Future-oriented Financial Statements (Unaudited) from the 2012–13 RPP: Notes

For the Year Ended March 31

1. Authority and Objectives

AUTHORITIES

The Department of National Defence (DND) was established by the National Defence Act (NDA). Under section 3 of the Act, the Minister of National Defence presides over the Department. Under section 4 of the NDA, the Minister has the management and direction of the Canadian Forces (CF) and of all matters relating to National Defence.

OBJECTIVES

The Defence mission is to defend Canada and Canadian interests and values, while contributing to international peace and security. On behalf of the people of Canada, Defence stands ready to perform three key roles:

• Defend Canada - by delivering excellence at home;
• Defend North America - by being a strong and reliable partner with the United States in the defence of the continent; and
• Contribute to International Peace and Security - by projecting leadership abroad.

The Defence mission is delivered through seventeen program activities, which are as follows:

• Defence Science and Technology: This program provides the Government of Canada with critical scientific knowledge and innovation to address defence & security challenges and needs. The S&T Program includes direction setting, program planning, program management, and capability management, execution and assessment. The Program comprises multi-year projects with activities in research, technology development, analysis and experimentation applied to inform, enable and respond to Canada’s defence and security priorities over multiple time horizons extending up to a 20-year outlook. The scientific knowledge and innovation generated from these activities informs decisions on Defence capability acquisitions, readiness preparation and the conduct of operations in response to Government priorities. Activities under this program draw on internal capability and make extensive use of partnerships with Canadian industry and academia as well as international organizations.
• Recruiting of Personnel and Initial Training: This program will promote National Defence as a preferred workplace with the general public and to recruit new hires for a broad range of trades and other general, professional and scientific occupations. This involves deepening Defence's connections to the various educational and ethnic communities to attract the right number and mix of people who have the skills needed to contribute to meeting the Defence Mission. Engaging in effective leadership, strategic planning, and targeted outreach activities will ensure that proactive measures are taken to address the challenges arising from current labour market pressures for specific skill sets within certain geographic locations. The program will attract, select and enrol personnel and conduct initial training (basic recruit and occupational training) to military members to the Operational Functional Point. This ensures that sufficient personnel are recruited and trained with the needed skills in the appropriate occupation, now and into the future, to meet Defence requirements. This is accomplished through the provision of recruitment centres, recruitment campaigns, advertising and other outreach activities as well as the necessary training staff, facilities and associated supports.
• Equipment Acquisition and Disposal: This program acquires and disposes of equipment required for CF operations. This includes the acquisition of new & replacement capabilities or capital improvements to in-service equipment and their disposal at the end of their service life. Equipment Acquisition occurs primarily through collaboration with Public Works and Government Services, Industry Canada and the vendors. Equipment Acquisition activities include defining requirements, engineering design, sourcing, validation of requirements, developing procurement strategy, contracting, contract negotiation and award, contract administration and management, project management of equipment acquisitions.
• Real Property and Informatics Infrastructure Acquisition and Disposal: An extensive portfolio of land, works, buildings and informatics required to support the delivery of defence operations. The Real Property and Informatics Infrastructure Acquisition and Disposal program aims to ensure that the right real property and informatics is acquired and disposed of, and is available where and when needed, while providing value for money, advancing objectives for the greening of government land and buildings, and adhering to best practices for asset life-cycle management. Program activities include working with stakeholders to define requirements; updating the real property and informatics development and management plans; managing projects for new and replacement construction; and identifying and eliminating excess facilities. Real property and informatics are acquired through construction and recapitalization, purchase or capital leases, and disposed of through deconstruction, sale or transfer. The activity includes the Capital Assistance Program (CAP) which is a capital contribution program under which Defence makes financial contributions to support the transfer of infrastructure facilities to provinces, territories, municipalities and/or their agencies. CAP projects support real property goals and objectives by encouraging cost-effective solutions for the provision of infrastructure on bases and wings across Canada.
• Maritime Readiness: This program provides Canada with a combat-capable, multi-purpose Navy. The program will generate and sustain relevant, responsive, combat capable maritime forces that are able to respond to a spectrum of tasks, as may be directed by the Government, within the required response time. This is accomplished by bringing maritime forces to a state of readiness for operations, by assembling, and organizing maritime personnel, supplies, and materiel. This includes the training and equipping of forces and the provision of their means of deployment, sustainment and recovery to defend Canadian interests domestically, continentally and internationally.
• Land Readiness: This program provides Canada with a combat-capable, multi-purpose Army. The program will generate and sustain relevant, responsive, combat capable land forces that are effective across the spectrum of conflict, from peacekeeping and nation building to war fighting. This is accomplished by bringing land forces to a state of readiness for operations, assembling and organizing Land personnel, supplies, and materiel as well as the provision of individual and collective training to prepare land forces to defend Canadian interests domestically, continentally and internationally.
