Financial Overview

CIHR operates within the expenditure management system of the federal government. It must comply with the government's accounting and financial policies, which include the annual cycle of planning and reporting to Parliament with respect to priorities and performance. Two documents are presented to Parliament each year:

• Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) is an individual expenditure plan for each department and agency (such as CIHR). The report provides information on objectives, initiatives, planned results and links to related resource requirements over a three-year time horizon. The RPP is produced annually and is tabled in Parliament on or before March 31 of each year.
• Departmental Performance Report (DPR) is an individual department or agency account of accomplishments achieved against planned performance expectations as set out in the RPP. The report covers the most recently finished fiscal year ending March 31 and is tabled in Parliament each fall, usually at the end of October.

Funds are appropriated by Parliament to CIHR though a system of lapsing financial authorities. Funds can be spent only for the purpose for which they were voted by Parliament. Grants and Awards not spent in a current fiscal year lapse and cannot be carried over.