Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Global Affairs Canada 2023 - 2024
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 Global Affairs Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.
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:
As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report discloses total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. It also provides explanations for the main variances from the previous fiscal year.
Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by GAC are related to activities that support GAC’s mandate and the government’s priorities.
GAC, under the leadership of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development; and the Minister of International Development, is responsible for advancing Canada’s international relations, including:
• Developing and implementing foreign policy;
• Fostering the development of international law, international trade and commerce;
• Providing international assistance (encompassing humanitarian, development, and peace and security);
• Providing consular services for Canadians; and,
• Overseeing the Government of Canada’s global network of missions abroad.
GAC manages Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations with foreign governments and international organizations, engaging and influencing international players to advance Canada’s political, legal and economic interests, including poverty reduction, the empowerment of women and girls, the promotion of a rules-based international order, international peace and security, human rights, inclusive and accountable governance, peaceful pluralism, inclusion and respect for diversity, and environmental sustainability.
In support of efforts to eradicate global poverty and contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world, GAC manages the majority of Canada’s international assistance. GAC also leads coordinated Canadian responses to crises and natural disasters abroad, including the provision of needs-based humanitarian assistance.
GAC also manages Canada’s international platform – a global network of missions in approximately 110 countries that supports the international work of GAC and partner departments, agencies and co-locators.
To improve and maintain market access for Canadian businesses, GAC leads the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements, the administration of export and import controls, as well as the management of international trade disputes. GAC also provides advice and services to help Canadian businesses succeed abroad and attract foreign direct investment to Canada, and supports international innovation, science and technology.
GAC delivers consular services and provides travel information to Canadians. It also supports global peace and stability and addresses international security threats such as terrorism, transnational organized crime and the proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction.
GAC develops and implements policy and programming based on analysis of available evidence, including through consultation and engagement with Canadians and international stakeholders. GAC is responsible for fostering the development of international law and its applications in Canada’s foreign relations.
Global Affairs Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2024
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2024 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2023 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$53,808.00 |
$58,557.00 |
-$4,749.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$6,666.00 |
$5,320.00 |
$1,346.00 |
Internal governance |
$331.00 |
$425.00 |
-$94.00 |
Training |
$3,568.00 |
$4,082.00 |
-$514.00 |
Other |
$9,833.00 |
$4,564.00 |
$5,269.00 |
| A. Total travel | $74,206.00 |
$72,948.00 |
$1,258.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $9,414.00 |
$9,446.00 |
-$32.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $1,836.00 |
$2,414.00 |
-$578.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $85,456.00 |
$84,808.00 |
$648.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $1,277.00 |
$1,311.00 |
-$34.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Travel expenditures for operational activities, internal governance and training decreased by $5,357 thousand, which is consistent with the proposal in the 2023 Budget to reduce travel expenses throughout the Government of Canada.
This decrease was offset by an increase of $6,615 thousand in key stakeholders and other travel, which was mainly due to an increase in the number of charter flights paid for the evacuation of Canadians abroad due to armed conflicts and political instability.
Conference fees decreased by $578 thousand, which was mainly due to a series of major international conferences that were not held in 2023-24.