• Aerospace Readiness: This program will provide Canada with a combat-capable, multi-purpose Air Force. The program will generate and sustain relevant, responsive, combat capable aerospace forces that are able to respond to the spectrum of tasks, as may be directed by the Government, within the required response time. This is accomplished by bringing aerospace forces to a state of readiness for operations, by assembling, and organizing aerospace personnel, supplies, and materiel. This includes the training and equipping of aerospace forces and the provision of their means of deployment, sustainment and recovery to defend Canadian interests domestically, continentally and internationally.
• Joint and Common Readiness: This program will ensure Defence is ready to operate in a joint capacity, as directed by Government, to respond to domestic, continental and international requirements within the required response time. The program will generate and sustain forces for activities, operations and organisations in which elements of at least two services (e.g Navy, Army, Air Force) participate. This is accomplished through the provision of training of a joint and common nature, the equipping of forces and the provision of their means to deploy in a joint capacity.
• Situational Awareness: The Government of Canada and Defence require an accurate and timely security picture and comprehensive situational awareness and threat knowledge for Canada and abroad. This program will provide credible, reliable and sustained intelligence services to Defence in support of decision making and military operations, as well as, support to other government departments in the defence and security of Canada. Work activities include geospatial intelligence, imagery intelligence, signals intelligence, and counter intelligence. The program also ensures the acquisition and use of information from the global information infrastructure to provide foreign intelligence to support Government of Canada intelligence priorities. This is accomplished through the collection, dissemination and analysis of electronic information. The program will ensure the provision of advice, guidance and services to help protect electronic information and information infrastructures of importance to the Government of Canada as well as technical and operational assistance to federal law enforcement and security agencies in the performance of their lawful duties.
• Canadian Peace, Stability and Security: This program employs the CF in the conduct of operations to ensure the safety and security of Canadians and the defence of Canada. These operations include protecting Canada’s sovereignty, responding to domestic disasters or humanitarian crisis, supporting domestic security requirements, and conducting search and rescue activities. This is accomplished through the mobilization and deployment of forces within Canada. Canada Command is responsible for the conduct of all Canadian forces domestic operations – routine and contingency - and is the national operational authority for the defence of Canada.
• Continental Peace, Stability and Security: This program employs the Canadian forces in the conduct of operations, both independently and in conjunction with allies, for the defence ofNorth America and its approaches. Activities under this program include continental operations as required in accordance with Government of Canada policy. This is accomplished through the mobilization and deployment of forces for the defence ofNorth America and its approaches. Canada Command is responsible for the conduct of all continental operations – routine and contingency - and is the national operational authority for the defence ofNorth America and its approaches.
• International Peace, Stability and Security: This program will contribute to global peace and security by conducting global CF operations, across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance to combat, in concert with national and international partners, to achieve timely and decisive results in support of Canada’s national interests. This is accomplished through the mobilization and deployment of forces internationally. Canadian Expeditionary Force Command is the operational command responsible for all CF international operations, with the exception of operations conducted solely by Special Operations Forces elements.
• Defence Team Personnel Support: The Defence Team Personnel Support program will provide a broad spectrum of support services such as financial support for education and housing and facilities services, as well as, benefits to military personnel and their families. The program will also provide learning support to Defence civilians. This program is necessary as the provision of fair and equitable support is a key element of the Social Contract between the nation and its military personnel that is essential to enhance personnel readiness and deployability, and establish the CF as an employer of choice and learning institution.
• Canadian Identity: This program preserves and promotes Canadian identity by providing youth programs, ceremonial activities and the preservation of military history. The program is necessary to demonstrate the military heritage and proficiency of the CF to Canadians and inform them of the military profession and practice in Canada. This is realized through initiatives such as ceremonial and band performances, CF museums, CF history and heritage books, web content and the Cadets.
• Environment Protection and Stewardship: This program promotes public health and safety and supports sustainable development on Defence lands and wherever Defence operates. It delivers multi-faceted real property/infrastructure environmental protection and stewardship compliant with applicable legislation and federal policy that extends through every level of departmental decision-making.
• Non-Security Support: Defence is strongly committed to contributing to Canadian society in non-operational roles. The program will provide supports to develop national competency in defence issues and to the whole of government approach by sharing information with other government departments and non-governmental organizations. This may include the provision of grants to researchers to generate knowledge related to defence issues or provide meteorological or mapping information to other government departments in the interest of information sharing on horizontal initiatives.
• Internal Services: The Internal Services Program Activity supports all strategic outcomes and is common across government. Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

