Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Fiscal Year 2019-2020

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

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

IRCC’s Mandate

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects and welcomes, as permanent and temporary residents, foreign nationals whose skills contribute to Canadian prosperity. It also reunites family members.

The Department maintains Canada’s humanitarian tradition by welcoming refugees and other people in need of protection, thereby upholding its international obligations and reputation.

IRCC, in collaboration with its partners, conducts the screening of potential permanent and temporary residents to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians. IRCC is also responsible for the issuance and control of Canadian passports and other travel documents that facilitate the travel of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons.

Lastly, the Department builds a stronger Canada by helping all newcomers settle and integrate into Canadian society and the economy, and by encouraging, granting and providing proof of Canadian citizenship.

Further details about IRCC’s authority, mandate and programs can be found in the department’s Departmental Results Report (DRR), Departmental Plan (DP) and other sources of relevant information located on the IRCC Web site.

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

IRCC works in a multi-faceted, rapidly changing policy environment. Canada is a nation built on immigration, which has always played an important economic role in meeting our labour market needs. International migration is increasingly complex, with the movement of people being closely linked to trade, global health, and security concerns. Even as we strengthen partnerships at home, we must also foster international partnerships to ensure well-managed, safe and secure international migration.

Managing in a global environment dictates that IRCC must travel in order to ensure program integrity and to provide an oversight and monitoring of its national and international operations.

With the significant investments made by the government in the Immigration Programs in the past years, IRCC deployed resources for processing in its networks and to engage with various stakeholders. Such activities had an impact on overall travel requirements allowing the department to deliver on its mandate and commitments. Travel expenditures are required to face the growth in permanent and temporary residence applications, to deliver the right training for the department workforce and to maintain and reinforce the necessary liaison with key partners and stakeholders for the delivering of the business.

IRCC’s hospitality expenses are mainly derived from activities related to events and meetings with foreign dignitaries as well as with federal, provincial, and territorial stakeholders.

IRCC’s conference expenses include congress, convention, briefing seminars or other formal gathering where participants debate or are informed of the status of a discipline.

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Year ended March 31, 2020

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year

Travel:

Departmental travel expenditures for 2019-20 have decreased by $664 thousands (-4%) in comparison to 2018-19. This is mainly attributable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel limitations put in place in the last quarter of the fiscal year. This was part of the department’s response to ensure the security of employees in Canada and abroad and to limit the spread of the virus. The decrease in travel is mainly related to departmental operational activities, internal governance and other travel related requirements.

Hospitality:

Departmental hospitality expenditures for 2019-20 have slightly decreased by $2 thousand (-1%) in comparison to 2018-19.

Conference fees:

Departmental conference expenditures for 2019-20 have increased by $61 thousands (8%) in comparison to 2018-19. This is mainly attributable to the International Metropolis Conference hosted by IRCC in 2019.

Ministers and minister’s exempt staff:

Departmental expenditures for international travel by the Minister and the Minister’s exempt staff have decreased by $92 thousands (-58%) from 2018-19 to 2019-20.  As a result of the Federal election in Fall 2019, there was a significant decrease in international travel.

For further details on international travel, please visit the IRCC Proactive Disclosure web page.