Employment and Social Development Canada Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2025

1. Authority and objectives

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is a department in the core public administration. ESDC is a department named in Schedule I of the Financial Administration Act and reports to Parliament through the Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Development (ESD).

The legislative mandate of ESDC is to improve the standard of living and quality of life of all Canadians by promoting a highly skilled and mobile workforce and an efficient and inclusive labour market, as well as to promote social well being and income security.

Acts and Regulations for which ESDC Ministers are responsible include the: Department of Employment and Social Development Act, Old Age Security Act, Employment Insurance Act, Canada Pension Plan, Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, Canada Student Loans Act, Universal Child Care Benefit Act, Canada Disability Savings Act, Canada Education Savings Act, Labour Adjustment Benefits Act, Accessible Canada Act, Poverty Reduction Act, Government Annuities Act, Government Annuities Improvement Act, Civil Service Insurance Act, Public Pensions Reporting Act, Apprentice Loans Act, Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Canada Labour Code, Government Employees Compensation Act, Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act, Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, Canada Recovery Benefits Act, Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit Act and the Regulations made under these Acts.

Employment and Social Development Canada achieves its objectives through the following departmental core responsibilities:

• Social Development

  To increase inclusion and opportunities for Canadians to participate in their communities.

• Pensions and Benefits

  Assist Canadians in maintaining income for retirement, and provide financial benefits to survivors, people with disabilities and their families.

• Learning, Skills Development and Employment

  Help Canadians access post secondary education and get the skills and training they need to participate in a changing labour market, as well as provide support to those who are temporarily unemployed.

• Working Conditions and Workplace Relations

  Promotes safe, healthy, fair and inclusive work conditions and cooperative workplace relations.

• Information Delivery and Services for Other Departments

  Provides information to the public on the programs of the Government of Canada, and provides services on behalf of government departments and other partners.

• Internal Services

  Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. These services are Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Management Services; Materiel Management Services; and Acquisition Management Services.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared using ESDC's accounting policies stated below, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

(a) Parliamentary authorities

ESDC is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to ESDC 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 Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position and in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through authorities from Parliament.

Note 3 provides a reconciliation between the bases of reporting. The planned results amounts in the ''Expenses'' and ''Revenues'' sections of the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position are the amounts reported in the Consolidated Future oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2024-2025 Departmental Plan. Planned results are not presented in the ''Government funding and transfers'' section of the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position and in the Consolidated Statement of Change in Departmental Net Financial Asset because these amounts were not included in the 2024-2025 Departmental Plan.

(b) Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the transactions of the Employment Insurance Operating (EIO) Account, a consolidated specified purpose account which includes revenues credited and expenses charged under the Employment Insurance Act and for which the Deputy Minister as Chairperson of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission is accountable. The accounts of the EIO Account have been consolidated with those of ESDC, and all inter organizational balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is excluded from ESDC's reporting entity because major changes to the CPP require the agreement of two thirds of the provinces and therefore, the CPP is not controlled by ESDC.

(c) Net cash provided by Government

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

(d) Amounts due from or to the CRF

Amounts due from or 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 ESDC is entitled to draw from the CRF without further authorities to discharge its liabilities.

(e) Revenues

Revenues are comprised of revenues earned from non-tax sources. They include exchange transactions where goods or services are provided for consideration where a performance obligation exists, and non-exchange transactions where no performance obligations exist to provide a good or service. These transactions can be recurring or non-recurring in nature. Recurring transactions are viewed as ongoing, routine activities that form part of the normal course of operations and can be used to indicate if they can be reasonably expected to be earned again in future years. Unless otherwise disclosed, ESDC's revenues are considered recurring.

ESDC has the following major types of revenues:

• Employment Insurance (EI) premiums are recognized as revenue in the period in which they are earned, when workers, through their employment, generate these premiums and the related employer's contribution. Premiums earned in the period are measured from amounts assessed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and from estimates of amounts not assessed. Premium revenue also includes adjustments between actual and estimated premiums of previous years. EI premiums are considered non-exchange transactions.
• Recoveries of CPP administration costs and other government department service delivery costs are recognized as the performance obligations are satisfied.
• User fees and other revenues are recognized in the period the event giving rise to the revenues occurred. They consist of exchange and non-exchange transactions.
• Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge ESDC's liabilities. While the Deputy Minister is expected to maintain accounting control, he has no authority regarding the disposition of non-respendable revenues. As a result, non-respendable revenues are considered to be earned on behalf of the Government of Canada and are therefore presented in reduction of ESDC's gross revenues. Revenues earned on behalf of Government consist of user fees, non-respendable revenues earned from agreements made under the Department of Employment and Social Development Act with other government departments, and gains on the sale of assets. These are recognized when earned.

