Question Period Note: Public Accounts Of Canada Report 2019-2020

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to the prudent management and use of taxpayer dollars.
• In keeping with this, we diligently address losses, claims, and other cases with the appropriate resolution processes.
• We have robust and effective internal controls in place. The integrity of our financial systems is sound and in compliance with Government of Canada policies.

• The Public Accounts of Canada annual report is prepared by the Receiver General for the Government of Canada, as required under section 64 of the Financial Administration Act. The report covers the financial transactions of the Government during the previous fiscal year. Each federal department and agency is responsible for reconciling its accounts and for maintaining detailed records of their financial transactions. It is anticipated that the 2019-2020 Public Accounts of Canada report will be tabled in Parliament in late November.
• Additional information for most material cases caused by accidental destruction or damage to buildings and other real property:
o Damage to ramps at l’Orignal, Ontario following the Ottawa river floods in the Spring of 2019 - $91,300;
o Damage to containment cell at Petit Rocher, New Brunswick due to Hurricane Doriane in September 2019 - $84,700;
o Damage to the Seaward side of the Wharf at Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia due to strong winds and high - $57,650;
o Damage to wharf at Ship Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador due to storm surge on January 17 and 18, 2020 - $28,606;
o Damage to building to loss of service at King’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador due to storm surge on January 17 and 18, 2020 - $11,328.

If pressed on losses and claims against the Crown
• As Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard operate in some of the harshest conditions, damages to vehicles, accidents at sea, losses, and damages to equipment do happen.

If pressed on Government Acquisition Card
• There were 46 cases of fraudulent use of acquisition cards due to identity theft totaling $58,897. The Department has recovered the majority of funds. There is $961 outstanding that is not expected to be recovered in subsequent years.
• Our internal control procedures have proven to be effective in the monitoring and control of acquisition cards and comply with Government of Canada policy.

 
If pressed on travel card use
• The 10 cases of unauthorized use of travel cards consist of employees failing to pay off debt to the card issuer within the allowable time. The Department expects to recover all of the original loss.
• DFO employees have approximately 2,805 travel cards, and the Department reported travel cards-related expenses of $11.3 million in 2019-20.
• Our internal control procedures have proven to be effective in the monitoring and control of travel cards and comply with Government of Canada policy.

If pressed on damage to buildings and other real property (including Small Craft Harbours)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Coast Guard have offices across the country, including in remote and rural areas. Additionally, they are highly operational and operate in some of the harshest conditions where damage to buildings and other real property does occur from time to time.
• There were 8 cases involving losses of public property that were caused by accidental destruction or damage to buildings and other real property. This totaled $275,875.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada works to ensure that any accidental destruction or damage to its properties is quickly evaluated and repaired to minimize the impact on our services to Canadians.

If pressed on damages to CCGS Corporal McLaren
• There was one case involving losses of public property due to an offence or other illegal act that amounted to $11 million. This was a result of vandalism and sabotage to vessel CCGS Corporal McLaren while it was in a Nova Scotia dockyard awaiting a refit in November 2018. The matter is still under investigation.

If pressed on claims related to personal injuries
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to the safety and well-being of its employees and clients. Given the environment in which we operate, personal injuries can occur.
• There were four settlements for claims totaling $2,929,660.

If pressed on damage to personal property
• Given the environment in which Fisheries and Oceans Canada operates, damage to third party property does occur from time to time.
• There were 10 claims that were settled out-of-court totaling $333,437.

If pressed on unspent/lapsed funding
• All funding not used by the Department in the 2019-20 fiscal year was moved for use in subsequent years. Therefore the true lapse for the Department is $0.