Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Statistics Canada 2019 - 2020

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 Statistics Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.

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:

Statistics Canada produces data that help Canadians better understand their country—its population, resources, economy, society and culture. In Canada, providing statistics is a federal responsibility. As Canada's central statistical office, Statistics Canada is legislated to serve this function for the whole of Canada and each of the provinces and territories. The agency also conducts a census of the population and a census of agriculture every five years, providing a detailed picture of Canadian society. Statistics Canada operates under the authority of the Statistics Act and is committed to protecting the confidentiality of the information with which it is entrusted. The agency promotes the quality and coherence of Canada's statistics through collaboration with international organizations, federal departments and agencies, and the provinces and territories. As a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the agency endorses the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which help define what constitutes a good system of official statistics and what role that system should play in national governments.

Statistics Canada Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures for Year ending March 31, 2020

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

Expenditure category

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

Expenditures for year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands)

Variance ($ thousands)

Travel

Operational activities

$8,238.00

$8,391.00

-$153.00

Key stakeholders

$1,736.00

$2,051.00

-$315.00

Internal governance

$21.00

$30.00

-$9.00

Training

$819.00

$569.00

$250.00

Other

$996.00

$1,221.00

-$225.00

A. Total travel

$11,810.00

$12,262.00

-$452.00

B. Hospitality

$124.00

$97.00

$27.00

C. Conference fees

$395.00

$539.00

-$144.00

Total [A+B+C]

$12,329.00

$12,898.00

-$569.00

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 with fiscal year 2018-19, the agency’s overall travel expenditures decreased slightly. Statistics Canada streamlined non-operational travel while increasing travel related to operational activities and training for interviewers. Cancellations for travel due to COVID-19 began towards the end of February and travel expenditures significantly decreased in March.

Hospitality:

Expenditures are comparable to 2018-19.

Conference fees:

Compared with fiscal year 2018-19, departmental conference fee expenditures decreased. Statistics Canada reviewed its conference attendance to ensure effective use of time and resources in order to align with the agency’s priorities. COVID-19 also significantly decreased conference registration in March.

Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:

-