Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Canada Energy Regulator 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 Canada Energy Regulator 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:

CER (and former NEB)’s travel, hospitality and conference expenditures support the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians: • Strengthened safety and environmental protection. The CER continues to enforce conditions, inspect facilities and conduct other oversight activities to protect people and the environment. • Greater Indigenous participation. The CER Act ensures greater Indigenous participation through recognition of Indigenous rights and confirmation of the Government’s duty to consult, including a requirement to assess impacts on these rights and consider Indigenous knowledge in decision making. • More inclusive public participation. Public participation in CER processes will be inclusive and any member of the public will have an opportunity to express their views during a hearing.

Canada Energy Regulator Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2020

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Expenditure category

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands)

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands)

Variance ($ thousands)

Travel

Operational activities

$1,216.00

$1,443.00

-$227.00

Key stakeholders

$553.00

$403.00

$150.00

Internal governance

$87.00

$108.00

-$21.00

Training

$325.00

$243.00

$82.00

Other

$306.00

$281.00

$25.00

A. Total travel

$2,487.00

$2,478.00

$9.00

B. Hospitality

$59.00

$47.00

$12.00

C. Conference fees

$98.00

$151.00

-$53.00

Total [A+B+C]

$2,644.00

$2,676.00

-$32.00

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:

Departmental travel expenditures increased in fiscal year 2019-20 by $9 thousand (0.3%) compared to the fiscal year 2018-19. This increase was the net effect of an increase of activities related to key stakeholder engagement, such as ensured greater Indigenous participation, and offset by a decrease in inspections and hearings activities related to Trans Mountain Expansion Project reconsideration.

Hospitality:

Departmental travel expenditures increased in fiscal year 2019-20 by $12 thousand (25%) compared to the fiscal year 2018-19. This increase was mainly due to increased hearings and events related to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) system expansion project.

Conference fees:

Departmental conference expenditures decreased in fiscal year 2019-20 by $53 thousand (35%) compared to the fiscal year 2018-19. This decrease was because there was no International Pipeline Conference in 2019-20.

Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:

-