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ARCHIVED - General Info on Appropriation Acts
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An Appropriation Act begins as a Bill. The type of bills we deal with are called Supply Bills (money bills). Once a Bill has been introduced in Parliament and been granted Royal Assent, it becomes an Appropriation Act.
Appropriation Acts for Main Estimates
When the Main Estimates are tabled in the House they are referred to various Standing Committees who must report back to the House (no later than May 31), on their review of the Estimates.
To provide for ongoing operations while the Main Estimates are under review, the Treasury Board Secretariat prepares an Interim Supply Bill (generally referred to as Appropriation Act No. 1).
The Interim Supply Bill (Appropriation Act No. 1) displays amounts of monies departments and agencies need to conduct their business over a three-month period.
The Bill is introduced and passed by the House of Commons and forwarded to the Senate. Once the Senate has dealt with the Bill, the House and the Senate will gather and a ceremony-like petition will be presented to the Crown to grant Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is granted the Bill becomes law.
At the end of the three months the Treasury Board Secretariat prepares a Full Supply Bill which displays the remaining monies to be released.
The Bill is introduced and passed by the House of Commons and forwarded to the Senate. Once the Senate has dealt with the Bill, the House and the Senate will gather and a ceremony-like petition will be presented to the Crown to grant Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is granted, the Bill becomes law.
Appropriation Acts for Supplementary Estimates
All supply bills for Supplementary Estimates are full supply bills which means they are granted the full amount being asked for. The Treasury Board Secretariat will prepare a full supply bill following the tabling of each Supplementary Estimates publication.
The Bill is introduced and passed by the House of Commons and forwarded to the Senate. Once the Senate has dealt with the Bill, the House and the Senate will gather and a ceremony-like petition will be presented to the Crown to grant Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is granted, the Bill becomes law.