OTTAWA - The Harper government plans to cut spending for the International Criminal Court even though it wants Moammar Gadhafi brought before the global body to answer for crimes against the Libyan people.

Federal spending estimates released Tuesday showed the Foreign Affairs Department plans to cut its annual contribution to The Hague tribunal down to $6.5 million from $18 million in 2010-11.

A department spokeswoman said late Tuesday that the difference in Canada's contribution this fiscal year as compared to the preceding year is the result of a previous one-time contribution towards the construction of a new permanent headquarters for the court.

According to documents posted on the department's website, Ottawa's share of the estimated cost of construction was $9.4 million.

The projected 25 per cent cut in contributions to the international court comes at a time when the UN Security Council has referred Gadhafi to the war crimes tribunal for an investigation of possible crimes against humanity.

NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar said earlier Tuesday that the move undercuts recent calls by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon to have the Libyan leader brought to justice.

"It's a matter of your actions and your words, and in this case, the words aren't equal to their actions," said Dewar.

The cuts at Foreign Affairs are part of the government's broader plans to spend about $10 billion less in the coming fiscal year to pay for programs and operations -- a four per cent decrease -- than it did during current period, taking total expenditures for 2011-12 to $250.8 billion.

Canada was a major player in the creation of the International Criminal Court and contributed its first president, respected lawyer Philippe Kirsch, who served from 2003 to 2009.

International observers were puzzled by Ottawa's new numbers.

William Pace, the convener of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, the New-York based group that represents 2,500 civil society groups in 150 countries, suggested that Canada may have had a higher-than-usual price tag for the contributions it made in 2010-11.

Last year, the court held a special two-week review conference in Kampala, Uganda, that required countries to pay for large delegations of officials, said Pace.

But if the cut was simply a reflection of a planned reduction of support, Pace said, then that was unfortunate.

"If it is just a decision we're going to pay less for international justice going forward, this is a classic example of penny wise and pound foolish. International justice is the least expensive sector on the entire peace and security spectrum, of peacekeeping and peace enforcement, peace building and dealing with refugees," said Pace.

"International justice is one the most important expenditures a government can invest in, not only for prevention but also to help reconcile conflict situations in the world."

The estimates also showed that Foreign Affairs plans to cut consular services -- the branch that assists Canadian travellers in trouble abroad -- by nine per cent.

Paul Heinbecker, a former Canadian ambassador to the UN, and one of the harshest critics of Harper's foreign policy, said travellers need to do more to stay safe, and that they shouldn't be counting on diplomats to get them out of trouble.

"Canadians don't have a right to consular service. What they have is a kind of promise by the government to be as helpful as it can in the circumstances," he said.

"The embassy will help them but diplomats are not bullet proof."

Overall, the main saving for Ottawa comes from the termination of the two-year stimulus package, which the government had estimated would cost $19 billion in the final year. Most programs are due to run out on March 31, although tax cuts that were part of the package will not be rolled back.

Treasury President Stockwell Day told the House of Commons the estimates, which could change after the budget is introduced later this month, show the government's commitment to reining in spending and reducing the deficit.

"This will be the first time in over a decade that the government has planned spending less in the present year than in the past year," he said.

"We intend to stay on track with that. This is not a time for increased taxes, not a time for reckless spending, not a time for unwanted elections."

The estimates show several departments and programs will be taking a hit in the coming year, while others will get a big boost.

Government will cut spending on environment and resource-based programs by $1.6 billion, or 14.1 per cent, says the document -- but the environment minister said that may change.

"A number of programs that we intend and have asked the finance minister to continue are sunsetted in this fiscal year," said Peter Kent.

Kent said his department has asked the finance minister to continue some programs, meaning they could appear in the spring budget.

"I fully expect that that will occur," he said.

Meanwhile, the government is sparing no expense for its tough-on-crime agenda, boosting spending by Correctional Services by 21.2 per cent to pay for more prisons and guards.