Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2022 - 2023
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, 2023.
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, 2023
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2023 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2022 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$129.00 |
$2.00 |
$127.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$73.00 |
$0.00 |
$73.00 |
Internal governance |
$43.00 |
$0.00 |
$43.00 |
Training |
$15.00 |
$0.00 |
$15.00 |
Other |
$37.00 |
$0.00 |
$37.00 |
| A. Total travel | $297.00 |
$2.00 |
$295.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $32.00 |
$0.00 |
$32.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $160.00 |
$67.00 |
$93.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $489.00 |
$69.00 |
$420.00 |
| 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:
Compared to fiscal year 2021-22, CIHR’s travel expenditures increased in fiscal year 2022-23 (by $295,000) as a result of the changing status of the COVID-19 pandemic. As related government travel restrictions eased and many meetings, conferences, etc. returned to an in-person format, business-related travel increased. However, departmental travel expenditures did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Typically, a large proportion of CIHR's travel expenditures is incurred to facilitate in-person peer review meetings, which are necessary to fulfill CIHR's core mandate. Most peer review meetings did not return to an in-person format in fiscal year 2022-23.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2021-22, CIHR’s hospitality expenditures increased in fiscal year 2022-23 (by $32,000) as a result of the changing status of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the easing of public health measures related to the pandemic, various in-person meetings resumed whereby hospitality was provided in the normal course of business. However, departmental hospitality expenditures did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Typically, a large proportion of CIHR’s hospitality expenditures is incurred to facilitate in-person peer review meetings, which are necessary for fulfilling CIHR’s core mandate. Most peer review meetings did not return to an in-person format in fiscal year 2022-23.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2021-22, departmental conference fee expenditures increased in fiscal year 2022-23 (by $93,000). This is mainly due to the easing of public health measures and travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in increased conference availability as well as an increased return to in-person attendance. As such, there was an increase in conference fees due to increased participation by employees in various yearly conferences (for example, the 2022 Canadian Conference on Research Administration and 2022 Canadian Policy Science Centre Conference).Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
N/A