2. Methodology and Significant Assumptions

The future-oriented statements have been prepared on the basis of government priorities and the plans of the department as described in the Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP).

The main assumptions are as follows:

• The department’s activities will remain substantially the same as the previous year.
• Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are mainly based on historical experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.
• Allowances for uncollectibility are mainly based on historical experience and trends. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.
• Estimated year-end position for 2011-12 is used as the opening position for 2012-13 planned results.

These assumptions are adopted as at December 31, 2011.

3. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to accurately forecast final results for fiscal year 2011-12 and estimates for 2012-13, actual results achieved are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

In preparing these future-oriented financial statements the department has made estimates and assumptions concerning the future. These estimates and assumptions may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Factors that could lead to material differences between the future-oriented financial statements and the historical financial statements include:

• The timing and amounts of acquisition and disposal of capital assets may affect gain/losses, amortization and expenses related to tangible capital assets.
• Implementation of new collective agreements.
• Economic conditions may affect the amount of revenue earned and the collectability of loans receivable.
• Further changes to the operating budget through additional new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the year.

Once the RPP is presented, the Department will not be updating the forecasts for any changes to appropriations or forecast financial information made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Departmental Performance Report. The 2011-12 condensed Statement of Operations values appearing in the financial highlights section of the 2012-13 RPP reflect the values reported in the condensed Statement of Operations contained in the 2011-12 RPP, not the values reported in these statements.

4. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The future-oriented financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies, in effect for the 2011-12 fiscal year. These accounting policies, stated below, are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

a. Parliamentary Authorities

The Department is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the Department do not parallel financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles since authorities are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the Statement of Operations and the Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through authorities from Parliament. Note 5 provides a high-level reconciliation between the bases of reporting.

b. Consolidation

These future-oriented financial consolidated statements include the accounts of the sub-entities that are under the control of the Department. The accounts of these sub-entities have been consolidated with those of the Department and all inter-organizational balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Department is comprised of DND, the CF and several related organizations and agencies in the Defence Portfolio, which carry out the Defence mission and are part of the Defence Services Program.

Organizations and agencies that are part of these consolidated future oriented financial statements include the following:

• Canadian Cadet Program and the Junior Canadian Rangers;
• Canadian Forces Housing Agency;
• Defence Research and DevelopmentCanada;
• Office of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman;
• Office of the Judge Advocate General; and
• National Search and Rescue Secretariat.

The Canadian Forces Grievance Board, the Military Police Complaints Commission and the Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner are excluded from the consolidation because these organizations are not part of the Defence Services Program, although they fall under the responsibility of the Minister of National Defence.

Non-Public Property (NPP) as defined in section 2 of the NDA, and administered by the Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services is also excluded from the reporting entity. NPP includes all money and property contributed to or by CF members for their collective benefit and welfare. NPP is not subject to the Financial Administration Act, and is administered outside the framework of public funds. NPP is not part of the Defence Services Program.

c. Net Cash Provided by Government

The Department operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash receipts are deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the Department are paid from the CRF. Net cash provided by the Government is the difference between all cash receipts and cash disbursements including transactions between departments of the Government.

d. Amounts Due From/To the Consolidated Revenue Fund

Amounts due from/to the CRF are the result of timing differences at year-end between when a transaction affects authorities and when it is processed through the CRF. Amounts due from the CRF represent the net amount of cash that the Department is entitled to draw from the CRF without further parliamentary expenditure authorities to discharge its liabilities.