(f) Expenses

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis of accounting:

• Transfer payments are recorded as expenses when authorization for the payment exists and the recipient has met the eligibility criteria or the entitlements established for the transfer payment program. In situations where payments do not form part of an existing program, transfer payments are recorded as expenses 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 consolidated financial statements. Transfer payments that become repayable as a result of conditions specified in the contribution agreement that have come into being are recorded as a reduction to transfer payment expense and as a receivable.
• Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned by employees under their respective terms of employment.
• Services provided without charge by other government departments for employer contributions to the health and dental insurance plans and legal services are recorded as operating expenses at their carrying value.
• The expenses incurred on behalf of Government are linked to the assets held on behalf of Government. As a result, these expenses are considered to be incurred on behalf of the Government of Canada and are therefore presented in reduction of the entity's gross expenses.

(g) Employee future benefits

• Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, a multiemployer pension plan administered by the Government. ESDC's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total departmental obligation to the Plan. ESDC's responsibility with regard to the 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.
• Severance benefits: The accumulation of severance benefits for voluntary departures ceased for applicable employee groups. The remaining obligation for employees who did not withdraw benefits is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole.

(h) Financial instruments

A contract establishing a financial instrument creates, at its inception, rights and obligations to receive or deliver economic benefits. The financial assets and financial liabilities portray these rights and obligations in the consolidated financial statements. ESDC recognizes a financial instrument when it becomes a party to a financial instrument contract.

Financial instruments consist of accounts and loans receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

All financial assets and liabilities are recorded at cost or amortized cost. Any associated transaction costs are added to the carrying value upon initial recognition. For financial instruments measured at amortized cost, the effective interest method is used to determine interest revenue or expense.

Accounts and loans receivable are initially recorded at cost and, where necessary, are discounted to reflect their concessionary terms. Unconditionally repayable contributions are recognized as loans receivable. When the terms of repayment for loans are considered concessionary, such as those where loans are made on a long-term, low interest or interest-free basis or include forgiveness clauses, the loan is discounted to its estimated present value. The difference between the face value of the loan and the estimated present value at the time the loan is issued represents the concessionary portion, which is recognized as a transfer payment expense, while the resulting concessionary portion is amortized to revenue using the effective interest rate method over the term of the loan. When necessary, an allowance for valuation is recorded to reduce the carrying value of accounts and loans receivable to amounts that approximate their net recoverable value. Loans receivable are subsequently measured at amortized cost.

See Note 6 Risk Management for risks related to ESDC's financial instruments.

(i) Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities that 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 if an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

(j) Contingent assets

Contingent assets are possible assets which may become actual assets when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. If the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, the contingent asset is disclosed in the notes of the consolidated financial statements.

(k) Tangible capital assets

All tangible capital assets having an initial cost of $10,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. ESDC does not capitalize intangibles, works of art, museum collections, and immovable assets located on reserves as defined in the Indian Act.

(l) Related party transactions

Related party transactions, other than inter-entity transactions, are recorded at the exchange amount. Inter-entity transactions are transactions between commonly controlled entities. Inter entity transactions, other than restructuring transactions, are recorded on a gross basis and are measured at the carrying amount, except for the following:

• Services provided on a recovery basis are recognized as revenues and expenses on a gross basis and measured at the exchange amount.
• Certain services received on a without charge basis are recorded for departmental financial statement purposes at the carrying amount.

(m) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes at March 31. The estimates are based on facts and circumstances, historical experience, general economic conditions and reflect management's best estimate of the related amount at the end of the reporting period. The most significant items where estimates are used are the determination of part of the Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, the allowances for doubtful accounts, the Old Age Security (OAS) and EI benefit repayments, the liability for employee future benefits, the recovery of CPP administration costs, the accrued liabilities, the useful life of tangible capital assets, the liability of the Government Annuities Account, and the contingent liabilities.

Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated. Management's estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are recorded in the consolidated financial statements in the year they become known.

3. Parliamentary authorities

ESDC receives most of its funding through annual parliamentary authorities. Items recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position and the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position in 1 year may be funded through parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Furthermore, as a consolidated specified purpose account, the Employment Insurance Operating (EIO) Account expenses and revenues recognized in ESDC's Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position do not affect parliamentary authorities. Accordingly, ESDC 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:

4. Accounts receivable and advances

The following table presents details of ESDC's accounts receivable and advances balances:

5. Loans receivable

The following table provides an aging analysis of loans receivable and the associated valuation allowances used to reflect their net recoverable value:

Canada Student Loans

The Canada Student loans consist of 3 different types of loans, Direct Loans, Guaranteed Loans and Risk Shared Loans. Since August 1, 2000, Canada Student Loans are issued under the Direct Loan Regime. Before this date, the loans were issued under the Guaranteed Loan Regime (1964-1995) or under the Risk Shared Loan Regime (1995-2000). Direct loans issued on or after August 1, 2000 are administered under the authority of section 6.1 of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, which authorizes the Minister of Jobs and Families to enter into loan agreements directly with any qualifying students. Guaranteed loans provided by financial institutions between 1964 and August 1995, under the Canada Student Loans Act, were fully guaranteed by ESDC but have since been repurchased from the lenders. Risk-shared loans issued prior to August 1, 2000 and on or after August 1, 1995 are amounts related to student loans subrogated to the Crown under the authority of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act.

An allowance is recorded to provide for bad debts and Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for Canada Student Loans. The allowance for direct loans is determined according to an actuarial estimate provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Chief Actuary). Based on projected defaulted loans and recovery rates, the Chief Actuary establishes the allowance rates to be applied to the outstanding balances of the portfolio according to the status of the loans.

The total amount of direct loans issued under the authority of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and outstanding risk-shared loans bought-back by ESDC may not exceed $34 billion. The total amount of direct loans and outstanding risk-shared loans as at March 31, 2025 amounted to $28.9 billion ($26.1 billion in 2024).

Canada Apprentice Loans

Canada Apprentice Loans (CAL) are administrated under the authority of section 4 of the Apprentice Loans Act which came into effect on January 2, 2015. The Minister of Jobs and Families is authorized to enter into a loan agreement directly with any eligible apprentice.

An allowance is recorded to provide for CAL bad debts and Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). The allowance is determined according to an actuarial estimate provided by the Chief Actuary. Based on projected defaulted loans and recovery rates, the Chief Actuary establishes the allowance rates to be applied to the outstanding balances of the portfolio according to the status of the loans.

The total amount of CAL issued under the authority of Apprentice Loans Act may not exceed $1.5 billion. The total amount of outstanding apprentice loans as at March 31, 2025 amounted to $332.8 million ($309.6 million in 2024).

Interest and repayment terms

Under these 2 programs, no security is received from the borrowers. Borrowers are not required to make payments on their loans while they are still studying, enrolled in their apprentice program or during the 6-month grace period after completing their studies or apprentice program. In the Fall of 2022, the Government announced the permanent elimination of interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans. Loans have been permanently interest free since April 1, 2023.

Borrowers having difficulty repaying their loans may be eligible for assistance under the Repayment Assistance Plan. The typical repayment period is 10 years, with a maximum period of 15 years for borrowers that are eligible if their affordable payment, which is based on family income and family size, is less than their required monthly payment. Depending on their regime, borrowers may also benefit from another type of loan forgiveness program in the event of severe permanent disability or death.

When ESDC no longer has reasonable assurance of recovering the full amount of a loan at the expected date, the loan becomes impaired. Loans that are considered impaired are eventually subject to the write-off process. Subsequent recoveries on these loans are recorded as a reduction of the expense in the consolidated statement of operations and departmental net financial position.

6. Risk management

ESDC has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments: credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk.

(a) Credit Risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss.

ESDC's maximum exposure to credit risk at March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 is the carrying amount of its financial assets.

ESDC has determined that there is no significant concentration of credit risk related to accounts receivable and advances from external parties and loans receivable. An analysis of the age of the loans receivable and the associated valuation allowances used to reflect these accounts at their net recoverable value is disclosed in note 5.

