Transparency - ESDC

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to open government, which is being pursued along three streams: open data, open information and open dialogue. The goal is to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.

In support of these open government principles, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is providing open access to information about how taxpayer dollars are spent so that you are better able to hold Parliament, the government and public sector officials accountable.

Proactive disclosure

The Government of Canada has implemented a series of measures to strengthen public sector management by enhancing transparency and oversight of public resources in the federal government. One of these measures includes the proactive disclosure of financial- and human resources-related information by departments and agencies.

To this end, ESDC provides disclosure of:

For Service Canada-related expenditures, see Service Canada’s Proactive Disclosure.

Access to Information and Privacy

The Access to Information and Privacy Division is responsible for the administration of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act throughout the ESDC portfolio, including Service Canada and the Labour Program.

ESDC service standards

Service standards represent ESDC's commitment to the level of performance that clients can expect to receive under normal circumstances.

Acts and regulations

Laws passed by parliament and rules used to carry out the intent of statutes (Acts) enacted by Parliament of Canada.

1.1 Contracts over $10,000:

ESDC - Disclosure of Contracts Over $10,000

On March 23, 2004, the government announced a new policy on the mandatory publication of contracts over $10,000, which became effective on October 31st, 2004. Since April 1, 2009, the Department also includes information on contracts with an amendment contract value over $10,000 and contract amendments when an amendment or a series of amendments to a contract exceed $10,000. The Guidelines on the Proactive Disclosure of Contracts came into effect January 1st, 2018 detailing the requirements.

The Open Canada web site provides information on contracts issued by or on behalf of ESDC. Every three months, the Department will be reporting contracts awarded by the institution in the previous quarter. Since January 31, 2006, Service Canada reports its contracts separately from ESDC.

The rules and principles governing government contracting are outlined in the Treasury Board Contracting Policy. The objective of government procurement contracting is to acquire goods and services, including construction services, in a manner that enhances access, competition and fairness and results in best value to Canada.

Please note that information that would normally be withheld under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act does not appear on the Open Canada website.

In the case of master contracts where the work is authorized through task authorizations, the individual task authorizations have been reported.

Where a procurement involves more than one economic object, the economic object associated with the largest dollar value shall be used. For example, the economic objects, Travel - Public Servants or Hospitality, typically relates to a conference or training course and often includes meeting rooms, hotel rooms, and meals.

All efforts have been made to ensure that this is a comprehensive report of contracting activity for the department. If any omissions or errors are identified they will be reported in follow-on quarters.

The Government of Canada passed legislation to consolidate the provision of support services to 11 administrative tribunals by way of a single, integrated organization - the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada (ATSSC). The ATSSC was established on November 1, 2014, with the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada Act. In its new role, the ATSSC will disclose Contracts over $10,000 for the Social Security Tribunal (SST) on its web site.

1.2 Travel and hospitality expenses for Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, exempt staff and senior level employees:

ESDC - Travel & Hospitality Expense Reports

On December 12, 2003, the Prime Minister announced a new policy on the mandatory publication of travel and hospitality expenses for selected government officials, which came into effect on March 31st, 2004.

The Open Canada web site provides information on the travel and hospitality expenses incurred for the department by the Minister, Minister of State, Parliamentary Secretary, and their exempt staff, and by Senior Level employees at the Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister, and equivalent levels. The information on the Open Canada web site will be updated every three months.

The rules and principles governing travel are outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and in Treasury Board's travel Directive and Special Travel Authorities. The purpose of these directives is to provide for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses necessarily incurred during travel on government business.

The Government of Canada extends hospitality in accordance with the rules and principles outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and the Treasury Board hospitality Policy. The objective of the policy is to ensure that hospitality is extended in an economical and affordable way when it facilitates government business or is considered desirable as a matter of courtesy and protocol.

The Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures came into effect April 1st, 2017 detailing the requirements.

Please note that information that would normally be withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act does not appear on the Open Canada web site. Please refer to the Open Canada web site for a complete list of travel expenses and hospitality expenses related to the above stated positions that require disclosure.

1.2.1: Minister, Minister of State, Parliamentary Secretary and their exempt staff:

ESDC - Travel & Hospitality Expense Reports

Please refer to the Open Canada web site for a complete list of travel expenses and hospitality expenses related to the above stated positions that require disclosure.

