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Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences

As required by the Treasury Board Directive for the Management of Expenditures on Travel, Hospitality and Conferences, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for Elections Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. 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 for the most part directly related to supporting departmental mandate(s) and the government's priorities.

In particular, for Elections Canada, this includes the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians:

  • be prepared to conduct a federal general election, by-election or referendum

  • administer the political financing provisions of the Canada Elections Act

  • monitor compliance with and enforce electoral legislation

  • carry out investigations into allegations that would amount to offences under the Act

  • conduct voter education and information programs

  • provide support to the independent commissions in charge of adjusting the boundaries of federal electoral districts following each decennial census

  • carry out studies on alternative voting methods and, with the approval of parliamentarians, test online voting processes for future use during electoral events

A summary description of the agency's program activities can be found at
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rpp/2012-2013/inst/ceo/ceo01-eng.asp#sec1.

Travel by public and non-public servants across the country is required for Elections Canada to fulfill its mandate, whether in election readiness mode, in delivery mode or to support the 10 independent commissions in charge of adjusting the boundaries of federal electoral districts.

Annual Expenditures

Total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences by Elections Canada are summarized below:

(in thousands of dollars)
Expenditure Category Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012
(a)
Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2011
(b)
Variance
(a-b)
Travel – Public Servants
956
992
(36)
Travel – Non-Public Servants*
3,300
908
2,392
International Travel by Minister and Minister's Staff
N/A
N/A
N/A
Total Travel
4,256
1,900
2,356
Hospitality
89
161
(72)
Conference Fees
1
6
(5)
TOTAL
4,346
2,067
2,279

* Includes travel of returning officers and field election workers in 308 electoral districts

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year:

There was a major difference between fiscal years 2010–2011 and 2011–2012, which had a significant impact on travel expenditures. During 2011–2012, Elections Canada delivered the 41st general election (polling day of May 2, 2011), while in 2010–2011, the agency was operating in election readiness mode in the second year of a minority government.

Travel:

  1. Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010–2011, the agency's travel expenditures by public servants, all located at Elections Canada headquarters in Ottawa, decreased by $36K mainly due to the fact that travel for regional meetings with returning officers in preparation for the general election was completed in 2010–2011.

  2. Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010–2011, the agency's travel expenditures by non-public servants increased by $2,392K mainly due to the necessary local travel by thousands of election workers in conducting the 41st general election in 308 electoral districts. Travel expenditures included revising agents visiting targeted areas for the purpose of updating the lists of electors in their electoral districts as well as poll officials attending training sessions and travelling to polling stations.

Hospitality:

Compared to fiscal year 2010–2011, the agency's hospitality expenditures decreased by $72K mainly due to the fact that the hosting of regional meetings with returning officers in preparation for the general election was completed in 2010–2011.

Conference fees:

There is no material variance compared to fiscal year 2010–2011.