Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada 2018 - 2019

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 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

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 provides information on the total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. It also provides the variance explanations for the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.
This information is updated annually and does not contain information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.
SSHRC’s purpose is to promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities. Social sciences and humanities research builds knowledge about people in the past and present, with a view toward creating a better future.
By focusing on developing Talent, generating Insights and forging Connections across campuses and communities, SSHRC strategically supports world-leading initiatives that enhance our understanding of modern social, cultural, technological, environmental, economic and wellness issues. Further information on SSHRC’s mandate and program activities can be found in SSHRC’s 2018-19 Departmental Plan.
SSHRC’s program delivery is centered on a merit review model. External experts from across the country and around the world contribute their time and expertise to adjudicate grant proposals and scholarship and fellowship applications, with the aim of funding excellence for the benefit of Canada. The vast majority of SSHRC’s travel and hospitality expenses are to support this merit review process.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2019

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Expenditure category	Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands)	Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2018 ($ thousands)	Variance ($ thousands)
Travel
Operational activities	$942.00	$708.00	$234.00
Key stakeholders	$280.00	$169.00	$111.00
Internal governance	$3.00	$1.00	$2.00
Training	$9.00	$5.00	$4.00
Other	$6.00	$1.00	$5.00
A. Total travel	$1,240.00	$884.00	$356.00
B. Hospitality	$181.00	$116.00	$65.00
C. Conference fees	$145.00	$131.00	$14.00
Total [A+B+C]	$1,566.00	$1,131.00	$435.00
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:

Travel expenditures have increased mainly due to increased participation on various expert panels related to Budget 2018's initiatives, as well as committee meeting costs associated with the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), launched in 2018-19.

Hospitality:

Hospitality expenditures have increased mainly due to the incremental cost increases of meals provided to the volunteer peer reviewers for the Agency’s various grant competitions, new operational activities such as the NFRF committee meetings and the First Nations’ National Guardians Gathering.

Conference fees:

The conference fees expenditures have increased mainly due to increased training of staff through expert conferences and the Agency’s increased support to various science conferences such as the Canadian Science Policy Conference, the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies Conference and the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Administrators Conference.