Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Environment and Climate Change Canada 2024 - 2025
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, 2025.
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 leads and supports a wide range of environmental issues, including taking action on clean growth and climate change, preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature, and predicting weather and environmental conditions. The Department addresses these issues through various actions and initiatives including leading Canada’s efforts to transition to a net-zero economy and strengthening resilience to climate change, protecting more of our lands and waters, strengthening protection and recovery for species at risk and their habitats, and providing environmental and weather information to Canadians. To achieve its mandate, the Department works with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, civil society, industry, and international partners, and undertakes monitoring, science-based research, policy and regulatory development, and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
Environment and Climate Change Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2025
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2025 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2024 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$18,726.00 |
$19,383.00 |
-$657.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$1,615.00 |
$2,026.00 |
-$411.00 |
Internal governance |
$433.00 |
$601.00 |
-$168.00 |
Training |
$2,714.00 |
$2,226.00 |
$488.00 |
Other |
$805.00 |
$1,046.00 |
-$241.00 |
| A. Total travel | $24,293.00 |
$25,282.00 |
-$989.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $132.00 |
$212.00 |
-$80.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $566.00 |
$661.00 |
-$95.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $24,991.00 |
$26,155.00 |
-$1,164.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $87.00 |
$234.00 |
-$147.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, departmental travel expenditures decreased through effective planning and use of the hybrid work model as per Budget 2023’s commitment on refocusing government spending to achieve savings in travel expenditures.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, departmental hospitality expenditures decreased as a result of continued efforts to manage and reduce costs. This is also explained by lower hospitality expenditures for the Canada Pavilion at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP 29) compared with the Canada Pavilion at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP 28).
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, departmental conference expenditures decreased mainly as a result of continued efforts to manage and reduce costs related to conference participation. As ECCC is a science-based department, attending conferences and other similar events is required to maintain a high-level of knowledge and engagement.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, departmental expenditures for international travel by the Minister and the Minister’s exempt staff decreased mainly due to fewer instances of travel and lower cost per trip in 2024-25. The decrease in international travel expenses is also reflected in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP 29) expenditures which was less costly than the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP 28).