Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2016-2017
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 Global Affairs Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. It also provides explanations for the main variances 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 conference fees incurred by federal departments and agencies are related to activities that support a departmental or agency mandate and the government’s priorities.
Responsibilities
Global Affairs Canada’s legal responsibilities are based on the 2013 Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act.
Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations with foreign governments and international organizations, engaging and influencing international players to advance Canada’s political and economic interests and to promote inclusive and accountable governance, peaceful pluralism, respect for diversity, environmental sustainability, gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, women’s rights and human rights.
To improve and maintain market access for Canadian businesses, the department leads the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements, the administration of export and import controls, as well as the management of international trade disputes. Global Affairs Canada also provides advice and services to help Canadian businesses succeed abroad and attract foreign direct investment to Canada, and supports international innovation, science and technology.
The department delivers consular services and provides travel information to Canadians. It also supports global peace and stability and addresses international security threats such as terrorism, transnational organized crime, arms control and the proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction.
To reduce global poverty and enhance prosperity and stability in the developing world, the department manages the majority of Canada’s international assistance to deliver effective and sustainable development programming. The department also leads coordinated Canadian responses to crises and natural disasters abroad, including the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Global Affairs Canada develops and implements policy and programming based on analysis of available evidence, including through consultation and engagement with Canadians and its international stakeholders. The department is responsible for fostering the development of international law and its applications in Canada’s foreign relations.
Global Affairs Canada also manages Canada’s international platform—a global network of 178 missions in 110 countries that supports the international work of the department and 37 partner departments, agencies and co-locators.
For more information on Global Affairs Canada’s expenditure profile, please refer to the Departmental Results Report : Raison d’être, Mandate and Role: Who we are and what we do.
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2017 (in thousands of dollars) | Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2016 (in thousands of dollars) | Change (in thousands of dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel: Public Servants | $51,087.7 | $51,926.0 | ($838.3) |
| Travel: Non-Public Servants | $5,868.6 | $6,547.6 | ($679.0) |
| Total Travel | $56,956.3 | $58,473.6 | ($1,517.3) |
| HospitalityFootnote 1 | $12,962.7 | $10,883.5 | $2,079.2 |
| Conference Fees | $1,790.0 | $1,756.2 | $33.8 |
| Total | $71,709.0 | $71,113.3 | $595.7 |
| International Travel by Ministers and Ministers’ Staff (also included in Non-Public Servant travel) | $1,080.5 | $265.4 | $815.1 |
Significant variances compared with the previous fiscal year
The Government of Canada is committed to a principled foreign policy, where the promotion of human rights, democracy, freedom and the rule of law are central to its policies and activities. Global Affairs Canada is committed to advancing Canada’s ambitious political, trade and international development interests, as well as to providing services to Canadians abroad.
The department increased its expenditures on travel, hospitality and conference fees by $0.6 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. The main variances are explained as follows:
Travel
Public Servants and Non-Public Servants: Departmental travel expenditures by public servants and non-public servants decreased in fiscal year 2016–2017. This decrease was mainly in program-related travel, which occurred as related program funding was received during the fiscal year. International travel by ministers and ministers’ staff increased in fiscal year 2016-2017. This was due, in part, to lower travel expenditures for ministers and ministers’ staff during an extended writ period in fiscal year 2015-2016.
Hospitality
Departmental hospitality expenditures increased in fiscal year 2016–2017. This increase is due to lower protocol-related hospitality expenditures in fiscal year 2015–2016, such as official visits to Canada by foreign heads of state and official visits to foreign countries by Canadian representatives.
