Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions 2019 - 2020
As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency’s mandate and the government’s priorities.
Mandate:
The mission of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) is to promote the long-term economic development of Quebec regions with particular emphasis on those areas with slow economic growth or inadequate productive employment opportunities. CED carries out its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, which came into force on October 5, 2005. CED is also committed to promoting co-operation and a complementary relationship with Quebec and its communities.
CED is a key federal player in Quebec for the promotion of economic development in the regions and among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To achieve its core responsibility, which consists of developing the Quebec economy, CED fosters business start-ups and performance. It helps businesses become more innovative, productive and competitive. It supports community engagement efforts in the various regions of Quebec and the attraction of investment aimed at increasing the prosperity of the Quebec and Canadian economies.
CED contributes to the economic vitality of all Quebec regions by leveraging their competitive regional advantages. It supports the transition and diversification of communities that remain dependent on a limited number of sectors or that have been affected by an economic shock, such as the closure of the chrysotile mines or the Lac Mégantic tragedy.
The following three CED programs support its core responsibility:
• Regional Innovation;
• Vitality of Communities;
• Targeted or temporary support.
Additional information on the Agency’s authority, mandate and programs is available in the
2019–2020 Departmental Plan and the 2019–2020 Departmental Results Report.
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2020
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$524.00 |
$564.00 |
-$40.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$12.00 |
$14.00 |
-$2.00 |
Internal governance |
$50.00 |
$76.00 |
-$26.00 |
Training |
$192.00 |
$172.00 |
$20.00 |
Other |
$3.00 |
$3.00 |
$0.00 |
| A. Total travel | $781.00 |
$829.00 |
-$48.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $24.00 |
$29.00 |
-$5.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $32.00 |
$68.00 |
-$36.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $837.00 |
$926.00 |
-$89.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Travel: Compared with the 2018–2019 fiscal year, CED travel expenditures decreased by roughly $48,000. We can explain this decrease, among others, by the following elements:
o Decrease in field activities with regards to temporary or targeted initiatives. In fact, the Economic Diversification Initiative for Communities Reliant on Chrysotile ended on March 31st, 2020. Also, fewer operational trips were made as part of the Economic Recovery Initiative for Lac-Mégantic, the projects being well engaged.
o Decrease in travel related to the Community Futures Program (CFP). In 2018-2019, several trips took place to participate in many national and provincial meetings relating to the CFP modernization project, which allowed the renewal of the agreements on April 1st, 2019 for a period of 5 years.
o Trips that were planned at the end of the 2019-2020 fiscal year had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hospitality:
Hospitality: Expenditures in 2019-2020 were lower of about $5,000. This difference is considered to be insignificant.
Conference fees:
Conference fees: Compared to fiscal year 2018-19, CED’s conference fees decreased by approximately $ 36,000 in 2019-2020. We can explain this decrease, among others, by the following elements: o Staff attended fewer conferences in 2019-2020. o Also, certain conferences scheduled for the beginning of the 2020-2021 financial year were paid for in 2019-2020, in order to reserve seats. However, they were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Repayments took place in 2019-2020, further explaining the decrease in expenses.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
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