2013-2014 Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences
As required by the Treasury Board Guideline 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 Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.
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 the OIC are related to supporting the organization's mandate and priorities.
In particular, for the OIC, 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 OIC are summarized below:
Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Year ended March 31, 2104
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2014 | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2013 | Variances |
|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands of dollars) | (in thousands of dollars) | (in thousands of dollars) | |
| Travel – Public Servants | 33 | 18 | 15 |
| Travel – Non-Public Servants | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| International Travel by Minister and Minister’s Staff * | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total Travel | 40 | 22 | 18 |
| Hospitality | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Conference Fees | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Total | 64 | 40 | 24 |
* Includes international travel that is part of a department’s program
Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year:
Travel:
Public Servants: Travel expenditures increased in fiscal year 2013-2014 due to the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner's participation at the 8th annual International Conference for Information Commissioners in Berlin, and our participation at the Open Government Partnership Annual Summit in London, England.
Non-Public Servants: Travel expenditures increased in fiscal year 2013-2014 due to the arrival of our newly appointed internal audit and evaluation member requiring travel to attend the meetings.
Conference Fees:
Compared to fiscal year 2012-2013, the OIC conference fees expenditures increased mainly due to our participation to the Investigators Conference hosted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in 2013.