelle) has been critical of the increased contracting by the government in the context of workforce reductions. During OGGO's study of the CER, she questioned whether contracting levels would increase as a result of these reductions.
• The Bloc has argued that the government's fiscal restraint should not come at the expense of Canadians, particularly Quebec residents, seniors, and low‑income households. Members will likely use debate to promote their platform commitments and seek reassurances that these programs are not adversely impacted by the CER, notably Old Age Security (OAS), the employment insurance (EI), and income support for vulnerable populations.

Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)

• The LPC is expected to reiterate the government's position that the CER is a targeted measure to improve public service productivity. Members are likely to emphasize that the CER supports the government's broader commitments to modernizing the public service and investing in its core mandates.
• Some members may seek comparisons between the CER and the Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP) implemented by the previous Conservative government between 2013-14, likely with the goal of highlighting benefits of the CER.

Committee Member Biographies

About the Committee

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) focuses on the estimates process as well as on the effectiveness and proper functioning of government operations.

The committee's mandate includes the study of:

• The format and content of all estimates documents; and
• The effectiveness, management, and expenditure plans of:
• central departments and agencies;
• new information and communication technologies adopted by the government;
• cross-departmental mandates, including programs delivered by more than one department or agency;
• Crown corporations and agencies that have not been specifically referred to another standing committee; and
• statutory programs, tax expenditures, loan guarantees, contingency funds and private foundations deriving the majority of their funding from the Government of Canada.

OGGO is one of four House Standing Committees that the Standing Orders require be chaired by a member of the official opposition (presently, Kelly McCauley, Conservative Party of Canada).

Conservative Party

Kelly Block
Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek (Saskatchewan)

Biography

Kelly Block was first elected in 2008 as the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. She has been the representative for the new riding of Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek since 2015.

Ms. Block currently serves as Opposition Critic for Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement. During the last Parliament, she was the Opposition Critic for Public Services and Procurement.

Prior to her election, Ms. Block served on the town council of Waldheim, Saskatchewan for three terms, serving two as mayor. She was also a member of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority and the Director of Administration at Forest Grove Community Church

Tamara Jansen
Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City (British Columbia)

Biography

Tamara Jansen has been the Member of Parliament for Cloverdale—Langley City since a byelection in December 2024. She also represented the riding from 2019 until 2021.

Before entering politics, Ms. Jansen was involved in Langley's business community. She and her husband established Darvonda Nurseries, a local plant nursery in Langley that eventually expanded to several locations in British Columbia and Alberta.

Kelly MacCauley, Chair
Conservative, Edmonton West (Alberta)

Biography

Kelly McCauley has been the Member of Parliament for Edmonton West since 2015.

Mr. McCauley was born and raised in North Vancouver, graduating from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1982. Prior to entering politics, Mr. McCauley spent more than 30 years managing hotels and convention centres from Victoria to St. John's. During that time, he served on many volunteer boards including as Vice President of the Burnaby Board of Trade and Vice Chair of the Avalon Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Mr. McCauley is an advocate for seniors, having served as past president of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, the largest seniors hospital foundation on Vancouver Island, where he continues to serve as a special advisor. In recognition of his advocacy for veterans, Mr. McCauley was named an honourary member of the Vancouver Island Aircrew Association.

In Edmonton, Mr. McCauley served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Northlands and the Board of the Alberta Aviation Museum. He was also the chairperson of the EI Board of Referees for Edmonton and Northern Alberta and was a founding c-chair of the Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels.

Jeremy Patzer
Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley (Saskatchewan)

Biography

Jeremy Patzer has been the Member of Parliament for Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley since 2019.

Prior to his election, Mr. Patzer served on his riding's board of directors for the Conservative Party of Canada.

Mr. Patzer was raised on a family farm outside of Frontier, Saskatchewan. He has expressed interest in the agricultural and energy sectors, small business development, and rural issues.

Bloc Québécois

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Vice-Chair
Bloc Québécois, Laurentides—Labelle (Quebec)

Marie-Hélène Gaudreauhas been the Member of Parliament for Laurentides—Labelle since 2019.

In Parliament, she currently serves as the Bloc Québécois's spokesperson on tourism, government housekeeping and budget estimates, as well as spokesperson for veterans' affairs.

From 2009 to 2011, she was a political aide to Johanne Deschamps, the former Member of the National Assembly for Laurentides—Labelle.

Before entering politics, she was Executive Director of the Hautes-Laurentides Community Development Corporation. She has held several roles in her community including Director of Centraide for the Central-Western regions of Quebec, Coordinator for the Salon des aînés en action for the MRC d'Antoine-Labelle. She also establishedTable forêt des Laurentides, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting forestry education and sustainable forest management.

Ms. Gaudreau holds a bachelor's degree in communications and human relations and an international certification in management coaching.

Liberal Party

Vince Gasparro
Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence (Ontario)

Vince Gasparro has been the Member of Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence since 2025. In Parliament, he currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary (Combatting Crime).

Prior to entering politics, Mr. Gasparro was Head of Sustainable Finance at Scotiabank's Roynat Capital and Vancity credit union, where he worked on clean energy infrastructure projects across Canada. In addition, he served as Principal Secretary to Toronto Mayor John Tory and as a Special Assistant to Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Mr. Gasparro has served on the boards of directors of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, Postmedia, World Wildlife Fund, and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation. He has expressed interested in environmental action, representing Canada at the United Nations' climate conferences, including COP26 in the United Kingdom, COP27 in Egypt, and COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Gasparro hold a bachelor's degree from York University, a master's degree in economics from the London School of Economics, as well as an Executive MBA from Villanova University.

Iqra Khalid, Vice-Chair
Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills (Ontario)

Iqra Khalid has been the Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erin Mills since 2015. 

Before entering politics, Ms. Khalid worked for the City of Mississauga's legal department. She was also involved in raising funds for global disaster relief and helping students at York University and working at an immigration firm. 

Ms. Khalid moved to Canada from Pakistan with her family at a young age and grew up in Erin Mills. She studied criminology at York University and completed a law degree at the University of Michigan. 

Pauline Rochefort
Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming (Ontario)

Pauline Rochefort was first elected as Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming in 2025.

In Parliament, she currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Rural Development).

From 2018 to 2025, Ms. Rochefort served two terms as Mayor of East Ferris. She has held senior positions at the Business Development Bank of Canada and serving as President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council, advocating for Canadian forestry and manufacturing interests on the global stage.

Hon. Jenna Sudds
Liberal, Kanata (Ontario)

Jenna Sudds has been the Member of Parliament for Kanata since 2021.

She currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement). She was the Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development from July 2023 until March 2025.

From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Sudds was the City Councillor in Ottawa for Kanata North. In 2020, she also served as Ottawa Deputy Mayor. During this time, she chaired the City of Ottawa Community and Protective Services Committee and sat on the boards of Hydro Ottawa and Invest Ottawa. She was part of the team responsible for creating and executing the City of Ottawa's COVID-19 plan and economic recovery strategy.

Prior to entering politics, Ms. Sudds worked as an economist in the federal government. She eventually left to pursue opportunities within Kanata's technology sector. Eventually, Ms. Sudds became the founding President and Executive Director of the newly formed Kanata North Business Association in 2013. Afterwards, she became the Executive Director of the CIO Strategy Council, a national technology council.

Ms. Sudds grew up in St. Catherines, Ontario, and moved to the National Capital Region to complete her master's degree in economics at Carleton University. She has resided in Kanata since 2001.