Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2012–2013
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 Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
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 mandate(s) and the government’s priorities.
Responsibilities
The department’s mandate is set out in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act and can be summarized as follows:
- conduct all official diplomatic communications and negotiations between the Government of Canada and other countries and international organizations;
- coordinate Canada’s economic relations and promote Canadian international trade and commerce; and
- manage Canada’s diplomatic and consular missions and services abroad, including the administration of the Canadian Foreign Service.
To protect Canadians and advance Canada’s priorities and interests abroad, the department delivers programs in support of peace and security, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and provides whole–of–government coordination in response to international crises and natural disasters abroad.
DFAIT generates international opportunities for Canadian business by negotiating agreements to open and expand markets, facilitating two–way trade and investment, and encouraging innovation through international science and technology partnerships.
For more information on DFAIT’s expenditure profile, please refer to the Departmental Performance Report Section I: Organizational Overview.
Total annual expendituresFootnote 1 for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada are summarized below:
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending (in thousands of dollars) | Expenditures for the previous year ending (in thousands of dollars) | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-Mar-2013 | 31-Mar-2013 | ||
| Travel - Public Servants | $57,558.3 | $71,476.1 | ($13,917.8) |
| Travel - Non-Public Servants | $3,212.2 | $5,481.1 | ($2,268.9) |
| International Travel by Ministers and Ministers’ StaffFootnote 2 | $720.4 | $564.3 | $156.1 |
| Total Travel | $61,490.9 | $77,521.5 | ($16,030.6) |
| HospitalityFootnote 3 | $10,739.6 | $8,050.7 | $2,688.9 |
| Conference Fees | $1,664.8 | $2,088.9 | ($424.1) |
| Total | $73,895.3 | $87,661.1 | ($13,765.8) |
Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year
Travel:
- Public Servants and Non-Public Servants: Travel expenditures decreased mainly due to departmental travel restrictions which were put in place in February 2012.
- Ministers and Ministers’ Staff: Our government is committed to a principled foreign policy, where the promotion of human rights, democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are central to our policies and activities. We are committed to advancing Canada’s ambitious political and trade interests, as well as, providing services to Canadians abroad. Canada stands tall on the world stage and Canadians can be proud of this fact.
Hospitality: Hospitality expenditures increased mainly due to protocol related expenses. In an effort to fulfill our foreign policy agenda, there was a higher volume of visits to Canada at the invitation of the government by foreign Heads of State and Ministers. General departmental hospitality expenditures decreased significantly.
Conference Fees: Conference expenditures decreased mainly due to the continuance of cost containment measures and departmental travel restrictions.
