Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Environment and Climate Change Canada 2015 - 2016
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 Environment and Climate Change Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016.
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:
Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues affecting Canadians. The Department also plays a stewardship role in achieving and maintaining a clean, safe and sustainable environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada addresses issues through monitoring, research, policy development, service delivery to Canadians, regulations, enforcement of environmental laws, advancement of clean technologies and strategic partnerships. The Department’s programs focus on a clean environment by minimizing threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution; a safe environment by equipping Canadians to make informed decisions on weather, water and climate conditions; and a sustainable environment by conserving and restoring Canada’s natural environment. The Department’s program focus reflects the increasingly evident interdependence between environmental sustainability and economic well-being. Environment and Climate Change Canada fulfills its mandate by promoting three Strategic Outcomes, each contributing to the Government of Canada outcome of a clean and healthy environment: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations; Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions; and Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized. ECCC has authority under numerous pieces of legislation which affect how the department operates. Further information on the mandate, legislation, roles, priorities, responsibilities and strategic outcomes of Environment and Climate Change Canada can be found in Section I of ECCC's Reports on Plans and Priorities.
Environment and Climate Change Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2016
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2016 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2015 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Public Servants |
$21,534.00 |
$23,369.00 |
-$1,835.00 |
Non-public Servants |
$1,728.00 |
$1,853.00 |
-$1,835.00 |
| A. Total travel | $23,262.00 |
$23,369.00 |
-$125.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $310.00 |
$305.00 |
$5.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $349.00 |
$390.00 |
-$41.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $23,921.00 |
$25,917.00 |
-$1,996.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $108.00 |
$28.00 |
$80.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Public Servants: 21534 Compared with fiscal year 2014-2015, departmental travel expenditures by public servants have decreased by $1,835K or 7.85%.;
Non-Public Servants: 1728 Compared with fiscal year 2014-2015, departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants have decreased by $125K or 6.75%.
Hospitality:
Compared with fiscal year 2014-2015, departmental hospitality expenditures have increased by $5K or 1.64%.
Conference fees:
Compared with fiscal year 2014-2015, departmental conference fees expenditures have decreased by $41K or 10.52%. This decrease is mainly explained by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s hosting of the World Weather Open Science Conference in 2014-2015 and the participation in 2014-2015 at the American Ornithologists Union held every 4 years.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared with fiscal year 2014-2015, departmental international travel expenditures by the Ministers and their staff have increased by $80K. This increase is mainly explained by the participation of Minister McKenna and her staff at Pre-Cop 21 and at Cop 21 held in Paris, France and their presence at many Climate Change related forums and events.