Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Environment and Climate Change Canada 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 Environment and Climate Change Canada 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:
Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues, including taking action on clean growth and climate change. The Department is also engaged in activities aimed at preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature, and predicting weather and environmental conditions. The Department addresses these issues through various actions including the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on clean growth and climate change, engaging with our strategic partners including provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, monitoring; science-based research, policy and regulatory development, and through the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
The Department’s program focus reflects the interdependence between environmental sustainability and economic well-being.
Further information on the mandate, legislation, roles, priorities and core responsibilities of Environment and Climate Change Canada can be found in the Departmental Results Reports: Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada 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 |
$19,367.00 |
$21,898.00 |
-$2,531.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$3,101.00 |
$3,790.00 |
-$689.00 |
Internal governance |
$1,183.00 |
$1,582.00 |
-$399.00 |
Training |
$3,350.00 |
$3,719.00 |
-$369.00 |
Other |
$1,585.00 |
$1,895.00 |
-$310.00 |
| A. Total travel | $28,586.00 |
$32,884.00 |
-$4,298.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $469.00 |
$736.00 |
-$267.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $728.00 |
$861.00 |
-$133.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $29,783.00 |
$34,481.00 |
-$4,698.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $72.00 |
$178.00 |
-$106.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2018–19, departmental travel expenditures decreased mainly due to an imposed cap on travel expenditures to reduce discretionary expenditures within the department as well as travel restrictions put in place in the last quarter of 2019-20 to stem the spread of COVID-19. The decrease is also explained by higher than normal travel expenses in 2018-19 related to the Enforcement officer cohort hired in 2018-19 who spend upwards of 12 weeks on travel status while obtaining designation and certification training.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2018–19, departmental hospitality expenditures decreased due to various one-time meetings that took place in 2018-19 such as the London Protocol convention in Vancouver, Canada’s G7 Presidency and engagement activities and workshops held in support of the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework including the launch in October 2018 of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2018–19, departmental conference fee expenditures decreased due to a few conferences cancelled at the end of the fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2018–19, departmental expenditures for international travel by the Minister and the Minister’s exempt staff decrease is mainly explained by the electoral campaign and international travel that did not proceed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.