Departmental Results Report 2023-2024 - The National Battlefields Commission

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From the Minister

Headshot of Pascale St-Onge

The Honourable Pascale St-Onge

Through their various activities, Canadian Heritage Portfolio organizations, including the National Battlefields Commission (NBC), contribute to the vitality of Canadian society. Together, they foster and promote creativity, and open spaces for dialogue that strengthen our social fabric. They play a fundamental role in today's profoundly changing world.

In 2023-2024, the NBC welcomed over 93,000 visitors to the Plains of Abraham Museum. Its Aeria exhibition, which used innovative technologies to present eight remarkable figures linked to the history of the Plains, won the award of excellence from the Société des musées du Québec.

In addition, the NBC continued to fulfill its mission as guardian of a historic and urban park, notably by maintaining and providing access to exceptional sites in the heart of Quebec City.

Finally, the Commission began the process of redesigning its theplainsofabraham.ca site to make it more user-friendly and improve the experience of Internet users who visit the park.

As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I am delighted to present the 2023-2024 Departmental Results Report prepared by the NBC. I would like to highlight all the work accomplished to serve the public and help achieve the government's objectives over the past year.

Results – what we achieved

Core responsibilities and internal services

Core responsibility 1: Conservation

Description

Ensure the conservation and protection of the natural, cultural and heritage assets of the National Battlefields Park through the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds and infrastructure. Ensure safe public access to the Park.

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for Conservation. Details are presented by departmental result.

Table 1: Targets and results for Conservation

Table 1 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under Conservation.

Table [#.1]:The National Battlefields Park is a well-maintained and safe site
Departmental Result Indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
Actual results
Percentage of visitors that are ‘’satisfied’’ with the park’s condition
80 %
March 31, 2024
  • 2021–22: Not available*
  • 2022–23: Not available*
  • 2023–24: Not available*
Percentage of visitors who feel safe in the park
80 %
March 31, 2024
  • 2021–22: Not available*
  • 2022–23: Not available*
  • 2023–24: Not available*

* The actual result is not available, as no data has been collected.

Additional information on the detailed results and performance information for the National Battlefields Commission’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Details on results

The following section describes the results for Conservation in 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in National Battlefields Commission’s departmental plan for the year.

The National Battlefields Park is a well-maintained and safe site

In order to continue to offer users a prestigious park, the NBC has had to take numerous actions to ensure the upkeep of the park's assets and its natural heritage. The landscaping work carried out has also contributed to the park's beauty. In addition, preventive and curative tree treatments have helped to ensure the survival of the region's arboreal heritage. During the year, 45 elms were treated against Dutch elm disease and trenches were dug. The NBC planted 110 trees to replace those it was forced to cut down. The NBC is currently developing a management plan for its natural heritage.

Several repairs were carried out to preserve the NBC's built heritage and cultural assets, including those of the Wolfe monument, the Cross of Sacrifice, the Braves monument, the park entrance gates, etc. These are among the park's heritage features, and their preservation is part of the NBC's mission. In collaboration with the City of Quebec, work was carried out on one of the park's avenues, avenue De Bernières. The development of this avenue was designed to promote accessibility and openness to the park. To ensure the preservation of the park's collection of antique cannons, a number of gun carriages were repaired. Action was also taken on the park following recommendations on accessibility. In addition, improvements to the winter experience for users were made possible by snow removal using new equipment acquired by the NBC, for which a permanent garage was set up. Also, roofing and guttering work, the installation of an additional petanque court and repairs to the rainwater recovery system were carried out. Finally, in addition to continuing work on cliff consolidation, the NBC undertook preparatory work on the greenhouse refurbishment project, the Plains of Abraham Museum roofing project, the Plains of Abraham Museum pathway and the Cap Diamant site development projects.

The NBC's security service has continued to monitor the area in order to offer users a safe park.

Results achieved:

  • Conservation of the park's collection of antique cannons;
  • Preparation of an exhibition room;
  • Construction of 100 picnic tables, 75 benches and an additional petanque court.

Key risks

The NBC constantly faces the risk of deterioration in the condition of its assets. In addition, the NBC is vulnerable to diseases that could affect the integrity of its arboricultural heritage.

Resources required to achieve results

Table 2: Snapshot of resources required for Conservation

Table 2 provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents (FTEs) required to achieve results.

