Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences

April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conference fees for the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. 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.

The mandate of the PSC is to promote and safeguard merit-based appointments and, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to protect the non-partisan nature of the federal public service. Under the delegated staffing system set out in the Public Service Employment Act, the PSC fulfills its mandate by providing policy guidance and expertise, as well as by conducting effective oversight. In addition, the PSC delivers innovative staffing and assessment services.

More specifically, the PSC provides support and services to federal departments and agencies which include providing staffing and assessment functions, carrying out audits and conducting investigations. These activities may require that PSC employees travel across Canada. 

Further information on the raison d’être, responsibilities and programs of the PSC can be found in the 2014-2015 Departmental Performance Report.

Significant Variances Compared with the Previous Fiscal Year

This section is used to provide a brief explanation of significant variances from the previous year's annual expenditures for each category.

Travel:

A. Public servants:

Compared to fiscal year 2013-2014, organizational travel expenditures by public servants increased mainly due to:

• A greater presence outside the National Capital Region resulting from:
  1. an increased demand for cost recovery services in the Regions;
  2. operational-related in-person meetings for regional staff; and
  3. increased regional outreach activities (e.g., career fairs).

B. Non-public servants:

Compared to fiscal year 2013-2014, organizational travel expenditures by non-public servants increased mainly due to:

• Contractual workforce having to travel to regions to support increased demand for cost recovery services in the Assessment Centres; and
• As of April 1, 2014, a government-wide directive requires that contractual workforce travel costs be recorded under the non-public servants travel category.

Hospitality:

Compared to fiscal year 2013-2014, organizational hospitality expenditures increased, mainly attributable to the National Public Service Week event held in June 2014.

Conference Fees:

The expenditures incurred in 2014-2015 are attributable to the Civil Service Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan having extended an invitation to the PSC to participate in the international conference entitled "Enhancing the efficiency of civil service through capacity development of civil servants", which took place on September 11-12, 2014 in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

Approval

Approved by: