Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Canadian Institutes of Health Research 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 Canadian Institutes of Health Research 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 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 Department Plan (http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/37798.html) and the Departmental Results 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, 2021
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2021 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$2.00 |
$4,033.00 |
-$4,031.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$0.00 |
$109.00 |
-$109.00 |
Internal governance |
$0.00 |
$77.00 |
-$77.00 |
Training |
$0.00 |
$15.00 |
-$15.00 |
Other |
-$1.00 |
$12.00 |
-$13.00 |
| A. Total travel | $1.00 |
$4,246.00 |
-$4,245.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $1.00 |
$644.00 |
-$643.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $9.00 |
$59.00 |
-$50.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $11.00 |
$4,949.00 |
-$4,938.00 |
| 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:
In 2020-21, departmental travel essentially ceased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related government travel restrictions. As a result, when compared to fiscal year 2019-20, travel expenditures significantly decreased in all categories. Typically, a large proportion of CIHR's travel expenditures is incurred to facilitate face-to-face peer review meetings, which are necessary to fulfill CIHR's mandate. However, due to the pandemic, the peer review meetings were held virtually in 2020-21 which led to a significant decrease in travel related to operational activities.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2019-20, CIHR incurred a minimal amount of hospitality expenditures in 2020-21. Given the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the need for the provision of hospitality essentially ceased which led to a significant decrease in departmental hospitality expenditures. Typically, a large proportion of CIHR’s hospitality expenditures is incurred to facilitate face-to-face peer review meetings, which are necessary for fulfilling CIHR’s mandate. However, due to the pandemic, the peer review meetings were held virtually in 2020-21.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2019-20, departmental conference fee expenditures decreased significantly (by $50K or 85%) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some conferences continued in a virtual format, many were cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic and the related travel restrictions.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
N/A