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Resource
Planned
Actual
Spending
6,958,940
9,974,128
Full-time equivalents
22
21

Actual expenditures were higher as a result of the deferral of funds for Asset Maintenance Plan projects initiated in previous years and authorized during the year. The variations can be explained by the fact that the NBC had planned a change in presentation of its planned expenditures to better inform decision-makers and the public, by allocating internal service expenditures to its program costs in order to demonstrate what it costs to carry out each program. This presentation was intended to better represent how resources are organized to contribute to core responsibilities and results. During the year under review, this allocation was not implemented in the financial system, and the financial presentation remained unchanged from previous years.

Complete financial and human resources information for the National Battlefields Commission’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Related government-wide priorities

Gender-based analysis plus

Program inventory

Conservation is supported by the following programs:

  • Maintenance of infrastructure and security

Additional information related to the program inventory for Conservation is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Core responsibility 2: Promotion of Heritage

Description

Showcase the history of the National Battlefields Park and enable the discovery of its heritage and natural resources by organizing, through the visitor centre of the Plains of Abraham Museum, exhibitions, educational and recreational activities, and guided tours.

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for Promotion of Heritage. Details are presented by departmental result.

Table 3: Targets and results for Promotion of Heritage

Table 3 provides a summary of the target and actual results for each indicator associated with the results under Promotion of Heritage.

People visit the National Battlefields Park

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Departmental Result Indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
Actual Results
Number of visitors
4,000,000
March 31, 2024
  • 2021–22: 4,000,000
  • 2022–23: 4,000,000
  • 2023–24: 4,000,000

Visitors benefit from a heritage and educational experience

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Departmental Result Indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
Actual Results
Percentage of visitors satisfied with the reception and services offered
80 %
March 31, 2024
  • 2021–22: 97,7 %
  • 2022–23: 97 %
  • 2023–24: Not available*
Number of cultural, educational and heritage events offered by the NBC
Between 40 and 60
March 31, 2024
  • 2021–22: 39
  • 2022–23: 56
  • 2023–24: 48

* The actual result is not available, as no data has been collected.

Additional information on the detailed results and performance information for the National Battlefields Commission’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Details on results

The following section describes the results for Promotion of Heritage in 2023–24 compared with the planned results set out in National Battlefields Commission’s departmental plan for the year.

People visit the National Battlefields Park

Visitor numbers at the Plains of Abraham Museum, measured by overhead counters at the entrance gates, totalled 93,201. Although the NBC does not have the resources to measure visitor numbers on its territory, the number of visitors is estimated at around 4,000,000 annually. In addition, a visitor frequentation study for the Battlefields Park was completed with 600 people for the 2023-2024 winter season, revealing that 91% of visitors were local to Quebec City, arriving mostly by car (47%) or on foot (35%) to practice mainly walking (48%), skating (23%), running (14%) and cross-country skiing (11%).

A second and third digital terminal have been installed in the park to inform users of current and upcoming activities. Similarly, the current redesign of the “Plains of Abraham” website, which began in January 2024, will greatly enhance the digital experience of park users. The migration of institutional content was completed in October 2023.

In addition, more than 16,000 people took advantage of the enhanced summer offer at the Edwin-Bélanger Bandstand, which included the addition of family activities, historical presentations and films.

The NBC also hosted some twenty events on its territory, including Remembrance Day, the Pentathlon des neiges, the Fête nationale, Canada Day, the Festival d'été de Québec, the Quebec City Marathon and the Cross-Country des Plaines.

Results achieved:

  • The Edwin-Bélanger kiosk offered multidisciplinary programming, particularly in the arts;
  • 1401 groups visited the Plains of Abraham Museum;
  • The Plains of Abraham as host site for some twenty events.
Visitors benefit from a heritage and educational experience

The NBC continued to offer its activities and exhibitions to visitors, including the temporary exhibition Aeria, with its innovative, interactive mediation fusing art and history. The Plains of Abraham Museum received an award of excellence from the Société des musées du Québec for this exhibition, which ended on January 7, 2024. In addition, a complete and diversified range of activities for all clienteles was offered to the public with a concern for inclusion and accessibility. Also, a new service was offered to individual customers, similar to that already in place for group customers, for personalized accompaniment according to the needs of the disabled person.

The NBC also held the “Battlefields” event, with its two days of continuous entertainment, attracting some 5,000 participants. During the Halloween period, some 15 paying activities for the general public were presented, two of which were added in 2023.

