Public Safety
How Public Safety spent its budget in fiscal year 2023-24, shown as net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II.
Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Canada (Public Safety Canada) is the federal department responsible for national security, emergency preparedness, and community safety. Established in 2003, it consolidates security, law enforcement, and emergency management functions, coordinating federal responses to threats and developing policies on crime prevention, cyber resilience, and disaster preparedness while overseeing intelligence-sharing with domestic and international partners.
Department Spending
In FY 2023-24,
$13.91B
was spent by Public Safety
In FY 2023-24,
2.7%
of federal spending was by Public Safety
On the consolidated accrual basis (Volume I), this portfolio’s expenses were $18.78B in FY 2023-24 — see the overview and methodology.
In fiscal year (FY) 2024, Public Safety spent $13.91B, or 2.7% of the $521.4 billion in total federal spending. Most of that spending flows through the agencies in the portfolio rather than the core department: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is by far the largest component, followed by the Correctional Service of Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The portfolio also houses smaller democratic-institutions and intergovernmental bodies, including the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat.
Spending by entity, FY 2023-24
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Correctional Service of Canada
Canada Border Services Agency
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Parole Board of Canada
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat
Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee
Leaders' Debates Commission
$5.14B
$3.37B
$2.69B
$1.48B
$828.4M
$249.1M
$77.4M
$25.1M
$15.8M
$7.9M
$5.8M
$5.4M
$644K
Federal spending on public safety fluctuates with evolving security threats, emergency events, and changes in government policy, and has reflected heightened investment over time in counterterrorism, cyber defence, and disaster response. Measured as a share of the federal budget, the department has declined from roughly 5% in 2014 to 2.7% in 2024.
How did Public Safety spend its budget in 2023-24?
Major policy shifts, unforeseen events such as natural disasters, and global security concerns can significantly affect the department's annual spending. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, led to a sharp increase in federal emergency response funding in 2020.
The department is led by the Minister of Public Safety, one of the cabinet members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Public Safety’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Line items
Every transfer-payment (grant and contribution) program, in dollars. These are the named programs behind the transfer-payments object in the chart above. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Category | Description | Amount ▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | To compensate members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for injuries received in the performance of duty (R.S.C., 1985, c. R-11) | $639,834,205 |
| Contributions | Contributions to the provinces for assistance related to natural disasters | $408,944,423 |
| Contributions | Payments to the provinces, territories, municipalities, Indian band councils and recognized authorities representing Indians on reserve, Indian communities on Crown land and Inuit communities, for the First Nations Policing Program | $217,624,356 |
| Contributions | Contribution for Newfoundland and Labrador's New Adult Corrections Facility Project | $150,000,000 |
| Contributions | Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund | $77,323,440 |
| Contributions | Building Safer Communities Fund | $66,388,708 |
| Contributions | Contributions to the provinces and territories and to aboriginal and/or other communities and organizations (not for profit) | $62,848,122 |
| Contributions | Major International Events Security Cost Framework | $57,105,512 |
| Contributions | Contributions in support of the Safer Communities Initiative | $49,590,814 |
| Grants | Memorial Grant Program for First Responders | $46,500,000 |
| Contributions | Supporting a humanitarian workforce to respond to COVID-19 and other large-scale emergencies | $27,809,362 |
| Contributions | Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime | $24,650,491 |
| Contributions | Funding for First Nation and Inuit policing facilities | $19,365,611 |
| Contributions | Biology Casework Analysis Contribution Program | $12,316,607 |
| Contributions | Community Resilience Fund | $10,557,582 |
Explore other federal departments
Public Safety figures are net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II, and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
