Quarterly financial report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 2026

Catalogue No. BC91-14E-PDF
ISSN 2564-4475

2025-26

Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in operations, personnel and programs

1. Introduction

This quarterly financial report (QFR) has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. This QFR should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for fiscal year 2025-26. It has not been subject to an external audit or review.

2. Basis of presentation

This QFR has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the CRTC’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the department consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for both the 2024-25 and the 2025-26 fiscal years. This QFR has been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework designed to meet financial information needs with respect to the use of spending authorities.

The authority of Parliament is required before moneys can be spent by the Government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

When Parliament is dissolved for the purposes of a general election, section 30 of the Financial Administration Act authorizes the Governor General, under certain conditions, to issue a special warrant authorizing the Government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. A special warrant is deemed to be an appropriation for the fiscal year in which it is issued.

The CRTC uses the modified accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

3. Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date results

The CRTC is financed in part by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities (e.g. Statutory Vote for Employee Benefit Plans (EBP), Budgetary Vote for the Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation activities and for the Voter Contact Registry). The balance is financed by revenues collected from the broadcasting, telecommunications and telemarketing industries.

Parliament has authorized the CRTC to use a portion of these revenues to fund expenditures it incurs to meet its statutory responsibilities under the Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act, and Online News Act (i.e. respendable revenue). The remaining balance of these revenues is classified as non-respendable revenue and is used to fund costs incurred by other government departments on the CRTC's behalf, including employee benefits.

Authorities

To date in 2025-26, there is a net increase in spending authorities of $9.7 million compared to 2024-25. This net change is mainly attributable to an increase in vote-netted revenues of $5.5 million and an increase in budgetary authorities of $4.2 million.

Vote-netted revenues increased by $5.5 million mainly due to the enactment of the Cost Recovery (Online News Act) Regulations on April 1, 2025, which recover fees related to the Act for the first time. The increase also reflects higher regulatory activity to support significant amendments to the Broadcasting Act, as well as the ratification of government-wide collective agreements during the fiscal year.

Expenditures

The CRTC’s gross budgetary expenditures for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, is higher compared to the previous year by $9.0 million. This variance is due to an increase of $9.0 million in personnel costs, mainly due to an increase of employees compared to last fiscal year. Other operating costs were consistent with the previous fiscal year’s spending.

4. Risks and uncertainties

The estimated telemarketing and regulatory costs and revenue target for unsolicited telecommunications fees, the CRTC’s National Do Not Call List (DNCL), total $3.3 million per year. A public notice of these amounts was issued in CRTC Compliance and Enforcement Orders 2024-144 for 2024-25 and 2025-161 for 2025-26.

The CRTC establishes its unsolicited telecommunications fees on an annual basis at levels anticipated to fully recover its approved investigations and enforcement operating costs, however there could be a revenue shortfall if fewer than expected telemarketers subscribed and paid their fees for access to the National DNCL. It is noted that, compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the amount collected to date is moderately higher. Should the CRTC not collect the required $3.3 million budget, measures will be taken internally to account for the shortfall while still maintaining the CRTC’s National DNCL investigation and enforcement activities for 2025-26.

Of note, if the amount collected exceeds the regulatory costs, as per section 4(3) of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Fees Regulations, the amount in excess will be refunded to telemarketers accordingly.

5. Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

The Cost Recovery (Online News Act) Regulations came into force on April 1, 2025. Starting in fiscal year 2025-26, the CRTC collects charges to cover its costs to administer the Online News Act.

6. Approval by senior officials

Approved by:

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

Date modified:

2026-02-18