Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of 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 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of 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:
NSERC’s purpose is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians, by supporting postsecondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies, promoting discovery by funding the research programs of academic researchers, and stimulating partnerships between academia and industry. Further information on the NSERC mandate and program activities can be found in NSERC’s 2024–25 Departmental Plan.
NSERC’s program delivery is centered on a peer review model. External experts from across the country and around the world contribute their time and expertise to adjudicate grant proposals as well as scholarship and fellowship applications, with the aim of funding excellence for the benefit of Canada. The vast majority of NSERC’s travel and hospitality expenses are to support this peer review process.
NSERC’s total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are summarized below:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of 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 |
$204.00 |
$96.00 |
$108.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$158.00 |
$122.00 |
$36.00 |
Internal governance |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Training |
$49.00 |
$1.00 |
$48.00 |
Other |
$37.00 |
$18.00 |
$19.00 |
| A. Total travel | $448.00 |
$237.00 |
$211.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $20.00 |
$19.00 |
$1.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $81.00 |
$54.00 |
$27.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $549.00 |
$310.00 |
$239.00 |
| 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 2023–24, total travel expenditures have increased during 2024-25. In 2024-25, NSERC continued the gradual return to in-person government related activities which had been suspended or held virtually, during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the years thereafter.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, total hospitality expenditures have increased during 2024-25. In 2024-25, NSERC continued the gradual return to in-person government related activities which had been suspended or held virtually, during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the years thereafter.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2023–24, total conference expenditures have increased during 2024-25. In 2024-25, NSERC continued the gradual return to in-person government related activities which had been suspended or held virtually, during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the years thereafter.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
N/A