Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Canada Revenue Agency 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 Revenue Agency 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:

The mandate of the CRA is to support the administration and enforcement of tax legislation and other related legislation. It administers revenues and tax legislation and delivers social benefit programs on behalf of the federal government and other organizations such as provincial governments. In delivering its mandate, the CRA operates under four core responsibilities. Further information on the CRA’s mandate and core responsibilities can be found in Note 1 to the CRA audited financial statements – Agency Activities included in the CRA Departmental Results Report.

Canada Revenue Agency 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

$32,356.00

$28,710.00

$3,646.00

Key stakeholders

$1,193.00

$1,356.00

-$163.00

Internal governance

$1,738.00

$2,087.00

-$349.00

Training

$4,759.00

$4,830.00

-$71.00

Other

$477.00

$492.00

-$15.00

A. Total travel

$40,523.00

$37,475.00

$3,048.00

B. Hospitality

$502.00

$511.00

-$9.00

C. Conference fees

$330.00

$204.00

$126.00

Total [A+B+C]

$41,355.00

$38,190.00

$3,165.00

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:

In 2019-2020, the CRA’s travel expenditures increased by $3.0 million, mainly the result of increased travel requirements related to operational activities in order to implement Federal Budget and Treasury Board initiatives. Also, regional and headquarters organizational changes have resulted in additional travel expenditures for operational activities. Further clarity provided to travellers on the scope of the different travel categories in 2018-2019 explains the continued shift of expenses from the Internal governance to the Operational activities category when comparing the two years.

Hospitality:

Not applicable

Conference fees:

A significant component of the variance results from an increase in participation to various conferences which allows employees to gain and/or maintain skills and knowledge related to operational activities, as well as conference expenses that were previously reported as training expenses.

Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:

Not applicable