e. Revenues

Revenues are recorded on an accrual basis:

• Revenues are accounted for in the period in which the underlying transaction or event occurred that gave rise to the revenues.
• Funds received from external parties for specified purposes are recorded upon receipt as deferred revenues. These revenues are recognized in the period in which the related expenses are incurred and revenues that have been received but not yet earned are recorded as deferred revenues.

f. Expenses

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis:

• Grants are recognized in the year in which the conditions for payment are met. In the case of grants which do not form part of an existing program, the expense is recognized when the Government announces a decision to make a non-recurring transfer, provided the enabling legislation or authorization for payment receives parliamentary approval prior to the completion of the future-oriented financial statements;
• Contributions are recognized in the year in which the recipient has met the eligibility criteria or fulfilled the terms of a contractual transfer agreement, provided that the transfer is authorized and a reasonable estimate can be made;
• Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned by employees under their respective terms of employment; and
• Services provided without charge by other government departments for accommodation, employer contributions to the health and dental insurance plans, worker’s compensation coverage and legal services are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated cost.

g. Employee Future Benefits

• Pension Benefits
  
  Eligible civilian employees participate in the Public Service Superannuation Plan, a multi-employer plan administered by the Government. The Department’s contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total departmental obligation to the Plan. Current legislation does not require the Department to make contributions for any actuarial deficiencies of the Plan.The Government sponsors a variety of employee future benefits such as pension plans and disability benefits, which cover members of the Canadian Forces. National Defence administers the pension benefits for members of the Canadian Forces. The actuarial liability and related disclosures for these future benefits are presented in the financial statements of the Government of Canada and reported annually to Parliament as required by the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act. This differs from the accounting and disclosures of future benefits for military members presented in these financial statements whereby pension expense corresponds to the Department’s annual contributions toward the cost of current and prior service, which is based on actual contributions made by members of the Plans during the period. In addition to its regular contributions, current legislation also requires the Department to make contributions for actuarial deficiencies in the Canadian Forces Pension Plan and in the Reserve Force Pension Plan, which came into force on March 1, 2007. These contributions are expensed in the year they are credited to the Plans. This accounting treatment corresponds to the funding provided to departments through Parliamentary authorities.

• Severance Benefits
  Employees and military members are entitled to severance benefits under labour contracts or conditions of employment. These benefits are accrued as employees and military members render the services necessary to earn them. The obligation relating to the benefits earned by civilian employees and CF members is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole. Nevertheless civilian collective agreements are the reference for paying entitlement on severance pay. The process of severance pay for civilian employees will then be processed instructively by their respective collective agreements.

h. Accounts and Loans Receivables

Accounts and loans receivables are stated at the lower of cost and net recoverable value; a valuation allowance is recorded for receivables where recovery is considered uncertain.

i. Inventories

Inventory consists of consumables (such as non-repairables, uniforms and clothing, medical and other equipment and machine tools) and ammunition (including bombs and missiles). Consumable inventories are valued using a moving weighted average price methodology. Some items classified as repairable ammunition (e.g. missiles and torpedoes) are valued using a standard price. Inventory managed by contractors and not held in the Canadian Forces Supply System or Defence Resource Management Information System (DRMIS) is valued based on contractor-supplied records. DND is currently conducting a multi-year conversion of legacy systems into DRMIS. During the conversion process both periodic and perpetual inventory methods are being utilized. Items identified for disposal are excluded from the value of inventory as no value is expected to be recovered.

j. Tangible Capital Assets

All tangible capital assets, having an initial cost of $30,000 or more, including capital leases, betterments and leasehold improvements, are recorded at their acquisition cost. Capitalization threshold values lower than $30,000 apply to certain assets asset pooled items (API), formerly known as repairables.Capital assets do not include intangible assets, works of art and historical treasures that have cultural, aesthetic or historical value, assets located on First Nations Reserves and in museum collections.

k. Amortization of Tangible Capital Assets

Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the capital asset as follows:

API are amortized in accordance with the sum of the accumulated amortization of the equipment platform that they support.

