Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Western Economic Diversification Canada 2015 - 2016
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 Western Economic Diversification Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.
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:
In particular, for WD, this includes the delivery of core programs to Canadians that advance innovation, business development and community economic development in rural and urban areas throughout the four western provinces. Through the Western Economic Diversification Act, the department is mandated to “promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of the West in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation.”
Western Economic Diversification Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2016
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2016 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2015 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Public Servants |
$766.00 |
$731.00 |
$35.00 |
Non-public Servants |
$80.00 |
$147.00 |
$35.00 |
| A. Total travel | $846.00 |
$731.00 |
-$67.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $7.00 |
$7.00 |
$0.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $18.00 |
$29.00 |
-$11.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $871.00 |
$914.00 |
-$43.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $0.00 |
$15.00 |
-$15.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Public Servants: 766 Compared with fiscal year 2014–15, departmental expenditures by public servants increased by $35 thousand mainly due to: supporting management of innovation projects; increased attendance at program outreach sessions and events; development of a Regional Development Agency common system for grants and contributions; and changes to the departmental organizational structure.;
Non-Public Servants: 80 Compared with fiscal year 2014–15, departmental expenditures by non-public servants decreased by $67 thousand mainly due to: changes to the departmental organizational structure decreasing ministerial travel; no travel expenses incurred by the Managerial Advisory Committee for the Western Innovation Initiative in 2015-16; and a reduction in independent financial reviews of funding recipients.
Hospitality:
Compared with fiscal year 2014–15, there is no significant variance in departmental hospitality.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2014–15, there is a modest decrease in departmental conference fees.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared with fiscal year 2014–15, departmental international travel expenditures by the Minister and the Minister’s staff decreased mainly due to no international travel by the Minister or Minister’s staff in fiscal year 2015-16.