Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
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Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for the Year Ending March 31, 2014

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conference fees for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. It also provides the variance explanations from the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.

This information is updated annually and does not contain information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conference fees incurred by federal departments and agencies are for the most part directly related to supporting departmental mandates and the government's priorities.

CanNor advances economic development in Canada's northern territories and serves as the federal hub for these efforts. The Agency does this through delivery of a suite of economic development programs, by developing policy and conducting research, and by aligning the efforts of partners and stakeholders, particularly among federal organizations. As well, the Agency coordinates and serves as the regional delivery agent for certain national economic initiatives. The Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO) which is part of CanNor provides regulatory path-finding services for industry and Aboriginal organizations, coordinates federal departments through environmental assessment processes, while overseeing Crown consultations, and provides a central point for advancing resource development in the North.

Fiscal year 2013-2014 represents CanNor’s fourth full year of operations across Canada’s North with its offices open in all three northern territorial capitals and a liaison office in Ottawa.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conference Fees of CanNor are summarized below:

Expenditure Category Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2013
(Thousands of Dollars)
Expenditures for the Year Ending March 31, 2014
(Thousands of Dollars)
Variance
(Thousands of Dollars)
Travel – Public Servants *691 594 (97)
Travel – Non-Public Servants 38 17 (21)
International Travel by Minister and Minister's Staff 0 0 0
Total Travel 729 611 (118)
Hospitality 7 11 4
Conference Fees 19 30 11
TOTAL 755 652 (103)

*Restatement: the reported expense for Travel – Public Servants for 2012-2013 was reduced by $369K to account for the change in accounting treatment for vacation travel allowances which became a salary cost in 2013-2014.

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year

Travel:

As a still relatively new organization, CanNor continues to develop and refine its business practices and procedures. As a result, organizational travel requirements are still evolving and annual fluctuations are to be expected.

1. Public Servants: When compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, travel expenditures by public servants decreased mainly due to:

  • CanNor staff continuing to work on minimizing travel expenses and alternatives such as video-conferencing being used as much as possible;
  • other priorities within the regional offices such as strengthening internal business processes which took priority over travel and client visits;
  • Less use of travel status for replacing employees on a short term basis.
  • CanNor did experience some increased travel costs related to participation on Arctic Council related activities and following the increased funding for the Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO) and our involvement in servicing developing resource projects across the North.

2. Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental travel expenditures for non-public servants decreased as a result of both lower Ministerial travel and the reduction of other non-public servant travel related to contractors.

Hospitality:

When compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental hospitality expenditures in fiscal year 2013-2014 increased slightly because of NPMO operations and increased meetings with external stakeholders.

Conference Fees:

Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental conference fees expenditures increased slightly as a result of CanNor participation in trade functions.

Approved, in accordance with the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures:


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Janet King
President

____________________________________________
Yves Robineau
Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada
October 20, 2014