Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Environment and Climate Change Canada 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 Environment and Climate Change Canada 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:
ECCC 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.
Environment and Climate Change Canada 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 |
$19,863.00 |
$6,814.00 |
$13,049.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$2,105.00 |
$197.00 |
$1,908.00 |
Internal governance |
$455.00 |
$17.00 |
$438.00 |
Training |
$2,729.00 |
$568.00 |
$2,161.00 |
Other |
$934.00 |
$220.00 |
$714.00 |
| A. Total travel | $26,086.00 |
$7,816.00 |
$18,270.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $325.00 |
$6.00 |
$319.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $576.00 |
$331.00 |
$245.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $26,987.00 |
$8,153.00 |
$18,834.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $280.00 |
$80.00 |
$200.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2021–22, departmental travel expenditures increased mainly due to a return to pre-pandemic levels. As part of the delivery of core programs, ECCC is called upon to ensure its employees and key stakeholders travel mostly for the purposes of, but not limited to, monitoring weather, water quantity, ice, air and climate conditions, collecting supporting evidence for decision making as part of conserving nature, and enforcing applicable laws and regulations.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2021–22, departmental hospitality expenditures increased mainly due to hosting the 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montréal. The variance is also due to a return to pre-pandemic levels.
Conference fees:
Although expenditures related to departmental conference fees are lower than before the pandemic, when comparing to fiscal year 2021–22, expenditures increased due to a return to the regular business requirements. Since ECCC is a science-based department, attending conferences and other similar events are required to maintain a high-level of knowledge. Continuous efforts are being made to minimize costs related to conference participation.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2021–22, departmental expenditures for international travel by the Minister and the Minister’s exempt staff increased mainly due to a return to pre-pandemic levels. Increases are due to travel costs related to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP 27).