1. Introduction

This quarterly report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. It should be read in conjunction with the 2020-21 Main Estimates and the Directive on Accounting Standards, GC 4400 Departmental Quarterly Financial Report. This quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

The Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada (ATSSC) is responsible for providing support services and facilities to 11 federal administrative tribunals by way of a single, integrated organization. These services include the specialized services required by each tribunal (e.g., registry, research and analysis, legal and other mandate or case activities specific to each tribunal), as well as internal services (e.g., human resources, financial services, information management and technology, accommodations, security, planning and communications).

Further information on the mandate, roles, responsibilities and programs of the ATSSC can be found in the organization’s 2020-21 Departmental Plan.

2. Highlights of Fiscal Quarter and Fiscal Year-to-Date Results

This section highlights the significant items that contributed to the net increase or decrease in authorities available for the year, and actual expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.

The ATSSC’s financial structure is mainly composed of voted budgetary authorities, namely Vote 1—Program Expenditures and Vote Netted Revenue (VNR) authority, as well as statutory authorities for contributions to employee benefit plans. The VNR gives the ATSSC authority to make recoverable expenditures against the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Employment Insurance (EI) operating accounts. Graph 1 below shows the ATSSC’s gross and net budgetary authorities and expenditures for the third quarter of 2020-21. For more details, refer to the Statement of Authorities table presented in Annex A.

Graph 1: Comparison of budgetary authorities and expenditures for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

The ATSSC expended $64.1 million (57% of total authorities available for use), including Employee Benefit Plan (EBP), in the third quarter of 2020-21, compared to $64.5 million (61% of total authorities available for use) in the same quarter of 2019-20. The majority of expenditures related to personnel, and totaled $54.4 million (85% of gross expenditures). The remaining $9.7 million primarily included professional and special services (mainly informatics services, translation costs and consulting services), rental costs and informatic equipment costs.

3. Risks and Uncertainties

The ATSSC is exposed to a variety of risks in its operating environment that could have an impact on the achievement of its objectives. The ATSSC has an efficient risk management process that includes management participation at the organization’s highest levels. This process allows management to identify, evaluate and mitigate key risks to achieving its mandate and organizational priorities, and drives resource allocation accordingly.

Meeting the demanding and dynamic workloads of the tribunals it serves is central to the ATSSC’s operating context. Tribunal legislative and policy mandates are highly sensitive to external demands and, as a result, tribunals can at times face fluctuations in their caseloads, which can create unpredictable workloads. The ATSSC continues to work closely with tribunals to identify factors that could impact caseloads, to allow the ATSSC to plan operations and investments accordingly.

As part of its mandate, the ATSSC supports tribunal efforts in enhancing operations and improving access to justice through the maintenance and modernization of existing IM/IT systems and critical infrastructure. However, there is a risk to operations if critical infrastructure is not consistently assessed, prioritized, and addressed to ensure continuity of business operations and system support. Investments in the modernization of the ATSSC’s aging infrastructure and tribunal Case Management Systems will continue to ensure operational sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected travel related to in-person hearings and mediations, and case-conferences, which may also result in a larger year-end financial surplus than usual for the ATSSC.

4. Significant Changes Related to Operations, Personnel and Programs

On March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada’s Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer announced the implementation of exceptional measures, which included the requirement for most public servants to work remotely when their functions allowed for it. Since then, almost all the ATSSC workforce and members of the tribunals it supports have been working remotely. The ATSSC is concurrently focusing on supporting staff and member mental health while also beginning work on a long-term strategy.

Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by:

Ottawa, Canada. February 22, 2021 

ANNEX A

5. Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

(in dollars)

* Includes only Authorities available for use and granted by Parliament at quarter-end.

**Employee benefit plan (EBP) is excluded from Program expenditures as it is included in the Budgetary statutory authorities

ANNEX B

6. Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

(in dollars)

* Employee benefit plan (EBP) is included