Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Employment and Social Development Canada 2013 - 2014
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 Employment and Social Development Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
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 department delivers its mandate through three business lines: programs that support Employment and Social Development, the Labour Program, and Service Canada. The core programs and services for Canadians that ESDC delivers include Old Age Security; Canada Pension Plan; Employment Insurance; Canada Student Loans and Grants; the Canada Education Savings Program; National Child Benefit; and Universal Child Care Benefit. ESDC also provides funding to organizations and other levels of government through targeted labour market and social development programs. Through the Labour Program, ESDC is responsible for labour laws and policies in federally regulated workplaces. Service Canada helps citizens access ESDC’s programs, as well as other Government of Canada programs and services
Employment and Social Development Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2014
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2014 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2013 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Public Servants |
$22,334.00 |
$25,128.00 |
-$2,794.00 |
Non-public Servants |
$1,696.00 |
$3,618.00 |
-$2,794.00 |
| A. Total travel | $24,030.00 |
$25,128.00 |
-$1,922.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $197.00 |
$255.00 |
-$58.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $42.00 |
$63.00 |
-$21.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $24,269.00 |
$29,064.00 |
-$4,795.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $154.00 |
$75.00 |
$79.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Public Servants: 22334 Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental travel expenditures by public servants decreased 11% due to using suitable alternatives and leveraging available technology, such as net meetings, video and teleconferencing, and on-line or other training tools to reduce and/or minimize travel costs.;
Non-Public Servants: 1696 Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants decreased 54% due to minimizing the number of persons travelling to various negotiations and meetings to effectively carry out the government’s mandate, negotiations or representation.
Hospitality:
Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental hospitality expenditures decreased by 23% due to promoting a more cost-conscious culture within the organization at all levels and keeping hospitality costs to a minimum in relation to the scope and purpose of each event.
Conference fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, departmental conference fees expenditures decreased by 33% due to continuing the emphasis on the use of government facilities when and where possible and adhering to the principles of prudence, economy and value for money.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared to fiscal 2012-2013, departmental international expenditures by the ministers and their staff increased overall by 105% as a result of the July 2013 cabinet shuffle where the Minister of ESDC`s role was broadened to include both the ESDC and Multiculturalism portfolios and the creation of the Minister of State for Social Development.