Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2015 - 2016
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 Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.
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 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)'s travel, hospitality and conference expenditures support the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians:
• A mandate to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.
• CIHR is the Government of Canada's health research funding agency. Peer review committees are used to determine which candidates are eligible to receive funding in the form of grants and awards. The committees are made up of external experts from across the country and around the world who contribute their time and expertise to adjudicate grants and awards applications, with the aim of funding excellence for the benefit of Canada. The vast majority of CIHR’s travel and hospitality expenses are to support this peer review process.
• Further details on CIHR’s authority, mandate and program activities can be found in the Report on Plans and Priorities (http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/37798.html) and the Departmental Performance Report (http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/37798.html).
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2016
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2016 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2015 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Public Servants |
$480.00 |
$672.00 |
-$192.00 |
Non-public Servants |
$1,625.00 |
$1,785.00 |
-$192.00 |
| A. Total travel | $2,105.00 |
$672.00 |
-$160.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $316.00 |
$324.00 |
-$8.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $35.00 |
$51.00 |
-$16.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $2,456.00 |
$2,832.00 |
-$376.00 |
| 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:
Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, departmental travel expenditures by public-servants decreased by $192K (or 29%). CIHR underwent an internal reorganization in July 2015 resulting in realignment of human resources in new or revised positions. Staff therefore travelled less than the prior year due to the implementation of the reorganization and the time required to identify travel requirements stemming from new and revised roles and responsibilities.
Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants decreased by $160K (or 9%) due primarily to transformational activities as a result of reforms.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, there was no significant variance in departmental hospitality expenditures (decrease of $8K or 3%).
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, departmental conference expenditures decreased by $16K (or 31%). CIHR underwent an internal reorganization in July 2015 resulting in realignment of human resources in new or revised positions. Staff therefore attended fewer conferences in 2015-16 due to the implementation of the reorganization and the time required to identify requirements stemming from new and revised roles and responsibilities.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
-