(b) Market Risk

Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market risk is comprised of currency risk.

Currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in the foreign exchange rates.

ESDC has determined that there is no significant concentration of currency risk related to foreign denominated financial instruments.

(c) Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting its obligations associated with financial liabilities.

As the funding for ESDC's financial liabilities is drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, its exposure to liquidity risk is fully mitigated.

7. Due to Canada Pension Plan

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a federal/provincial plan established by an Act of Parliament in 1965. The CPP is administered by the Government of Canada and the provinces; therefore, it is excluded from ESDC's reporting entity.

In accordance with the Canada Pension Plan, the financial activities of the CPP are recorded in the CPP Account and the Additional CPP Account, collectively referred to as the CPP Accounts. CPP's revenues and expenses, such as contributions, interests, investment income or loss from the CPP Investment Board, pension benefits and operating expenses, are reported as increases and decreases to the liability and are reported separately in the CPP consolidated financial statements. The CPP Accounts also record the amounts transferred to or received from the CPP Investment Board.

8. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

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

9. Designated Amount Fund - Trust Account

This account was established pursuant to section 21 of the Financial Administration Act, to record amounts received and paid under Article 5 of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. It was established on September 19, 2007, and provides for the payments referred to as Common Experience Payments (CEP) to eligible former students of recognized Indian Residential Schools and personal credits for educational programs and services to CEP recipients or to certain family members. The account is credited with interest, pursuant to section 21(2) of the Financial Administration Act. The Designated Amount Fund is co-administered by the Trustee, the Government of Canada, represented jointly by the Minister of Jobs and Families and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.

10. Government Annuities Account

ESDC administers the Government Annuities Account. This account was established by the Government Annuities Act, and modified by the Government Annuities Improvement Act, which discontinued sales of annuities in 1975.

The purpose of the Government Annuities Act was to assist Canadians to provide for their later years through the purchase of Government annuities.

Receipts and other credits consist of premiums received, funds reclaimed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for previously untraceable annuitants, earned interest and any transfer needed to cover the actuarial deficit. Payments and other charges represent matured annuities, the commuted value of death benefits, premium refunds and withdrawals, as well as actuarial surpluses and unclaimed annuities. The amounts of unclaimed annuities related to untraceable annuitants are transferred to non-tax revenues.

The Government Annuities Account is valued on an actuarial basis each year, using prescribed mortality and interest rates, with the deficit or surplus charged or credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Any adjustments required under the Government's accounting policies are recorded through an allowance adjustment account. The allowance account reflects the adjustment to the liability due to the differential between prescribed rates and best estimates of experience-adjusted mortality tables and discount rates. The discount rates used to measure the present value of accrued benefits is based on the Government's cost of borrowing derived from the yields on the actual zero-coupon yield curve for Government of Canada bonds which reflect the timing of the expected future cash flows.

11. Employee future benefits

(a) Pension benefits

ESDC's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (the "Plan"), which is sponsored and administered by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum period of 35 years at a rate of 2% per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best 5 consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and ESDC contribute to the cost of the Plan. Due to the amendment of the Public Service Superannuation Act following the implementation of provisions related to the Economic Action Plan 2012, employee contributors have been divided into 2 groups: Group 1 relates to existing plan members as of December 31, 2012 and Group 2 relates to members joining the Plan as of January 1, 2013. Each group has a distinct contribution rate.

The 2025 expense amounts to $315.8 million ($294.8 million in 2024). For Group 1 members, the expense represents approximately 1.02 times (1.02 times in 2024) the employee contributions and, for Group 2 members, approximately 1.00 times (1.00 times in 2024) the employee contributions.

ESDC's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

(b) Severance benefits

Severance benefits provided to ESDC's employees were previously based on an employee's eligibility, years of service and salary at termination of employment. However, since 2011 the accumulation of severance benefits for voluntary departures progressively ceased for substantially all employees. Employees subject to these changes were given the option to be paid the full or partial value of benefits earned to date or collect the full or remaining value of benefits upon departure from the public service. By March 31, 2025, substantially all settlements for immediate cash out were completed. Severance benefits are unfunded and, consequently, the outstanding obligation will be paid from future authorities.

The changes in the obligations during the year were as follows:

12. Tangible capital assets

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

Assets under construction are recorded in the applicable asset class in the year they are put into service and are not amortized until they are put into service.