Similarly, the NBC once again set up an ephemeral architectural installation in the space behind the Plains of Abraham Museum, formerly known as the Cove Fields. The NBC has erected structures that recall the presence of the families who lived on the site from 1945 to 1951. To preserve its intangible heritage, the NBC undertook an ethnographic survey with the support of Université Laval's Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines et la Horde du patrimoine appliqué. A dozen testimonials from people who lived on the Plains of Abraham or their relatives, as well as family photographs, were collected for conservation in the NBC archives.

The NBC has also taken steps to acquire a collection of historical objects related to the Quebec Tercentenary celebrations, an event organized by the NBC in the summer of its incorporation in 1908.

The NBC is also proud of its brand image, with the production of new video clips on the park's fall programming and the creation of promotional brochures for group activities.

Finally, the NBC has embarked on a major project to create a space for dialogue on Cap Diamant, featuring two works by Aboriginal artists. In this context, a Dialogue Committee involving the Huron-Wendat Nation and the NBC met to collaborate on the project. These preparatory steps for the project contribute, among other things, to Pillar 4 of the NBC's strategic plan, “Actively engage in a process of reconciliation”.

Results achieved:

  • An award of excellence from the Société des musées du Québec for the Plains of Abraham Museum's Aeria exhibition;
  • A highly diversified offer of activities related to the park's history;
  • Production of branded content promoting the NBC's offer.

Key risks

The NBC faced the risks arising from the effects of the Covid pandemic. Similarly, the teachers' strike in the province of Quebec, the shortage of school transportation employees and inflation affected school group attendance at the Plains of Abraham Museum.

Resources required to achieve results

Table 3: Snapshot of resources required for Promotion of Heritage

Table 3 provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents (FTEs) required to achieve results.

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Resource
Planned
Actual
Spending
4,234,979
2,784,381
Full-time equivalents
19
20

Actual expenditures were lower due to a deferral of funds, for projects postponed to 2024-25.

It should be noted that for its planned expenditures, the NBC had planned a change of presentation to better inform decision-makers and the public, by allocating internal service expenses to its program costs programs in order to demonstrate how much it costs to deliver each program.

This presentation was to better represent how resources are organized to contribute to core responsibilities and results. During the year, this breakdown was not achieved in the financial in the financial system, and the financial presentation remained the same as in previous years.

Complete financial and human resources information for the National Battlefields Commission’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Related government-wide priorities

Program inventory

Promotion of Heritage is supported by the following programs:

  • Educational, cultural and heritage activities

Additional information related to the program inventory for Promotion of Heritage is available on the Results page on GC InfoBase.

Internal services

Description

Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

  • 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
  • acquisition management services

Progress on results

This section presents details on how the department performed to achieve results and meet targets for internal services.

This section presents the measures taken by the department to achieve results and targets for internal services.

The NBC remained fully committed to achieving the objectives of its 2022-2025 strategic plan.

The NBC has also restructured its Marketing & Development department, which will be better equipped to develop social media and relationship marketing strategies in line with the Plains of Abraham's new brand image.

The NBC maintained its many inter-institutional partnerships, notably with the City of Quebec, Parks Canada, the Department of National Defence and others. As a site owner, the NBC also took part in meetings organized by the Bureau des grands événements (Quebec City), during which exchanges took place between owners of sites hosting events.

Equipped with a new financial system, the NBC was able to adapt to its efficient operations.

Employee uniforms have been modified to reflect the current Plains of Abraham brand image.

Lastly, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSC) provided the NBC with the first results of the survey undertaken to provide the NBC with plans to establish the boundaries of its property.

Resources required to achieve results

Table 4: Resources required to achieve results for internal services this year

Table 4 provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents (FTEs) required to achieve results.

Table provides a summary of the planned and actual spending and full-time equivalents required to achieve results.
Resource
Planned
Actual
Spending
2,889,131
7,390,943
Full-time equivalents
18
19

The variations can be explained by the fact that for its planned expenditures, the NBC had planned a change in presentation to better inform decision-makers and the public, by allocating internal services expenditures to its program costs in order to demonstrate what it costs to deliver each program. This presentation was intended to better represent how resources are organized to contribute to core responsibilities and results. During the year under review, this allocation was not implemented in the financial system, and the financial presentation remained unchanged from previous years.