Assets under construction are recorded in the applicable capital asset class in the year that they become available for use and are not amortized until they become available

for use.

l. Contingent Liabilities - Claims and Litigations

Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities, which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded. If the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the future-oriented financial statements.

m. Remediation Liabilities

Remediation liabilities reflect the estimated costs related to the management and remediation of environmentally contaminated sites. A liability, based on a reasonable estimate, is accrued when a site becomes contaminated or the Department becomes aware that a site has become contaminated and is obligated, or likely to be obligated to incur costs related to implementing a site-specific management plan. If the likelihood of the Department’s obligation to incur these costs is not determinable, or cannot be reasonably estimated, the costs are disclosed as a contingent liability in the notes to the future-oriented financial statements.

n. Future Asset Restoration Liabilities

Future asset restoration liabilities represent the estimated costs related to the risk management of unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) affected legacy sites. A liability, based on a reasonable estimate, is accrued when the Department becomes aware that a site is affected by UXO and is obligated, or is likely to be obligated, to incur costs related to a site-specific management plan. If the likelihood of the Department’s obligation to incur these costs is not determinable, or if an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the costs are disclosed as a contingent liability in the notes to the future-oriented financial statements.

o. Foreign Currency Transactions

Transactions involving foreign currencies are translated into Canadian dollar equivalents using rates of exchange in effect at the time of those transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into Canadian dollars using the rate of exchange in effect at year-end.

Gains resulting from foreign currency transactions are included as revenues in Interest and Gains on Foreign Exchange in Note 20 and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in Other Expenses in Note 20.

5. Parliamentary Authorities

National Defence receives most of its funding through expenditure authorities provided by Parliament. Items recognized in the Future-oriented Statement of Operations and the Statement of Financial Position in one year may be funded through Parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the Department has different net results of operations for the year on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. The differences are reconciled in the following tables:

(a) Reconciliation of Net Cost of Operations to requested Authorities

(in thousands of dollars)

(b) Authorities Requested

(in thousands of dollars)

*2011-12 Authorities available for future years include $602.5 million in frozen allotments that will be returned to the Department for use in future years.

6. Accounts Receivable

The following table presents details of the Department's accounts receivable balances:

(in thousands of dollars)

7. Loans and Advances

The following table presents details of the Department's loans and advances balances:

(in thousands of dollars)

8. Prepaid Expenses

The following table presents the details of prepaid expenses:

(in thousands of dollars)

9. Inventories

The following table presents the details of inventory, measured at cost using the moving weighted average method:

(in thousands of dollars)

*Contractor Held Inventory is valued at historical cost.

The cost of consumed inventory recognized as an expense in the Future-oriented Statement of Operations is $181.6 million in 2012-13.

10. Tangible Capital Assets and Accumulated Amortization

Tangible Capital Assets

(in thousands of dollars)

(1) Current Year Adjustments represent adjustments to API, assets under construction put into use, reclassifications and adjustments of tangible capital assets.

(2) Disposals of assets under construction represent assets that are put into use in the year and transferred to other capital asset classes as applicable.

(3)

Accumulated Amortization

(in thousands of dollars)

11. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

The following table presents details of the Department's accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

(in thousands of dollars)

12. Deposits and Trust Accounts

The following table presents details of the Department's deposits and trust accounts:

(in thousands of dollars)

* The Trust Account, Estates - Armed Services was established to record the service estates of deceased members of the Canadian Forces pursuant to section 42 of the National Defence Act. Net assets of estates are distributed to legal heirs under the administration of the Judge Advocate General, in his capacity as Director of Estates.

13. Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue represents the balance at year-end of unearned revenues stemming from amounts received from external parties which are restricted to fund the expenditures related to amounts received for fees prior to services being performed. Revenue is recognized in the period that these expenditures are incurred or the service is performed. Details of the transactions related to this account are as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

14. Canadian Forces Pension and Insurance Accounts

Established in 1901 under the Militia Pension Act, the present Canadian Forces Pension Plans (the “Plans”) are administered in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Canadian Forces Pension Plan (CFPP) covers all members of the regular force component of the Canadian Forces. Reserve Force members who have sufficient qualifying service and pensionable earnings are members of either the CFPP or Reserve Force Pension Plan (RFPP), which came into force on March 1, 2007, depending on their employment status and earnings.

