Добавил:
Upload Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:
43487903.pdf
Скачиваний:
10
Добавлен:
22.03.2015
Размер:
3.42 Mб
Скачать

IV. CANADA

1.Overview

1.1.The legal framework governing budget processes

Canada has a Westminster model of government and therefore does not highlight the legal basis for annual budget processes. A combination of laws, regulations and conventions govern budget preparation, adoption and budget reporting to Parliament. Although the principle of the supremacy of Parliament is enshrined in the Constitution, in practice, the executive – in particular the Cabinet of Ministers – has strong powers regarding the policies and amounts provided in annual budgets. The government has exclusive power to introduce the budget, and the legislature’s power to amend the budget proposed by the executive is extremely limited. Legislation does not provide a deadline for the executive to submit the budget to Parliament. In practice the budget is submitted to Parliament about one month before the fiscal year and adopted about three months after the fiscal year begins. The Constitution Act 1867, the Financial Administration Act 1985 (FAA) and the Auditor General Act 1977 (AGA) are the fundamental statutes governing budgetary processes (Box 1).1 The FAA has played a particularly important role in establishing the budget and financial management system. The Parliament of Canada Act 1875 does not contain any provisions on the parliamentary budget review process.

Box 1. Canada: Main budget system laws

The Constitution Act 1867.

The Financial Administration Act 1985 as amended (FAA).

The Auditor General Act 1977 as amended (AGA).

The Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act 1985 as amended.

Source: All laws are available on the Internet site of the Ministry of Justice: http:// laws.justice.gc.ca.

The Constitution Act (Chapters VI and VIII) stipulates the principal provisions for Parliament’s budgetary powers, including for the adoption of appropriation and tax bills, and for approving public debt. Expenditures are required to be financed from a consolidated revenue fund. The act also

158

OECD JOURNAL ON BUDGETING – VOLUME 4 – NO. 3 – ISSN 1608-7143 – © OECD 2004

 

Соседние файлы в предмете [НЕСОРТИРОВАННОЕ]