Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2013–2014
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, 2014. 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 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 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.
In Canada`s Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government announced its intention to amalgamate the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Since June 26, 2013, the new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) has continued to serve the same functions as those of previously served by DFAIT and CIDA. Total CIDA’s expenditures have been included in the annual expenditures for DFATD.
Effective July 2, 2013, the Department transferred responsibility for Passport Canada to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). DFATD’s annual expenditures include expenditures for Passport Canada prior to the transfer date.
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2014 (in thousands of dollars) | Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2013 (in thousands of dollars) | Change (in thousands of dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel: Public Servants | $56,144.7 | $64,255.3 | ($8,110.6) |
| Travel: Non-Public Servants | $4,483.3 | $4,152.6 | $330.7 |
| Total Travel | $60,628.0 | $68,407.9 | ($7,779.90) |
| HospitalityFootnote 2 | $12,627.7 | $10,969.6 | $1,658.1 |
| Conference Fees | $1,774.8 | $1,702.8 | $72.0 |
| Total | $75,030.5 | $81,080.3 | ($6,049.80) |
| International Travel by Ministers and Ministers’ Staff (also included in Non-Public Servant travel) | $888.2 | $876.4 | $11.8 |
Significant variances compared with the previous fiscal year
Travel:
Public Servants and Non-Public Servants: The decrease in travel expenditures is primarily the result of a change in the methodology used to attribute certain program expenditures to better reflect the nature of those costs. Part of the decrease is also explained by the transfer of Passport Canada to CIC and ESDC.
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, trade and international development interests, as well as, providing services to Canadians abroad.
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 official visits to Canada by foreign Heads of State and Ministers at the invitation of the Government of Canada, as well as, a higher volume of official visits to foreign countries by Canadian representatives.
