Quarter ended June 30, 2023

Polar Knowledge Canada

Quarterly Financial Report

For the quarter ended June 30, 2023

Introduction

This quarterly financial report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act, in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the 2023-24 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2023-24. This quarterly financial report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) was created pursuant to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act which came into force on June 1, 2015. POLAR’s mandate is to:

• Advance the knowledge of the Canadian Arctic to improve economic opportunities, environmental stewardship, and the quality of life of its residents and all other Canadians;
• Promote the development and dissemination of knowledge of the other circumpolar regions, including the Antarctic;
• Strengthen Canada’s leadership on Arctic issues; and
• Establish a hub for scientific research in the Canadian Arctic.

Further information on the mandate, roles, responsibilities, and programs of POLAR can be found by accessing the 2023-24 Departmental Plan.

Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying statement of authorities includes POLAR's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by POLAR, consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the 2023-24 fiscal year. This quarterly report has been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework designed to meet financial information needs with respect to the use of spending authorities.

The authority of Parliament is required before money can be spent by the Government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

POLAR uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental results reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

Highlights of the fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date (YTD) results

The following graph provides a comparison of the total budgetary authorities and year-to-date expenditures for the first quarter of the current and previous fiscal years for POLAR’s combined operating and statutory authorities.

Graph 1: Comparison of budgetary authorities and expenditures for the first quarter ended June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2022.

Significant Changes to Authorities

As reflected in the Statement of Authorities (Annex 1), for the period ending June 30, 2023, the total budgetary authorities available for use increased by $5.06 million (15.6%) for the current fiscal year compared to the same period of the prior year. This increase is mainly due to the incremental funding of $4.9 million announced in Budget 2022 related to the transfer of the administration of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station and other related federal real property from the Minister of Northern Affairs to Polar Knowledge Canada.

Significant Changes to Year-to-Date Expenditures

As reflected in the Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (Annex 2), at the end of the first quarter of 2023-24, total expenditures were $6.20 million, compared to $5.07 million reported for the same period in 2022-2023, representing an increase of $1.13 million (22.4%). The increase is primarily due to the timing of the approval and payment of transfer payments in 2023-24.

Risks and Uncertainties

POLAR operates in a complex and dynamic environment where various risks can impact its ability to carry out polar science and knowledge activities effectively. These risks span different areas, including operational and relationship and reputational. In this context, POLAR has implemented innovative approaches and strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure the successful implementation of its initiatives and activities.

Operational risks

POLAR faces operational risks that may impact its ability to carry out activities effectively. These operational risks include lack of housing availability, staffing qualified personnel in remote communities, procurement challenges, and remoteness.

POLAR has mitigated these operational risks by exploring alternative housing options, implementing personnel retention strategies, by fostering partnerships, and by seeking additional baseline funding to support the operational realities of Arctic operations.

Relationships and Reputational risks

Much of the POLAR’s operations and planned activities rely on collaboration and partnerships with other federal organizations, northern and Indigenous organizations and communities, and academia. POLAR may be unable to complete planned activities with these partners due to internal capacity challenges or dependency on inputs from other organizations. In addition, after taking over the custodianship of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station, POLAR may be unable to fully operationalize the research station without adequate long-term funding. Important partners and stakeholders, particularly Indigenous organizations and communities, may perceive delays as unfulfilled commitments.

POLAR has mitigated these relationships and reputational risks by:

• involving and supporting community participation early, and in every stage of projects;
• ensuring northern Engagement Initiatives;
• using memoranda of understanding to communicate commitments with Indigenous partners and taking meaningful action to implement these commitments;
• developing a multi-year Real Property Strategy and defining and seeking long-term baseline funding to fully operationalize the Canadian High Arctic Research Station’s infrastructure; and
• addressing internal capacity challenges through timely recruitment including the ongoing implementation of its Inuit Employment Plan to attract, develop and retain personnel.

Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

During the first quarter of 2023-24, there were no significant changes in relation to operations, personnel, and programs.

Approval by Senior Officials

The original version was approved and signed by

• Jennifer C. Hubbard
  President & Chief Executive Officer
  Ottawa, Canada
  August 25, 2023
• Christine Robinson, CPA, CMA
  Acting Executive Director, Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer
  Ottawa, Canada
  August 25, 2023

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)