Minister, Minister of State, Parliamentary Secretary and their exempt staff

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
  • Chief of Staff
  • Director of Communications
  • Director of Issues Management
  • Director of Parliamentary Affairs
  • Director of Policy
  • Director of Regional Affairs
  • Driver
  • Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
  • Parliamentary Secretary
  • Parliamentary Secretary's Assistant
  • Policy Advisor
  • Press Secretary
  • Senior Advisor
  • Senior Policy Advisor
  • Senior Special Assistant
  • Special Assistant
  • Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff
  • Special Assistant, Operations
  • Special Assistant, Parliamentary Affairs
  • Support Staff

1.2.2 Senior Level employees:

ESDC - Travel & Hospitality Expense Reports

Please refer to the Open Canada web site for a complete list of travel expenses and hospitality expenses related to the above stated positions that require disclosure.

Senior Level employees

  • Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Chief Operating Officer for Service Canada

1.2.3 Labour program Senior Level employees:

ESDC - Travel & Hospitality Expense Reports

Please refer to the Open Canada web site for a complete list of travel expenses and hospitality expenses related to the above stated positions that require disclosure.

Labour program Senior Level employees

  • Deputy Minister of Labour

1.3 Travel, hospitality and conference annual expenditures:

ESDC - Disclosure of Travel, Hospitality and Conferences Expenditures

As per section 4.1.3 of the Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, departments are to disclose the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality, and conference (THC) fees. As part of this disclosure, a brief description of the main variances from the previous year’s actual expenditures is to be included. The Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences is released annually, at the same time as the tabling of the Departmental Performance Report. The reports can be found on the Open Canada web site.

1.4 Reclassification of public service positions:

ESDC - Disclosure of Position Reclassification

On February 25, 2004, the government announced the mandatory publication of information concerning the reclassification of occupied positions in the Public Service of Canada.

This web site provides information on the reclassification of positions for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

The rules and principles governing the reclassification of occupied positions are outlined in the Directive on Reclassification. These guidelines provide Deputy Heads with a framework within which to exercise their delegated classification authority for the reclassification of existing positions.

The following are some of the reasons that the duties of a position change may result in a reclassification of a position:

  • Changes to departmental/program mandate;
  • Managers reorganize in response to external conditions that increase or decrease available resources;
  • Managers reorganize to make more efficient and effective use of their financial and human resources, such as technology innovations, changes in employee competencies; or
  • Managers reassign work among their existing human resources to increase productivity, such as in response to vacancies that require temporary or permanent reassignment of work;
  • Results from a classification grievance.

The reclassification of an occupied position in the Public Service of Canada is an important and necessary business management option. However, when contemplating changes to a position that may result in reclassification, management must endeavor to ensure the proper, effective and efficient use of public money. The cost implication associated with upward reclassification must be known, transparent and support accountability for classification decisions.

Government-Wide Position Reclassification Departmental Web Sites: information on this websites will be updated every three months, starting in October 2004.

Please note that the information that would normally be withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act does not appear on the web site.

1.5 All Grants and Contributions awards and material amendments as per TBS Guidelines on the Reporting of Grants and Contributions Awards:

ESDC - Disclosure of Grants & Contributions

In 21 October 2005, the Government announced its commitment to proactively disclose the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000 as part of its Management Improvement Agenda. On April 1st, 2018, TBS released the Guidelines on the Reporting of Grants and Contributions Awards, which sets out the public requirements for the Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions. All awarded Gs&Cs are to be reported (no minimum amount) as well as all award amendments (material and financial amendments).

The Open Canada web site provides information on grants and contributions awarded by the Department. Since May 31st, 2006, and every three months thereafter, the Open Canada website is updated to include information on grants and contributions awarded in the previous fiscal year quarter.

The rules and principles governing government grants and contributions are outlined in the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments. Transfer payments are transfers of money, goods, services or assets made from an appropriation to individuals, organizations or other levels of government, without the federal government directly receiving goods or services in return, but which may require the recipient to provide a report or other information subsequent to receiving payment. These expenditures are reported in the Public Accounts of Canada. The major types of transfer payments are grants, contributions and 'other transfer payments'.

Included in this category, but not to be reported under proactive disclosure of awards, are (1) transfers to other levels of government such as Equalization payments as well as Canada Health and Social Transfer payments. (2) Grants and contributions reallocated or otherwise redistributed by the recipient to third parties; and (3) information that would normally be withheld under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

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