The Department maintains accounts to record the transactions pertaining to the Canadian Forces Pension Plans, which comprise the Canadian Forces Superannuation Account, the Canadian Forces Pension Fund Account, the Retirement Compensation Arrangement Account, and, the Reserve Force Pension Fund Account. These accounts record transactions such as contributions, benefit payments, interest credits, refundable taxes and actuarial debit and credit funding adjustments resulting from triennial reviews and transfers to the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments).

The value of the liabilities reported in these financial statements for the Canadian Forces Pension Plans reflect only the balances which are posted in the departmental financial system. These balances do not include the actuarial value of the liabilities determined by the Chief Actuary of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions nor the details of the investments that are held by PSP Investments. Additional information on the Canadian Forces Pension Plans, including audited financial statements, is published in the Annual Report of the Canadian Forces Pension Plans, which is available through the Department of National Defence Website. For further information on PSP Investments, please visit their website www.pspib.ca.

The Department also maintains the Regular Forces Death Benefit Account, which provides life insurance to contributing members and former members of the Canadian Forces. This account records contribution, premiums, interest, and benefit payments.

The following table provides details of the Canadian Forces Pension and Insurance Accounts:

(in thousands of dollars)

* The Retirement Compensation Arrangements (RCA) account records transactions for pension benefits that are provided in excess of those permitted under the Income Tax Act. The RCA is registered with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and a transfer is made annually between the RCA Account and CRA to either remit a 50-percent refundable tax in respect of the net contributions and interest credits or to be credited a reimbursement based on the net benefit payments.

15. Lease Obligations for Tangible Capital Assets

The Department has entered into agreements to lease certain equipment under capital leases with a estimated cost of $1,034 million and accumulated amortization of $755 million as at the date of these statements. The obligations for the upcoming years include the following:

(in thousands of dollars)

* The Department has entered into agreements for buildings, aircraft and informatics hardware under capital leases (refer to Note 10 of these financial statements).

16. Employee Future Benefits

(a) Pension Benefits:

1. The Department's Public Service employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored and administered by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum of 35 years at a rate of 2 percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plan benefits and they are indexed to inflation.
   
   Both the employees and the Department contribute to the cost of the Plan. The Department's responsibility with regard to the pension plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.
2. The members of the Canadian Forces (Regular Force) and eligible members of the Reserve Force participate in the Canadian Forces Pension Plan, which is sponsored by the Government of Canada and administered by the Department. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum of 35 years at a rate of 2 percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plan benefits and are indexed to inflation.
3. The members of the Canadian Forces (Reserve Force), who are not eligible for participation in the Canadian Forces Pension Plan, may be eligible to participate in the Reserve Force Pension Plan, which is sponsored by the Government of Canada and administered by the Department. Pension benefits accrue at a rate of 1.5 percent of pensionable earnings during the member’s service, plus an additional 0.5 percent times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings for those members who are not yet eligible for Canada/Québec Pension Plan benefits. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plan benefits and are indexed to inflation.
   
   Both the members and the Department contribute to the cost of the Plans for both current and prior service. The Department is responsible for providing program management and the day-to-day administration of the Plans. The actuarial liability and actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plans' sponsor.

(b) Severance Benefits:

The Department provides severance benefits to its public service employees and Canadian Forces members based on eligibility, years of service and final salary. These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid from future authorities. Information about the severance benefits estimated as at the date of these statements, is as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

17. Contingent Liabilities

Contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown. The department is involved in three categories of contingent liabilities: claims and litigations, remediation liabilities, and future asset restoration liabilities.

(a) Claims and Litigations

Claims have been made against the Department in the normal course of operations. As at the date of the preparation of these future oriented financial statements, legal proceedings for claims totalling approximately $2,050 million were still pending. Some of these potential liabilities may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded in the financial statements.

(b) Remediation Liabilities - Contaminated Sites

Liabilities are accrued to record the estimated costs related to the management and remediation of environmentally contaminated sites, where the Department is obligated or likely to be obligated to incur such costs. An estimated liability of $149 million has been accrued in these statements.

Liability estimates are based on information known at a given point in time. These estimates are subject to variability due to: professional judgment involved in developing estimates, the possibility that additional volumes of contaminated media may be discovered upon implementation of the remedial action plan, and/or new technologies becoming available during the course of implementing the remedial action plan.

