Canadian Heritage’s quarterly financial report for the quarter ended December 31, 2016

Table of contents

1. Introduction

This third quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates, Supplementary Estimates (A & B) as well as Canada’s Economic Action Plan (Budget 2016). It has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 - Quarterly financial reports of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board Accounting Standard 1.3 - Departmental and Agency Quarterly Financial Report. The third quarterly report has been reviewed by the Departmental Audit Committee.

1.1 Authority, mandate and programs

Canadian Heritage promotes an environment in which all Canadians take full advantage of dynamic cultural experiences, celebrating our history and heritage, and participating in building creative communities.

Further details on the Department of Canadian Heritage’s (PCH) authority, mandate and programs can be found in the 2016-2017 Report on Plans and Priorities and the 2016-2017 Main Estimates (PDF document – 1.10 MB).

1.2 Basis of presentation

This third quarterly financial report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities compares the Department’s spending authorities granted by Parliament to those used by the Department consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A & B) for the 2016-2017 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 funds can be spent by the Government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation granting statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

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

1.3 Canadian Heritage financial structure

PCH has a financial structure composed of voted budgetary authorities that include Vote 1 – Operating expenditures and Vote 5 – Grants and Contributions, and Statutory authorities which are composed of contributions to employee benefit plans, Ministers’ Salary and motor car allowances and Statutory Payments for Lieutenant Governors.

2. Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date results

2.1 Statement of authorities

PCH’s 2016-2017 authorities available for use at the end of the third quarter have increased by approximately $143.5M when compared to the same quarter of 2015-2016. More specifically, the total available for use increased by $15.3M in Vote 1 - Operating expenditures, $127.1M in Vote 5 - Grants and Contributions and by $1.1M in Statutory authorities.

The increase of $15.3M in Vote 1 – Operating expenditures is primarily due to the following:

Increases

  • $20.9M – Increase in funding to support Celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017;
  • $5.0M – Transfer of funding and responsibilities for the Multiculturalism Program from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and
  • $1.3M – Increase in funding for affordable housing and social infrastructure projects to support new and old arts and heritage facilities (Budget 2016).

Decreases

  • $7.2M – Decrease in funding for the government advertising programs, component of the Canada 150 campaign, as advertising funds for 2016-2017 are to be received through Supplementary Estimates C;
  • $2.0M – Operating Budget Carry Forward difference from $6.6M in 2015-2016 to $4.6M in 2016-2017; and
  • $1.9M – Decrease in funding for the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program mainly explained by the sunset of a portion of funding which remained at Canadian Heritage since the transfer of Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth component to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

The increase of $127.1M in Vote 5 - Grants and Contributions is mainly due to the following:

Increases

  • $83.8M – Increase in funding to support Celebrations of Canada’s150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017;
  • $82.1M – Increase in funding for affordable housing and social infrastructure projects to support new and old arts and heritage facilities (Budget 2016);
  • $8.6M – Transfer of funding and responsibilities for the Multiculturalism Program from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada;
  • $1.8M – Increase in funding to support the Youth Employment Strategy (Budget 2016); and
  • $1.0M – Increase in funding due to the transfer of responsibilities for the Harbourfront Funding Center from Department of Finance

Decreases

  • $37.5M – Decrease in funding for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games as the Games came to a close in August 2015;
  • $10.0M – Decrease in funding for Celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation – Road to 2017 component of which a small portion has been reprofiled to 2017-2018; and
  • $2.0M – Decrease in funding for the Cultural Strategy for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games – Reprofile of funds.

The increase of $1.1M in Statutory expenses is mainly due to upwards adjustments in employee benefit plans in accordance with Treasury Board Secretariat guidelines.

The following table provides more details on the changes in authorities observed from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017 at the end of the third quarter (Main Estimates, Supplementary Estimates (A), (B) and Operating Budget Carry Forward).

Authorities observed from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017 at the end of the third quarter (in millions of $)
ItemsVote 1Vote 5StatutoryTotal

Increase in funding to support the Celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, including a reprofile of funds from 2018-2019

20.9

83.8

0.4

105.1

Increase in funding for affordable housing and social infrastructure projects to support new and old arts and heritage facilities (Budget 2016)

1.3

82.1

0.2

83.6

Increase in funding due to the transfer of responsibilities for the Multiculturalism Program from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

5.0

8.6

0.0

13.6

Increase in funding for the Youth Employment Strategy (Budget 2016)

0.1

1.8

0.0

1.9

Increase in funding due to the transfer of responsibilities for the Harbourfront Funding Center from Department of Finance

