ESDC - Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences
2011-2012
As required by the Treasury Board Directive for the Management of Expenditures on Travel, Hospitality and Conferences, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. It also provides the variance explanations from the previous fiscal year 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 conferences incurred by federal departments and agencies are directly related to supporting departmental mandates and the government's priorities.
The department delivers its mandate through three business lines: programs that support Human Resources and Skills Development, the Labour Program, and Service Canada. The core programs and services for Canadians that HRSDC delivers include Old Age Security; Canada Pension Plan; Employment Insurance; Canada Student Loans and Grants; National Child Benefit; and Universal Child Care Benefit.
HRSDC also provides funding to organizations and other levels of government through targeted labour market and social development programs. Through the Labour Program, HRSDC is responsible for labour laws and policies in federally regulated workplaces. Service Canada helps citizens access HRSDC’s programs, as well as other Government of Canada programs and services.
For more information, please refer to the Report on Plans and Priorities 2011-2012 and the Departmental Performance Report 2011-2012.
Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conference of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada are summarized below:
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012 (in thousands of dollars) |
Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2011 (in thousands of dollars) |
Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Travel - Public Servants |
$32,347 |
$43,736 |
($11,389) |
|
Travel - Non-Public Servants |
$5,458 |
$6,624 |
($1,166) |
|
International Travel by Ministers and Ministers' Staff 1 |
|
|
|
|
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development - Hon D. Finley |
$21 |
$15 |
$6 |
|
Minister of Labour - Hon L. Raitt |
$55 |
$88 |
($33) |
|
Ministers of State (Seniors) |
|
|
|
|
Hon A. Wong |
$14 |
$14 |
|
|
Hon J. Fantino |
$0 |
$0 |
|
|
Hon D. Ablonczy |
|
$0 |
|
|
Total Travel |
$37,895 |
$50,463 |
($12,568) |
|
Hospitality |
$433 |
$910 |
($477) |
| Conference Fees |
$73 |
$116 |
($43) |
|
TOTAL |
$38,401 |
$51,489 |
($13,088) |
1 Includes international travel that is part of a department's program
Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year
The department is focussed on effective cost control and maximum value for money, as per the Directive for the Management of Expenditures on Travel, Hospitality and Conferences.
TRAVEL:
A. Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental travel expenditures by public servants decreased 26% mainly due to:
- Considering suitable alternatives and leveraging available technology, such as net meetings, video and teleconferencing, and on-line or other training tools to reduce and/or minimize travel costs.
B. Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants decreased 18% mainly due to:
- Ensuring a minimum number of persons travel to various conferences, negotiations and meetings to effectively carry out the government’s mandate, negotiations or representation.
C. Minister and Minister’s Staff: Compared to fiscal 2010-2011, departmental international expenditures by the ministers and their staff decreased overall by 13% mainly due to:
- Keeping with the Government's agenda of responsible spending and ensuring travel on department-related business only.
HOSPITALITY:
Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental hospitality expenditures decreased by 52% mainly due to:
- Promoting a more cost-conscious culture within the organization at all levels.
- Putting an emphasis on keeping hospitality costs to a minimum in relation to the scope and purpose of each event.
- Minimizing the number of public servants attending events where non-public servants are also in attendance and to the extent necessary to effectively carry out the government’s mandate, negotiations or be present as representatives.
CONFERENCE FEES:
Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental conference fees expenditures decreased by 37% mainly due to:
- Increasing the emphasis on the use of government facilities when and where possible.
- Adhering to the principles of prudence, economy and value for money.
In summary, by ensuring cost-effective measures are adopted and by strengthening controls to increase accountability, the department has decreased its expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences by 25% overall.