The complete financial and human resources information for the National Battlefields Commission’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses

Each year, Government of Canada departments must meet the target of awarding 5% of total contract value to Aboriginal businesses. This commitment must be fully implemented by the end of fiscal year 2024-25.

The NBC is a Phase 3 department, aiming to achieve the minimum target of 5% by the end of fiscal 2024-2025.

In 2024-25, as part of the reconciliation process, the dialogue space will be set up on Cap Diamant to accommodate two Aboriginal works;

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Also, as part of its historical and cultural mediation activities, the NBC will continue to develop partnerships with Aboriginal communities. Partnerships with Tourisme Autochtone Québec and the Huron-Wendat Museum have been renewed;

Raising awareness of Aboriginal procurement considerations is also part of internal governance activities to achieve these objectives.

Government of Canada departments are to meet a target of awarding at least 5% of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses each year. This commitment is to be fully implemented by the end of 2024–25.

Spending and human resources

Spending

This section presents an overview of the department's actual and planned expenditures from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

Budgetary performance summary

Table 5: Actual three-year spending on core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

Table 5 presents how much money the National Battlefields Commission spent over the past three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.

Budgetary performance summary
Core responsibilities and internal services
2023–24 Main Estimates
2023–24 total authorities available for use
Actual spending over three years (authorities used)
Conservation
6,958,940
11,581,948
  • 2021-22: 2,671,223
  • 2022-23: 2,979,469
  • 2023-24: 9,974,128
Promotion of Heritage
4,234,979
2,784,381
  • 2021-22: 1,565,576
  • 2022-23: 1,885,534
  • 2023-24: 2,784,381
Subtotal
11,193,919
14,366,330
  • 2021-22: 4,236,799
  • 2022-23: 4,865,003
  • 2023-24: 12,758,509
Internal services
2,889,131
7,390,943
  • 2021-22: 8,964,732
  • 2022-23: 8,995,112
  • 2023-24: 7,385,518
Total
14,083,050
21,757,273
  • 2021-22: 13,201,531
  • 2022-23: 13,860,115
  • 2023-24: 20,144,029

The variations can be explained by the fact that for its planned expenditures, the NBC had planned a change in presentation to better inform decision-makers and the public, by allocating internal services expenditures to its program costs in order to demonstrate what it costs to deliver each program. This presentation was intended to better represent how resources are organized to contribute to core responsibilities and results. During the year under review, this allocation was not implemented in the financial system, and the financial presentation remained unchanged from previous years.

Actual expenditures for Conservation were higher as a result of a carryover of funds for Asset Maintenance Plan projects initiated in previous years and authorized during the year.

Actual expenditures for Heritage Promotion were lower following a carryover of funds for projects postponed to 2024-2025.

More financial information from previous years is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Table 6 Planned three-year spending on core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

Table 6 presents how much money the National Battlefields Commission’s plans to spend over the next three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.

Table presents how much money National Battlefields Commission's plans to spend over the next three years to carry out its core responsibilities and for internal services.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2024–25 planned spending
2025–26 planned spending
2026–27 planned spending
Conservation
14,180,000
5,200,000
5,200,000
Promotion of Heritage
3,200,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
Subtotal
17,380,000
8,200,000
8,200,000
Internal services
7,054,072
4,069,254
4,069,254
Total
24,434,072
12,269,254
12,269,254

More detailed financial information from previous years is available on the Finances section of GC Infobase.

Funding

This section provides an overview of the department's voted and statutory funding for its core responsibilities and for internal services. For further information on funding authorities, consult the Government of Canada budgets and expenditures.

Graph 1: Approved funding (statutory and voted) over a six-year period

Graph 1 summarizes the department's approved voted and statutory funding from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

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For further information on the National Battlefields Commission’s departmental voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada.

Financial statement highlights

The National Battlefields Commission’s audited complete financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024, are available online.

Table 7 Condensed Statement of Operations (unaudited or audited) for the year ended March 31, 2024 (dollars)

Table 7 summarizes the expenses and revenues for 2023–24 which net to the cost of operations before government funding and transfers.
Financial information
2023–24 actual results
2023–24 planned results
Difference (actual results minus planned)
Total expenses
21,926,912
20,987,288
939,624
Total revenues
2,641,969
2,290,000
351,969
Surplus trust expenditures over revenues
(34,766)
(90,000)
55,234
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers
19,250,177
18,607,288
642,889

Expenses for 2023-2024 were higher than forecast due to the recording of a provision for future remediation expenses at March 31, 2024, the date at which this provision could be estimated. This is an initial charge to an environmental liability, which will be reassessed annually.