The Department confirms an approximate number of sites where such action is possible and records a liability. The Department also makes estimates for contingent liabilities that are not accrued relating to contaminated sites.

The Dew Line Clean Up project completed maintenance investigation of FOX4 – Cape Hooper and has identified the need for additional remediation work which is expected to be competed by fiscal year 2016-17. The department has produced estimates and accruals for the two projects approved to address the risks associated with the trichlorothylene (TCE) contamination at Valcartier. The potential for these estimates to change is likely given the long duration of these projects (15+ years). The cost estimates will continue to be reviewed at least annually and adjusted as necessary. Other projects at this site are being considered.

A potential obligation exists for environmental mitigation at Camp Ipperwash. Assessments regarding potential obligation at sites Suffield Experimental Proving Ground, CFS Alert and London (Highbury Complex) are planned to continue in 2012-13.

As a result of assessment activities undertaken for suspected or confirmed contaminated sites, additional liabilities may be reported for fiscal year 2012-13.

(c) Future Asset Restoration Liabilities

Liabilities are accrued to record the estimated costs related to the risk management and clearance of unexploded explosive ordinance (UXO) affected legacy sites, where the Department is obligated or likely to be obligated to incur such costs. The liability estimates are based on information known at a given point in time and are subject to variability due to the use of professional judgment in developing the estimate, changes to the size of the site or type of UXO on the site, and/or new technologies becoming available during the implementation of the risk management strategy. An estimated liability of $26 million has been accrued in these statements.

The Department confirms sites where clearance or risk management activities may be necessary and records a liability.

A potential obligation exists for UXO risk mitigation at Camp Ipperwash. The uncertainty will be resolved once UXO investigations have been completed and clearance options have been developed. A contingent liability also exists at Lac St. Pierre. The estimated contingent liability (a rough order magnitude estimate ranging from $180 million to $524 million) relates to potential clearance costs to mitigate UXO risk at Lac St. Pierre and is reviewed annually.

As a result of assessment activities undertaken related to the risk management and clearance of UXO affected legacy sites, additional liabilities may be reported for fiscal year 2012-13.

In addition to liabilities related to UXO affected legacy sites, there are potential obligations related to real property. These obligations may arise from property disposal transactions, termination of lease agreements, oil and gas activities on DND/CF property, and other transactions.

18. Contractual Obligations

The nature of the Department’s activities can result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the Department will be obligated to make future payments when the services/goods are received. Significant contractual obligations over $10 million that can be reasonably estimated are as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

19. Related Party Transactions

(a) Common Services Provided Without Charge by Other Government Departments

During the year, the Department received services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to accomodation, legal services, the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and workers' compensation coverage. These services provided without charge have been recorded in the Department's Future-oriented Statement of Operations as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

The Government has centralized some of its administrative activities for efficiency, cost-effectiveness purposes and economic delivery of programs to the public. As a result, the Government uses central agencies and common service organizations so that one department performs services for all other departments and agencies without charge. The costs of these services, such as payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General are not included in Department's Future-oriented Statement of Operations.

(b) Other transactions with related parties

(in thousands of dollars)

20. Segmented Information

Presentation by segment is based on the Department's program activity architecture. The presentation by segment is based on the same accounting policies as described in the Summary of significant accounting policies in note 4. The following table presents forecasted expenses incurred and forecasted revenues generated for the main program activities, by major object of expesnes and by major types of revenues. The segment results for the period are as follows:

The following table is available for downloading or viewing:

Table 20 for notes to future-oriented Financial Statements (PDF Version, 132 KB)

21. Transfer from/to Other Government Department's

Effective November 15, 2011, the Department of National Defence transferred responsibility for the Email, Data Centre and Network Services Units to Shared Services Canada in accordance with Order-in-Council 2011-1297, including the stewardship responsibility for the assets and liabilities related to the program. In addition, effective November 16, 2011, the Department transferred responsibility for Communications Security Establishment to Communications Security Establishment in accordance with Order-in-Council 2011-1305, including the stewardship responsibility for the assets and liabilities related to the program. At the time of the preparation of the Future-oriented Financial Statements insufficient data was available to provide detailed disclosure, so these two transfers have not been reflected in the statements.