Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Western Economic Diversification 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 Western Economic Diversification 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:
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, 2020
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$314.00 |
$330.00 |
-$16.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$429.00 |
$445.00 |
-$16.00 |
Internal governance |
$201.00 |
$149.00 |
$52.00 |
Training |
$204.00 |
$135.00 |
$69.00 |
Other |
$10.00 |
$35.00 |
-$25.00 |
| A. Total travel | $1,158.00 |
$1,094.00 |
$64.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $36.00 |
$34.00 |
$2.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $34.00 |
$58.00 |
-$24.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $1,228.00 |
$1,186.00 |
$42.00 |
| 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 with fiscal year 2018–19, departmental travel expenditures increased by $64 thousand mainly due to:
• increased convening role promoting economic diversification and building on competitive regional advantages; and
• increased travel for networking, knowledge exchange and staff training.
Hospitality:
There was no significant change in hospitality compared to 2018-19.
Conference fees:
Compared with fiscal year 2018–19, departmental conference fee expenditures decreased by $24 thousand mainly due to: • A departmental refocus on training and internal governance fostering Regional Economic Growth through Innovation programming; and • WD taking a lead role in developing and convening conferences and meetings such as the development of a water and soil protection strategy and the Western Canada Growth Strategy.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
-