Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for the Year Ended March 31, 2020

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency’s mandate and the government’s priorities.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s travel, hospitality and conference expenditures support the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians:

The Agency works with businesses to help them become more competitive, innovative and productive. It works with communities to develop and diversify local economies, and it plays an important role in developing and supporting policies and programs that strengthen the region’s economy.

Descriptions of each of ACOA’s programs can be found in the Additional information section of the Departmental Plan on the Agency’s website.

Travel, hospitality and conference fees cover a range of activities and events. Costs associated with these activities support statutory or regulatory requirements to deliver services to Canadians and to meet government priorities and the Agency’s mandate. These expenses are related to working with other levels of government, industry or public interest groups, as well as Agency business meetings and working sessions necessary to conduct government business and deliver on priorities.

As ACOA head office is located in Moncton, New Brunswick, senior Agency officials are often called upon to attend meetings and briefings in the National Capital Region. They must also travel throughout Atlantic Canada and sometimes internationally to ensure that Atlantic Canada’s economic interests are well represented in the global marketplace. In addition, there are travel costs related to training and conferences for which the primary purpose is to enable participants to maintain or acquire skills or knowledge.

The Agency manages travel, hospitality and conference fees with prudence and probity, in a manner that maximizes effectiveness in meeting ACOA’s mandate and priorities. The most economical and efficient alternatives for travel, hospitality, conference fees and associated expenditures have been considered. These expenditures respect the Treasury Board guidelines.

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year

TRAVEL: Compared with fiscal year 2018-2019, there was no significant variance in the Agency’s travel expenditures.

HOSPITALITY: Compared with fiscal year 2018-2019, the Agency hospitality increased. This is due mainly to ACOA organizing an interactive employee forum with the aim of providing consistent information about Champion Files and the modernization of ACOA programming.

CONFERENCE FEES: Compared with fiscal year 2018-2019, there was no significant variance in the Agency’s conference expenditures.
MINISTER AND MINISTER’S STAFF: There was no international travel expenditures by the minister and ministerial staff for both fiscal years.