0.0

1.0

0.0

1.0

Other miscellaneous changes

(0.9)

(0.5)

0.5

(0.9)

Decrease in funding for the Cultural Strategy for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games

0.0

(2.0)

0.0

(2.0)

Operating budget carry forward decrease

(2.0)

0.0

0.0

(2.0)

Decrease in funding for the Aboriginal Peoples' Program

(1.9)

(0.2)

0.0

(2.1)

Decrease in funding for the government advertising programs – Canada 150 campaign

(7.2)

0.0

0.0

(7.2)

Decrease in funding for the Celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary of confederation - Road to 2017

0.0

(10.0)

0.0

(10.0)

Decrease in funding for the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games

0.0

(37.5)

0.0

(37.5)

Total

15.3

127.1

1.1

143.5

2.2 Departmental budgetary expenditures by standard object

Total expenditures for the third quarter of 2016-2017 have increased by a net of $175.8M when compared to the same quarter of 2015-2016.

Most of the variance is observed in Vote 5 - Grants and Contributions expenditures which have increased by $173.5M. This variance is mainly explained by changes in timing of payments for the programs listed below, partly occasioned in the cases of earlier payments, by the implementation, in December 2015, of a downward delegation of authority for the approval for Grants and Contributions at Canadian Heritage. Most specifically:

The increase of $106.6M for the Canada Media Fund is caused by the fact that payments were made in the third quarter instead of the regular second quarter.

An increase of $19.8M is observed in the Development of Official Languages Communities Program as a result of timing differences in payments and newly approved funding in December 2016 as part of the Treasury Board Submission to support the provisions of services in French and Indigenous Languages in the territories.

The increase of $14.2M for the Canada Book Fund is attributable to a timing difference as last year payments were made, exceptionally in the second quarter of 2015-16 as opposed to the usual third quarter.

An increase of $13.0M is observed in the Celebration and Commemoration Program which is due to additional funding allocated as part of Celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation activities.

The $11.2M increase in the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund can be explained by the additional funding of $82.1M for affordable housing and social infrastructure projects that was received via the 2016-2017 Supplementary Estimates (A), as part of Budget 2016.

The Sport Support Program is exhibiting an increase of $4.6M this quarter which is a result of payments being made earlier than in 2015-2016.

An increase of $4.2M in the Enhancement of Official Languages Program is due to payments being made earlier compared to last fiscal year. 

The $3.5M increase in the Multiculturalism Program is due to its transfer to Canadian Heritage on November 4, 2015 from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Increases:

  • $106.6M – Canada Media Fund;
  • $19.8M – Development of Official Languages Communities Program;
  • $14.2M – Canada Book Fund;
  • $13.0M – Celebration & Commemoration Program;
  • $11.2M – Canada Cultural Spaces Fund;
  • $4.6M – Sport Support Program;
  • $4.2M – Enhancement of Official Languages Program;
  • $3.5M – Multiculturalism Program;
  • $1.3M – Canada Arts Presentation Fund; and
  • $1.1M – Museums Assistance Program.

Decreases:

  • $2.0M – Exchanges Canada Initiative;
  • $2.0M – Canada Music Fund;
  • $1.1M – Building Communities through Arts & Heritage; and
  • $1.0M – Canada Arts Training Fund

The Vote 1 and Statutory expenses for the third quarter of 2016-2017 have increased by $2.3M when compared to 2015-2016. The Vote 1 increase of $1.7M is mainly as a result of a $1.2M increase in Professional and special services, a $1.3M decrease in the vote netted revenue, and a decrease of $0.9M in Personnel. The increase in Professional and Special services is caused by the Capital Experience program’s increase due to the major event of Canada’s 150th anniversary. The vote netted revenue variance is due to a timing difference and will be recorded next quarter. The decrease in Personnel is due to less spending in internal services in this quarter compared to the same quarter last year. The increase observed in statutory expenditures of $0.6M, notably for Payments under the Lieutenant Governors Superannuation Act and Supplementary retirement benefits, is because of an internal timing difference in posting and allocating the payments in PCH’s financial system, compared to 2015-2016.

As noted in the table below, PCH has spent 25.2% ($353M) of its authorities in the third quarter of 2016-2017, which is higher than the 14.1% ($177M) spent during the same period in 2015-2016. As indicated above, this increase in spending is primarily due to the timing differences observed in grants and contributions payments.

