Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Canadian Transportation Agency 2018 - 2019
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 Canadian Transportation Agency for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
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 CTA is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator that has, with respect to all matters necessary for the exercise of its jurisdiction, all the powers of a superior court. The CTA has three mandates:
• It helps ensure that the national transportation system runs efficiently and smoothly in the interests of all Canadians: those who work and invest in it; the producers, shippers, travellers and businesses who rely on it; and the communities where it operates.
• It protects the human right of persons with disabilities to an accessible transportation network.
• It provides consumer protection for air passengers.
Canadian Transportation Agency Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2019
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2018 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$219.00 |
$172.00 |
$47.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$193.00 |
$73.00 |
$120.00 |
Internal governance |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
Training |
$0.00 |
$50.00 |
-$50.00 |
Other |
$91.00 |
$0.00 |
$91.00 |
| A. Total travel | $503.00 |
$295.00 |
$208.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $23.00 |
$13.00 |
$10.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $18.00 |
$6.00 |
$12.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $544.00 |
$314.00 |
$230.00 |
| 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 2017-18, the CTA's overall travel expenditures in 2018-19 increased by $208K (70.5%), for several reasons.
First, following the coming into force of the Transportation Modernization Act on May 23, 2018, the CTA consulted broadly with the travelling public, the airline industry, consumer rights groups, and other interested parties to develop new air passenger protection regulations. These consultations were conducted using a variety of channels such as eight in-person sessions across the country, in-person meetings with stakeholders and surveys with air travellers at select airports across Canada, which resulted in an increase of travel expenditures.
Second, the CTA hosted an international forum on June 12 and 13, 2018 in Toronto in order to address issues related to the storage and transportation of mobility aids on aircrafts. The forum brought together airlines and their associations, aircraft manufacturers, mobility device manufacturers, disability rights organizations, regulators and other interested stakeholders.
Third, the CTA's Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) met twice in 2018-19. The annual AAC meeting was held in Toronto on June 11, 2018 and served as an opportunity to update AAC members on key initiatives, such as the CTA's Regulatory Modernization Initiative, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) and Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act. The second meeting was held on October 1, 2018 in Gatineau as part of a focused consultation on the draft Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR).
Finally, the CTA held an oral hearing on January 29 and 30, 2019 in Vancouver following an investigation launched on its own motion into possible freight rail service issues in the Vancouver area.
Hospitality:
Compared with fiscal year 2017-18, the CTA's hospitality expenditures in 2018-19 increased by $10K (76.9%) mainly due to the aforementioned international forum hosted by the CTA as well as the two AAC meetings.
Conference fees:
Compared with fiscal year 2017-18, the CTA's conference fee expenditures in 2018-19 increased by $12K (200%). This increase is primarily due to an increased participation in and sponsorship of conferences to engage with stakeholders and promote CTA initiatives, services and programs.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
N/A