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 the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.

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.

In particular, for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada, this includes conducting efficient, fair and confidential investigations into complaints about federal institutions’ handling of access to information requests. The goal is to maximize compliance with the Access to Information Act while fostering disclosure of public sector information using the full range of tools, activities and powers at the Commissioner’s disposal, from information and mediation to persuasion and litigation, where required. The OIC also supports the Commissioner in her advisory role to Parliament and parliamentary committees on all access to information matters. In delivering its mandate, the OIC promotes information rights and advocates a pro-disclosure culture to ensure government transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.

Detailed information on the Office’s authority, mandate and program activities can be found in its Report and Plans and Priorities, Departmental Performance Report and Strategic Plan 2011–2014.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada are summarized below:

* Includes international travel that is part of a department’s program