Chapter 6 · 6.2 Making government work better for Canadians
Modernising government benefits and services
$1M net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cost line
| Line | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modernising government benefits and services | 15 | 79 | 39 | 42 | 60 | 237 |
| Less: Funds sourced from existing departmental resources | — | −21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −21 |
| Less: Funds from Canada Pension Plan (CPP) account | −15 | −58 | −39 | −42 | −60 | −215 |
| Net fiscal impact | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.
What the budget says
“Budget 2026 announces the government's intention to: Amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act to enable a "Tell Us Once" approach to service delivery.”
Budget 2026, p. 300 (PDF p. 318)
“To that end, Budget 2026 proposes to provide: $705.3 million over six years, starting in 2026-27, on a cash basis, to Employment and Social Development Canada to initiate the final phase of the Benefits Delivery Modernisation program, including migrating the Canada Pension Plan onto the new platform.”
Budget 2026, p. 300 (PDF p. 318)
Amounts named in the text
Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.
- $705.3 million over six years, starting in 2026-27
Also in this section
- Advancing artificial intelligence in government through Digital Transformation Canada$606MProgram spendingTraining & skillsAI & digitalPublic work
- Reinforcing Canada's border infrastructure$192MProgram spendingInfrastructure & transportPublic work
- Reducing red tape and accelerating federal regulatory approvalsno cost lineNo cost lineBusinesses
- Strengthening Crown corporationsno cost lineNo cost line
- Drawing talent from across the economy into governmentno cost lineNo cost line