Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Natural Resources Canada 2024 - 2025
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 Natural Resources Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.
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:
NRCan works to improve the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring that our natural resources are developed sustainably, providing a source of jobs, prosperity and opportunity, while preserving our environment and respecting our communities and Indigenous peoples.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources has responsibilities in relation to more than 30 acts of Parliament. The Minister’s core powers, duties and functions are set forth in the Department of Natural Resources Act, the Resources and Technical Surveys Act, the Forestry Act, the Energy Efficiency Act and the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act. The Department also works in areas of shared responsibilities with provinces, which includes the environment, public safety, economic development, science and technology, and consultations with Indigenous peoples. To fulfil its responsibilities, the Department relies on a number of instruments (e.g. policy, regulation, statutory transfers, grants and contributions) and key activities (e.g. science and technology, partnerships, and communications).
NRCan has offices and laboratories across the country. Employees work in regional offices from coast to coast to coast including: Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Western and Pacific Regions, Northern Canada and the National Capital Region.
Natural Resources Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2025
Expenditure category |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2025 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2024 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$9,747.00 |
$9,642.00 |
$105.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$2,141.00 |
$2,370.00 |
-$229.00 |
Internal governance |
$222.00 |
$219.00 |
$3.00 |
Training |
$828.00 |
$847.00 |
-$19.00 |
Other |
$451.00 |
$613.00 |
-$162.00 |
| A. Total travel | $13,389.00 |
$13,691.00 |
-$302.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $203.00 |
$199.00 |
$4.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $712.00 |
$599.00 |
$113.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $14,304.00 |
$14,489.00 |
-$185.00 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $45.00 |
$126.00 |
-$81.00 |
Explanation of significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
Total travel:
Compared with fiscal year 2023–2024, departmental travel expenditures decreased by $302 thousand.
While certain new initiatives such as the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative (WRFI), the Forest Service’s Forest Systems Information & Technology Enhancement program (ForSITE), and the Forest Mapping program experienced increased spending due to additional travel needs, these increases were offset by reductions elsewhere. In particular, the sunsetting of the National Benefit Sharing Framework in 2023–2024 contributed significantly to the decrease, as travel related to engagement activities concluded with the end of the program. The reduction in travel expenditures also aligns with the broader goal of government-wide spending cuts, resulting in fewer travel-related activities.
Hospitality:
Compared with fiscal year 2023-2024, there was no significant variance for departmental hospitality expenditures.
Conference fees:
Compared with fiscal year 2023–2024, departmental conference fees increased by $113 thousand. This increase is primarily attributable to Natural Resources Canada's participation in CERAWeek 2025, which reflects NRCan’s strategic objectives to advance energy sector engagement, highlight Indigenous partnerships, promote Canada as a stable and secure energy supplier, and support bilateral priorities under Canada–U.S. energy collaboration. The increase in conference-related expenditures directly supports these goals by enabling high-level meetings, networking opportunities, and public engagement aligned with the department’s domestic and international mandates.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Compared with fiscal year 2023–2024, international travel expenditures incurred by the Minister and his staff decreased by $81 thousand in 2024–2025. Most travel during this period was to the United States in support of efforts to strengthen Canada–U.S. relations. This resulted in lower costs in 2024–25, in contrast to 2023–24 when international travel was more frequently undertaken to destinations other than the United States.