Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2014–2015
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 the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. 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
The Department’s mandate is set out in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development 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;
- manage Canada’s diplomatic and consular missions and services abroad, including the administration of the Canadian Foreign Service; and
- foster sustainable international development and poverty reduction in developing countries and provide humanitarian assistance during crises.
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.
DFATD 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.
DFATD’s efforts also contribute to ensuring food security, generating sustainable economic growth, giving children and youth a better future, and stabilizing fragile countries.
For more information on DFATD’s expenditure profile, please refer to the Departmental Performance Report Section I: Organizational Overview.
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2015 (in thousands of dollars) | Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2014 (in thousands of dollars) | Change (in thousands of dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel: Public Servants | $50,942.6 | $56,144.7 | ($5,202.1) |
| Travel: Non-Public Servants | $5,090.5 | $4,483.3 | $607.2 |
| Total Travel | $56,033.1 | $60,628.0 | ($4,594.9) |
| HospitalityFootnote 1 | $11,787.7 | $12,627.7 | ($840) |
| Conference Fees | $1,829.2 | $1,774.8 | $54.4 |
| Total | $69,649.9 | $75,030.5 | ($5,380.6) |
| International Travel by Ministers and Ministers’ Staff (also included in Non-Public Servant travel) | $873.8 | $888.2 | ($14.4) |
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. DFATD is committed to advancing Canada’s ambitious political, trade and international development interests, as well as, providing services to Canadians abroad.
The department reduced its expenditures on Travel, Hospitality, and Conference Fees, by an amount of $5.4 million, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The main variances are explained as follows:
Travel:
Public Servants and Non-Public Servants: The decrease in travel expenditures is primarily the result of continued departmental efforts to reduce travel by public servants, which includes the use of more economical alternatives (e.g. tele/video-conferencing). In addition, there were fewer official visits by Canadian representatives abroad in 2014-15 than in 2013-14, which resulted in less travel expenses incurred by the Office of Protocol.
Hospitality:
The decrease in Hospitality expenditures is mainly due to protocol related expenses. There was a lower volume of official visits to Canada by foreign Heads of State and Ministers at the invitation of the Government of Canada and a lower volume of official visits to foreign countries by Canadian representatives.
