Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Transportation Safety Board of 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 Transportation Safety Board of 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:
The TSB performs a key role within the Canadian transportation system. It provides Canadians with an organization entrusted to advance transportation safety by:
• conducting independent investigations, including, when necessary, public inquiries, into selected transportation occurrences in order to make findings as to their causes and contributing factors;
• identifying safety deficiencies as evidenced by transportation occurrences;
• making recommendations designed to reduce or eliminate any such safety deficiencies;
• reporting publicly on our investigations and related findings; and
• following up with stakeholders to ensure that safety actions are taken to reduce risks and improve safety.
The TSB may also represent Canadian interests in foreign investigations of transportation accidents involving Canadian citizens or Canadian registered, licensed or manufactured aircraft, ships or railway rolling stock. In addition, the TSB carries out some of Canada's obligations related to transportation safety at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
As one of the world leaders in its field, the TSB regularly shares its investigation techniques, methodologies and tools with foreign safety organizations by inviting them to participate in in-house training programs in the areas of investigation methodology, and human and organizational factors. Under the terms of international agreements, the TSB also provides investigation assistance to foreign safety organizations, such as downloading and analyzing flight recorder data or overseeing engine teardowns. The TSB also shares data and reports with sister organizations, in addition to participating in international working groups and studies to advance transportation safety.
Transportation Safety Board of 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 |
$344.00 |
$377.00 |
-$33.00 |
Key stakeholders |
$132.00 |
$167.00 |
-$35.00 |
Internal governance |
$126.00 |
$138.00 |
-$12.00 |
Training |
$136.00 |
$201.00 |
-$65.00 |
Other |
$8.00 |
$9.00 |
-$1.00 |
| A. Total travel | $746.00 |
$892.00 |
-$146.00 |
| B. Hospitality | $22.00 |
$16.00 |
$6.00 |
| C. Conference fees | $32.00 |
$29.00 |
$3.00 |
| Total [A+B+C] | $800.00 |
$937.00 |
-$137.00 |
| 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:
Departmental travel expenditures for public servants and non-public servants are reported together under the categories identified in the table above. Total travel expenditures decreased by $146K compared with the previous fiscal year. This reduction was mainly due to increased use of virtual tools to replace in-person travel as much as possible following the implementation of the Refocusing Government Spending initiative and related budget adjustments.
In addition, the TSB continued to promote virtual and hybrid meeting options whenever possible to reduce travel costs and environmental impact. While essential travel to support investigation activities and participation in safety-related conferences and technical meetings continued as required, the overall volume of travel remained lower than in prior years.
Hospitality:
Hospitality expenditures are generally minimal; consequently, a single event can result in a substantial year-over-year variance. During fiscal year 2024–25, hospitality costs increased by $6,000 compared to fiscal year 2023–24. This variance was primarily attributable to a significant operational incident at Pearson Airport in Toronto that necessitated the provision of on-site hospitality for investigators to facilitate a timely investigation and support the expedited reopening of the airport runway following the removal of an aircraft.
Conference fees:
Spending in this category relates to conference fees incurred by TSB employees and Board Members who served as official TSB representatives to attend or speak at various conferences. When possible, the TSB seeks complimentary participation for its representatives, particularly when they are invited speakers. However, host organizations do not always agree to such arrangements, and registration fees may therefore apply. Conference expenditures increased by $3,000 compared with 2023–24, mainly due to staff turnover that resulted in some training costs being coded as conference expenses. The TSB is implementing additional training to ensure accurate financial coding in the future.Minister and minister’s exempt staff - International travel:
Although the TSB reports to Parliament through the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, the TSB is an independent agency. The minister and minister’s exempt staff does not incur travel, hospitality or conference expenses on behalf of the TSB, and therefore these costs, if any, are reported through Privy Council Office.