The following table presents a summary of the transactions and balances for the main categories of tangible capital assets:

13. Departmental net financial position

A portion of ESDC's net financial position is used for a specific purpose. Related revenues and expenses are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position.

The Employment Insurance Operating (EIO) Account was established in the accounts of Canada by the Employment Insurance Act (the Act). All amounts received under the Act are deposited in the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and credited to the EIO Account. The benefits and the costs of administration of the Act are paid out of the CRF and charged to the EIO Account. Activity in the account is as follows:

14. Contractual obligations and contractual rights

(a) Contractual obligations

The nature of ESDC's activities may result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby ESDC will be obligated to make future payments in order to carry out its transfer payment programs or when the services/goods are received. Significant contractual obligations that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:

(b) Contractual rights

The activities of ESDC sometimes involve the negotiation of contracts or agreements with outside and related parties that result in the department having rights to both assets and revenues in the future. They principally involve the administration of services on behalf of other government departments and other organizations. Major contractual rights that will generate revenues in future years and that can reasonably be estimated are summarized as follows:

15. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets

a) Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown.

Claims, litigations and grievances have been made against ESDC in the normal course of operations. These claims include items with pleading amounts and others for which no amount is specified. While the total amount claimed in these actions is significant, their outcomes are not determinable. ESDC has recorded an allowance for claims and litigations in the amount of $2.5 million ($1.0 million in 2024), where it is likely that there will be a future payment and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made. Claims and litigations for which the outcome is not determinable, and a reasonable estimate can be made by management amount to nil on March 31, 2025 ($0.5 million in 2024).

b) Contingent assets

Under the Social Finance Fund (SFF), there are currently 3 conditionally repayable contribution agreements with potential repayments due no later than March 31, 2039. As these are conditionally repayable contributions, the amounts that may become repayable cannot be currently estimated as contribution agreements are subject to specific program requirements. Thus, to forecast a specific amount repayable is not possible due to the varying factors facing each recipient as it relates to their economic and production performances.

16. Related party transactions

ESDC is related as a result of common ownership to all government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. Related parties also include individuals who are members of key management personnel or close family members of those individuals, and entities controlled by, or under shared control of, a member of key management personnel or a close family member of that individual.

The department enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms.

(a) Common services provided without charge by other government departments

During the year, ESDC received services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and legal services. These services provided without charge have been recorded at the carrying value in ESDC's Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position as follows:

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 the payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Services and Procurement Canada, information technology infrastructure services provided by Shared Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General are not included in the ESDC's Consolidated Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position.

(b) Common services provided without charge to other government departments

During the year, ESDC provided services without charge to other government departments, related to the provision of workers' compensation services, amounted to $17.1 million in 2025 ($17.5 million in 2024).

(c) Other transactions with related parties

In the normal course of business, ESDC enters into transactions with government departments, agencies and Crown corporations. The revenues and expenses related to these transactions are as follows:

Table notes:

Expenses and revenues disclosed in (c) exclude common services provided without charge, which are already disclosed in (a).

17. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on ESDC's core responsibilities. The presentation by segment is based on the same accounting policies as described in the Summary of significant accounting policies in note 2. The following table presents the expenses incurred and revenues generated for the core responsibilities, by major object of expense and by major type of revenue. The segment results for the period are as follows:

18. Comparative information

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

1. Introduction

This document provides summary information on the measures taken by ESDC to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), including information on internal control management, assessment results and related action plans.

Detailed information on ESDC's authority, mandate and program activities can be found in the Departmental Plan for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year and the Departmental Results Report for the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year.

2. Departmental system of internal control over financial reporting

2.1 Internal Control Management

ESDC has a well-established governance and accountability structure to support departmental assessment efforts and oversight of its system of internal control. A departmental internal control management framework, approved by the Deputy Minister, is in place and comprises:

• Organizational accountability structures as they relate to internal control management to support sound financial management, including the roles and responsibilities of senior departmental managers for control management in their areas of responsibility;
• Values and ethics;
• Ongoing communication and training on statutory requirements, and policies and procedures for sound financial management and control; and
• Monitoring of, and regular updates on, internal control management, as well as the provision of related assessment results and action plans to the Deputy Minister and senior departmental management and, as applicable, the Departmental Audit Committee.

