Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada 2020 - 2021

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 Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

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:

NSERC’s purpose is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians, by supporting postsecondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies, promoting discovery by funding the research programs of academic researchers, and stimulating partnerships between academia and industry. Further information on the NSERC mandate and program activities can be found in NSERC’s 2020–21 Departmental Plan. NSERC’s program delivery is centered on a peer review model. External experts from across the country and around the world contribute their time and expertise to adjudicate grant proposals as well as scholarship and fellowship applications, with the aim of funding excellence for the benefit of Canada. The vast majority of NSERC’s travel and hospitality expenses are to support this peer review process. NSERC’s total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are summarized below:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2021

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Expenditure category

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2021 ($ thousands)

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands)

Variance ($ thousands)

Travel

Operational activities

-$92.00

$2,025.00

-$2,117.00

Key stakeholders

$17.00

$452.00

-$435.00

Internal governance

$0.00

$8.00

-$8.00

Training

$0.00

$61.00

-$61.00

Other

$0.00

$13.00

-$13.00

A. Total travel

-$75.00

$2,559.00

-$2,634.00

B. Hospitality

$0.00

$231.00

-$231.00

C. Conference fees

$34.00

$184.00

-$150.00

Total [A+B+C]

-$41.00

$2,974.00

-$3,015.00

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 to fiscal year 2019–20, total travel, hospitality and conference expenditures have decreased significantly. In 2020–21, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many in-person activities from occurring due to travel restrictions and health and safety measures. These restrictions had an impact on the approach and the costs usually incurred as many of these activities had to be postponed, canceled or held by videoconference. The negative balances are a result of travel expenditures accrued in the previous fiscal year but subsequently reversed due to the cancellation of their activity given the pandemic context.

Hospitality:

Compared to fiscal year 2019–20, total travel, hospitality and conference expenditures have decreased significantly. In 2020–21, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many in-person activities from occurring due to travel restrictions and health and safety measures. These restrictions had an impact on the approach and the costs usually incurred as many of these activities had to be postponed, canceled or held by videoconference. The negative balances are a result of travel expenditures accrued in the previous fiscal year but subsequently reversed due to the cancellation of their activity given the pandemic context.

Conference fees:

Compared to fiscal year 2019–20, total travel, hospitality and conference expenditures have decreased significantly. In 2020–21, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many in-person activities from occurring due to travel restrictions and health and safety measures. These restrictions had an impact on the approach and the costs usually incurred as many of these activities had to be postponed, canceled or held by videoconference. The negative balances are a result of travel expenditures accrued in the previous fiscal year but subsequently reversed due to the cancellation of their activity given the pandemic context.

Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:

-