Proactive Disclosure - Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences (2012-2013)
Infrastructure Canada
Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences
As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for Infrastructure Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. It also provides the variance explanations from 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.
Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by federal departments and agencies are related to supporting departmental mandates and the government's priorities.
Infrastructure Canada is the main department responsible for federal efforts to enhance Canada's public infrastructure. This is accomplished through three main activities: investments in provincial, territorial and municipal assets; engagement in key partnerships with the provinces, territories, municipalities and the private sector; and the development and implementation of sound policies.
Over the past year, Infrastructure Canada continued to work with provincial and territorial partners and other stakeholders to inform the broad directions of a new long-term plan for public infrastructure. This included ministerial roundtable meetings across the country, bilateral meetings with provinces and territories, and written input from a variety of infrastructure stakeholders.
Infrastructure Canada does not have regional offices and operates on a national level from Ottawa. Expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are largely incurred to engage with partners and stakeholders located across the country.
Total Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2013 (a) |
Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012 (b) |
Variance (a − b) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | |||
| Travel – Public Servants | 427 | 475 | (48) |
| Travel – Non-Public Servants | 24 | 35 | (12) |
| International Travel by Minister and Minister's Staff | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Travel | 451 | 510 | (60) |
| Hospitality | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Conference Fees | 1 | 14 | (13) |
| TOTAL | 468 | 539 | (72) |
Significant variances compared to the previous year
Total expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences decreased by $72,000 from fiscal year 2011-2012 and cumulatively more than 20% since fiscal year 2010-2011. This reflects the environment of fiscal restraint within the federal government including the Department's efforts to increase the use of teleconference and video conference in lieu of travel and focus on planning for the implementation of new programs under the Economic Action Plan 2013. Infrastructure Canada is committed to continuing its efforts to ensure the value for money in all of its operations through careful and thoughtful control of expenditures.
Travel:
A. Public Servants: Departmental travel expenditures by public servants decreased by 10% in comparison to fiscal year 2011-2012 as a result of management decisions to reduce costs through increased use of teleconference and video conference and reduced requirement to travel as the Department winds down sunsetting programs and focuses on planning for the implementation of new programs under the Economic Action Plan 2013.
B. Non-Public Servants: Departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants decreased by 33% in comparison to fiscal year 2011-2012. This was due largely to a significant effort to optimize the use of virtual presence, particularly teleconferencing, for meetings in lieu of contractor travel.
Hospitality:
As a result of fiscal restraint, Departmental hospitality expenditures remained virtually unchanged from fiscal year 2011-2012 at a five year low.
Conference Fees:
Departmental conference expenditures decreased more than 90% from 2011-2012 mainly due to fiscal restraint and the Department's focus on planning for the implementation of new programs under the Economic Action Plan 2013.
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