Year to date spending follows a similar trend, where the only notable change was in the increase in grants and contributions payments of 13.6%. As mentioned above, this variance is in large part caused by the implementation, in December 2015, of a new delegation of authority for the expedited approval for Grants and Contributions and an increase in received funding for specific purposes such as the affordable housing and social infrastructure projects under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

Expenditures compared to annual authorities (in millions of dollars) – text version
  2016-20172015-2016

Total available for use

1,404 (100.0%)

1,260 (100.0%)

Used during the quarter

353 (25.2%)

177 (14.1%)

Year-to-date used

854 (60.8%)

737 (58.5%)

3. Risks and uncertainties

Canadian Heritage continues to operate in a time of change. The standardization and consolidation of processes, as part of the government-wide back office transformation initiative, requires the thorough analysis of financial and non-financial risks and the implementation of adequate internal controls and other risk mitigation strategies to ensure effective and efficient processes in order to support strong management oversight.

A dominant financial risk lies in the fact that the department is required to absorb or fund activities within its existing spending authorities, or to cash manage until increased spending authorities are approved without compromising program results. As an example, the department will have to self-fund salary increases once the collective bargaining agreements from the current round of public service negotiations are ratified.

4. Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

Since the Department’s second quarter of 2016-2017, there have been no significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs.

5. Approval by senior officials

Approved by:

Original signed
Graham Flack, Deputy Minister

Gatineau, Canada
Date: February 23, 2017

Original signed
Andrew Francis, Chief Financial Officer

Gatineau, Canada
Date: February 21, 2017

Statement of authorities (unaudited)

Fiscal year 2016-2017 and 2015-2016 (in thousands of dollars)
  Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2017*Used during the quarter ended  December 31, 2016Year to date used at quarter-end
2016-2017
Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2016*Used during the quarter ended
December 31, 2015
Year to date used at quarter end 2015-2016

Vote 1 - Operating expenditures

195,618

44,369

127,648

180,350

42,685

127,333

Vote 5 - Grants and contributions

1,182,053

301,812

707,053

1,054,939

128,339

591,100

Statutory - Contributions to employee benefit plans

23,741

5,874

17,623

22,577

5,644

16,933

Statutory - Minister of Canadian Heritage - Salary and motor car allowance

84

21

56

82

15

55

Statutory - Minister of State (Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities) - Motor car allowance

2

0

0

2

1

1

Statutory - Minister of State (Minister of Status of Women) - Motor car allowance

2

0

0

0

0

0

Statutory - Salaries of the Lieutenant-Governors

1,196

376

1,073

1,196

350

1,048

Statutory - Payments under the Lieutenant Governors Superannuation Act(R.S.C., 1985, c. L-8)

637

463

463

637

155

454

Statutory - Supplementary Retirement Benefits - Former Lieutenant-Governors

182

93

93

182

30

89

Spending of Crown Asset Proceeds

40

0

0

45

0

4

Total Budgetary authorities

1,403,555

353,008

854,009

1,260,010

177,219

737,017

Total authorities

1,403,555

353,008

854,009

1,260,010

177,219

737,017

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

Departmental budgetary expenditures by standard object (unaudited)

Fiscal year 2016-2017 and 2015-2016 (in thousands of dollars)
  Planned expenditures
for the year ending March 31, 2017*
Expended during the quarter ended December 31, 2016Year to date used at quarter-end 2016-2017Planned expenditures
for the year ending March 31, 2016
Expended during the quarter ended December 31, 2015Year to date used at quarter end 2015-2016

Expenditures

Personnel

171,150

40,529

123,850

163,587

41,473

122,537

Transportation and communications

5,461

988

2,364

3,795

751

2,008

Information

4,250

1,576

2,649

7,791

1,721

6,947

Professional and special services

34,667

5,428

13,126

23,284

4,230

12,853

Rentals

5,790

591

2,480

5,683

819

2,093

Repair and maintenance

1,332

372

727

1,367

271

461

Utilities, materials and supplies

5,041

582

1,693

2,134

771

1,953

Acquisition of machinery and equipment

2,425

513

694

2,538

324

887

Transfer payments

1,182,873

302,368

707,610

1,055,758

128,524

591,642

Other subsidies and payments

2,119

873

2,180

2,126

426

1,321

Total gross budgetary expenditures

1,415,108

353,820

857,373

1,268,063

179,310

742,702

Less Revenues netted against expenditures:

Revenue credited to the   
Vote

-11,553

-812

-3,364

-8,053

-2,091

-5,685

Total Revenues netted
against expenditures:

-11,553

-812

-3,364

-8,053

-2,091

-5,685

Total net budgetary expenditures

1,403,555

353,008

854,009

1,260,010

177,219

737,017

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

Page details

Date modified: