Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of 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 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of 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:
for 2019-20
As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020. It also provides the variance explanations for the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.
This information is updated annually and does not contain information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.
SSHRC’s purpose is to promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities. Social sciences and humanities research builds knowledge about people in the past and present, with a view toward creating a better future.
By focusing on developing Talent, generating Insights and forging Connections across campuses and communities, SSHRC strategically supports world-leading initiatives that enhance our understanding of modern social, cultural, technological, environmental, economic and wellness issues. Further information on SSHRC’s mandate and program activities can be found in SSHRC’s 2019-20 Departmental Plan.
SSHRC’s program delivery is centered on a merit review model. External experts from across the country and around the world contribute their time and expertise to adjudicate grant proposals and scholarship and fellowship applications, with the aim of funding excellence for the benefit of Canada. The vast majority of SSHRC’s travel and hospitality expenses are to support this merit review process.
SSHRC’s total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are summarized below:
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of 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 |
$707.00 |
$942.00 |
-$235.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$297.00 |
$280.00 |
$17.00 |
Internal governance |
$0.00 |
$3.00 |
-$3.00 |
Training |
$7.00 |
$9.00 |
-$2.00 |
Other |
$9.00 |
$6.00 |
$3.00 |
| A. Total travel | $1,020.00 |
$1,240.00 |
-$220.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $130.00 |
$181.00 |
-$51.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $122.00 |
$145.00 |
-$23.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $1,272.00 |
$1,566.00 |
-$294.00 |
| 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:
Travel expenditures have decreased as a result of various factors including the VIA rail trains’ cancelation in February 2020, weather conditions, the agency’s efforts to contribute to the Treasury Board Secretariat’s (TBS) Green Government Strategy, and the emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020 impacting the attendance of committee members to SSHRC’s adjudication events and staff travel.
Hospitality:
These same factors contributed to the decline in hospitality fees resulting from low attendance to some SSHRC’s events.
Conference fees:
These same factors contributed to the decline in conference fees resulting from low attendance to some SSHRC’s events.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
-