Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for fiscal year 2023 to 2024

According to subsection 4.1.2 of the Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures of Treasury Board, departments are required to publicly disclose total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conference fees. This report provides information on these expenditures for the Department of Public Safety Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by Public Safety Canada are in support of its mandate and the government's priorities.

The Department's mandate is to keep Canada safe from a range of risks such as natural disasters, crime and terrorism. As such, Public Safety Canada collaborates with federal partners as well as other orders of government, non-government organizations, community groups, the private sector, foreign states, academia, communities and first responders on issues related to national and border security, crime prevention, community safety and emergency management. This cooperation supports a cohesive and integrated approach to Canada's safety and security.

In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, the Department provided strategic policy advice and support to the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Emergency Preparedness on a range of issues including: national security, community safety and emergency management. The Department also delivers a number of grant and contribution programs related to these issues.

For more detailed information on Public Safety Canada's mandate, including roles and responsibilities, please refer to the Department's 2023-24 Departmental Plan (DP) and the 2023-24 Departmental Results Report (DRR).

Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of Public Safety Canada

Significant Variances Compared with Previous Fiscal Year

Overall, the travel, hospitality and conferences expenditures increased by $874.6K (29%) compared to fiscal year 2022 to 2023. This increase is due to a gradual ongoing return to normal business operations post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Travel:

Compared to fiscal year 2022 to 2023, departmental travel expenditures increased by $719.9K (26%). This increase is the result of a gradual return to normal business operations in the post-pandemic era. The variance is mainly attributable to Public Safety's emergency management functions in coordinating the response to an unprecedented wildfire season in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 and a new focus on developing National Priority Emergency Preparedness Exercises in the Government Operations Center (GOC). Furthermore, some of the significant initiatives under which travel was required include: Five Country Ministerial, Counter Radicalization to Violence, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, G7 Roma-Lyon Group meeting and Anti-Money Laundering.

Hospitality:

Compared to fiscal year 2022 to 2023, departmental hospitality expenditures increased by $134.2K (78%). This increase is mainly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions being lifted, which allowed in-person events to resume. Some Public Safety led events that were solely virtual in fiscal year 2022 to 2023 were conducted as hybrid events in fiscal year 2023 to 2024, therefore incurring additional hospitality expenditures. Specifically, one of the main events is the annual Mega Week conference hosted by Public Safety's 'Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence'. This event brings practitioners, researchers, academics, and other governmental stakeholders together for knowledge dissemination, networking, and showcasing services. Moreover, the variance is attributable to Annual Anti-Money Laundering (AML) "Spin-Cycle Conference" that was hosted by Public Safety in fiscal year 2023 to 2024. This conference gathers public sector AML professionals to discuss Canada's enforcement environment and prosecutorial developments.

Conference fees:

Compared to fiscal year 2022 to 2023, departmental conference expenditures increased by $20.5K (22%). This increase is due to a post-pandemic return to in-person conference attendance. The variance is mainly attributable to Public Safety's attendance at the Canada-United Kingdom Colloquium, which aims to discuss pressing public policy challenges in both countries, and to make recommendations to the government.

Minister and minister's staff:

Compared to fiscal year 2022 to 2023, departmental international travel expenditures by the Minister of Public Safety and his staff increased by $45.7K (108%). This increase is the result of a gradual return to normal business operations in the post-pandemic era, as well as more requirements for international travel and participation in international events for the Minister and Minister's staff in fiscal year 2023 to 2024. The variance is mainly attributable to international travel for the annual Five Country Ministerial (FCM) meeting, which was hosted by New Zealand. This gathering of Ministers from Five Eyes countries provides a forum for Canada and its allies from the US, UK, New Zealand and Australia to advance work in areas of importance to collective security, such as countering foreign interference and emergency management.

Approved by the Chief Financial Officer

Patrick Amyot, CPA
Assistant Deputy Minister, Chief Financial Officer
Public Safety Canada, Government of Canada
Ottawa (Canada)
Date: October 11, 2024

Date modified:

2024-12-17