Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions 2020 - 2021

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, 2021.

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 regions with slow economic growth or those with inadequate productive employment opportunities. CED is the key federal partner for regional economic development in Quebec. To achieve its core responsibility, which consists in 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 within 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 sector or that have been affected by an economic shock, such as the Lac Mégantic tragedy. CED achieves its results by supporting businesses – primarily SMEs – and not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) through strategic investments. Through its 12 business offices across Quebec’s regions and the relationships it has developed with other economic development players, CED stays abreast of the needs of the regions and businesses and is able to offer financial support to carry out projects that support businesses and communities in their economic development efforts. The following three CED programs support its core responsibility: • Regional Innovation • Vitality of Communities • Targeted or temporary support. Additional information of CED’s authorities, mandate and programs in available in the 2020-2021 Departmental Plan ‒ Regarding this publication ‒ Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and the 2020-2021 Departmental Results Report.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2021

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Expenditure category

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2021 ($ thousands)

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands)

Variance ($ thousands)

Travel

Operational activities

$7.00

$524.00

-$517.00

Key stakeholders

$0.00

$12.00

-$12.00

Internal governance

$0.00

$50.00

-$50.00

Training

$0.00

$192.00

-$192.00

Other

$1.00

$3.00

-$2.00

A. Total travel

$8.00

$781.00

-$773.00

B. Hospitality

$0.00

$24.00

-$24.00

C. Conference fees

$1.00

$32.00

-$31.00

Total [A+B+C]

$9.00

$837.00

-$828.00

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:

Expenditures in 2020-2021 amounted to $8K. In comparison, expenditures amounted to $781K in 2019-2020. This is therefore a decrease of $773K in comparison with the previous year. This significant decrease is attributable to the drastic drop in travel that could not take place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the public health measures that were in force, most of the activities that would have taken place in the normal course of the Department’s operations, could not take place or were limited to the strict minimum. In order to pursue activities in the most normal way possible, work sessions and meetings with clients had to take place using computer tools, such teleconferencing, emails, telephone calls and others. Just like the other department, CED had to adapt to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to remain productive and in tune with its clients’ needs.

Hospitality:

In 2020-2021, we report no hospitality expenses. For comparison, in 2019-2020, $24K was spent in this category. This is due to the decrease in hospitality activities that could not be performed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, given the public health measures that were in place, the vast majority of activities that would have been accomplished in the normal course of departmental operations, could not take place or were kept to a bare minimum.

Conference fees:

In 2020-2021, only $1K was spent in this category. In 2019-2020, expenditures amounted to $32K, a drop of $31K in comparison with the previous year. This decrease is attributable to the drastic drop in conference activities that could not take place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the public health measures that were in force, most of the activities that would have taken place in the normal course of the Department’s operations, could not take place or were limited to the strict minimum.

Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:

-