Revenues were higher than forecast due to a change in the presentation of amounts received for contracts signed under the NBC's Policy for Using the Grounds for events held on the Plains of Abraham.

*Since 1984, the NBC has maintained a trust account to receive donations from individuals, municipal corporations, provincial governments and others. This account is governed by the provisions of section

9.1 of the Act respecting the National Battlefields at Quebec. The excess of revenues over expenses is explained by donations paid in excess of trust expenses.

The 2023–24 planned results information is provided in the National Battlefields Commission’s Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and Notes 2023–24.

Table 8 summarizes actual expenses and revenues which net to the cost of operations before government funding and transfers.
Financial information
2023–24 actual results
2022–23 actual results
Difference (2023-24 minus 2022-23)
Total expenses
21,926,912
15,643,361
6,283,551
Total revenues
2,641,969
2,435,523
206,446
Surplus trust expenditures over revenues
(34,766)
(28,758)
(6,008)
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers
19,250,177
13,179,080
6,071,097

Table 9 Condensed Statement of Financial Position (audited) as of March 31, 2024 (dollars)

Table 9 provides a brief snapshot of the department’s liabilities (what it owes) and assets (what the department owns), which helps to indicate its ability to carry out programs and services.

Table provides a brief snapshot of the department’s liabilities (what it owes) and assets (what the department owns), which helps to indicate its ability to carry out programs and services.
Financial information
Actual fiscal year (2023–24)
Previous fiscal year (2022–23)
Difference (2023–24 minus 2022–23)
Total net liabilities
3,501,929
1,125,260
2,376,669
Total net financial assets
2,072,490
732,286
1,340,204
Departmental net debt
1,429,439
392,974
1,036,465
Total non-financial assets
12,856,236
13,142,276
(286,040)
Departmental net financial position
11,426,797
12,749,302
(1,322,505)

The NBC's total net liabilities consist mainly of accounts payable and accrued liabilities as of March 31, to which are added provisions for vacation pay, employee future benefits and contingent liabilities, which will affect authorizations when they are paid out.

Total net financial assets consist mainly of an amount receivable from the Treasury, plus accounts receivable from other government departments and external parties.

Net debt fluctuates from year to year according to the level of expenses and revenues, and the timing of payments of accounts payable and receipts of accounts receivable. In 2023-24, net debt varied by $1 million due to the recording of an environmental liability for the first year.

The NBC's total non-financial assets represent property, plant and equipment, mainly buildings, works and infrastructure, recorded at cost. The archaeological collections and sites held by the NBC have heritage value and are not capitalized, in the same way as other priceless cultural assets.

The NBC's net financial position of $11 million as of March 31, 2024 corresponds to the difference between total non-financial assets and departmental net debt, down $1 million from the same date last year, due to the recording of a new liability.

Human resources

This section presents an overview of the department’s actual and planned human resources from 2021–22 to 2026–27.

Table 10: Actual human resources for core responsibilities and internal services

Table 10 shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for the National Battlefields Commission’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years.

Table shows a summary of human resources, in full-time equivalents, for National Battlefields Commission’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for the previous three fiscal years.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2021–22 actual FTEs
2022–23 actual FTEs
2023–24 actual FTEs
Conservation
22
23
21
Promotion of Heritage
19
23
20
Subtotal
41
46
41
Internal services
18
19
19
Total
59
65
60

Table 11: Human resources planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services

Table 11 shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for each of the National Battlefields Commission’s core responsibilities and for its internal services planned for the next three years. Human resources for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date.

Table shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents, for each of National Battlefields Commission's core responsibilities and for its internal services planned for the next three years. Human resources for the current fiscal year are forecasted based on year to date.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2024–25 planned FTEs
2025–26 planned FTEs
2026–27 planned FTEs
Conservation
22
22
22
Promotion of Heritage
19
19
19
Subtotal
41
41
41
Internal services
18
18
18
Total
59
59
59

Corporate information

Supplementary information tables

The following supplementary information tables are available on the National Battlefields Commission’s website:

Federal tax expenditures

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs as well as evaluations and GBA Plus of tax expenditures.

Definitions

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