The Departmental Audit Committee provides advice to the Deputy Minister on the adequacy and functioning of the department's risk management, control and governance frameworks and processes.

2.2. Service arrangements relevant to financial statements

ESDC relies on other organizations for the processing of certain transactions that are recorded in its financial statements as follows:

Common Arrangements:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada centrally administers the payments of salaries, the delivery of compensation and benefits services, the procurement of goods and services in accordance with the ESDC delegation instrument and provides accommodation services;
• Treasury Board Secretariat provides the Department with information used to calculate various accruals and allowances, such as the accrued severance liability;
• The Department of Justice provides legal services to ESDC; and
• Shared Services Canada (SSC) provides information technology infrastructure services to ESDC in the areas of data center and network services.

Readers of this Annex may refer to the annexes of the above-noted organizations for a greater understanding of the systems of ICFR related to these services.

As a result, ESDC relies on the effective system of internal control over financial reporting in place at these service providers.

Specific Arrangements:

• ESDC, through the Service Canada (SC) initiative, acts as a focal point for government access to Canadians. As a result, ESDC has entered into several agreements with many Government of Canada departments designed to provide Canadians with better access to programs and services;
• A private service provider, pursuant to a contract with the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, administers the delivery of the Direct loans issued under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. As a result, reliance is placed on the control procedures of the external service provider and the annual audit on financial information and internal controls performed by an external audit firm;
• The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides full collection services to ESDC for the recovery of its Accounts Receivable. Reliance is placed on the control procedures at CRA for the collection services and CRA's reporting capacity; and
• The CRA administers a number of activities for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and the Employment Insurance (EI) Operating Account.

3. Departmental assessment results for fiscal year 2024 to 2025

The following table summarizes the status of the ongoing monitoring activities according to the previous fiscal year's rotational plan.

ESDC determined that key financial controls examined are generally working effectively to prevent or detect a material misstatement to the Financial Statements. There are, however, areas that have been identified requiring remediation including:

Employment Insurance

The key controls that were tested performed as intended, and no significant deficiencies were identified.

Entity Level Controls

The key controls that were tested performed as intended, and no significant deficiencies were identified.

IT General Controls (ITGC)

The ongoing monitoring of ITGC is conducted as part of a 5-year cycle, which assesses SAP and 14 feeder systems.

As a result of the 4-year ongoing monitoring assessment, some key recommendations were noted in 1 of the 4 main control pillars evaluated: access to program and data.

The Management Response and Action Plans (MRAPs) have been prepared by the process owner with a view to strengthen the control and progress against these plans will be tracked during 2025 to 2026 as part of the year-5 ongoing monitoring of ITGCs.

Grants and Contributions

Some key recommendations included but were not limited to:

• Strengthen the monitoring of access rights to the grants and contributions system;
• Ensure that payments, proposals and agreements are signed by the appropriately delegated authority;
• Strengthen document retention supporting key decisions, approvals and essential records;
• Ensure that funds are pre-committed prior to the proposal approval; and
• Strengthen the financial monitoring reviews related to the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care program.

MRAPs have been prepared by the process owners with a view to strengthen control and progress against these plans will be tracked during 2025-2026.

Procure to Payment

The process underwent a comprehensive assessment in 2023-2024 as part of the ongoing monitoring plan for internal controls over financial management. Due to its advanced stage, the 2023-2024 assessment did not delve deeper into procurement controls highlighted by the widely publicized government issues in fall of 2023.

The 2024-2025 assessment focused on procurement-related control activities, drawing on findings from current and past audits conducted by the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG), the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), and the Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Branch (IAERMB).

The key recommendations resulting from the assessment include:

• Ensure that contracts and their amendments are signed by the appropriate and valid delegated financial authority;
• Strengthen document collection and retention supporting key decisions, approvals and essential records.

MRAPs have been prepared by the process owner with a view to strengthen control and progress against these plans will be tacked during 2025-2026.

4. Departmental action plan for the next fiscal year and subsequent years

ESDC's rotational ongoing monitoring plan over the next 5 fiscal years is shown in the following table. Note that the plan will be adjusted as required subject to an annual revalidation of the high-risk control areas, the timing of other relevant audit and monitoring activities and the impact of changes that occurred during the year or that are planned for the coming year(s).