Defining and Accounting for the Government Budgeting Entity - Discussion Paper

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Executive Overview

Survey Questionnaire

Purpose of this Paper

The purpose of this discussion paper is to assess the impact of full accrual accounting on the preparation of the Summary Budget and Estimates, with a focus on the government budgeting entity.

This discussion paper was prepared to stimulate discussion and debate in the senior government budgeting community. Its specific objectives are to: 

1. provide a current status report on the impact of accounting for the government budgeting entities on the preparation of senior government Budgets and Estimates;
2. review new developments and future directions that could be useful for incorporating accrual accounting into a government budgeting entity’s Budgets and Estimates;
3. review Canadian and international literature on accrual accounting for government budgeting entities. 

The paper addresses major issues and challenges such as: 

• the role of accountability and transparency, because the Budget and Estimates are crucial documents for holding governments responsible;
• what organizations to include in a budgeting entity when preparing the Summary Budget and Estimates;
• how to include those organizations in a budgeting entity. 

During 2007, senior government budgeting officials across Canada completed a comprehensive survey questionnaire that addressed three primary areas — current practice, future plans and their views on a variety of issues. The survey was followed by discussions with officials in various jurisdictions. Survey results are presented throughout this paper. In addition, the published Budget and Estimates documents available on government websites were reviewed, along with the literature from Canadian and international sources.