Financial Statements (Unaudited) 2021-2022

Statement of Management Responsibility Including Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2022 and all information contained in these statements rests with the management of the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). These financial statements have been prepared by management using the Government’s accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of the information in these financial statements. Some of the information in the financial statements is based on management’s best estimates and judgment, and gives due consideration to materiality. To fulfill its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts that provides a centralized record of the PBC’s financial transactions. Financial information submitted in the preparation of the Public Accounts of Canada, and included in the PBC’s Departmental Results Report, is consistent with these financial statements.

Management is also responsible for maintaining an effective system of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) designed to provide reasonable assurance that financial information is reliable, that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are properly authorized and recorded in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and other applicable legislation, regulations, authorities and policies.

Management seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of data in its financial statements through careful selection, training and development of qualified staff; through organizational arrangements that provide appropriate divisions of responsibility; through communication programs aimed at ensuring that regulations, policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the PBC; and through conducting an annual risk-based assessment of the effectiveness of the system of ICFR.

The system of ICFR is designed to mitigate risks to a reasonable level based on an on-going process to identify key risks, to assess effectiveness of associated key controls, and to make any necessary adjustments.

The PBC is subject to periodic Core Control Audits performed by the Office of the Comptroller General and uses the results of such audits to comply with the Treasury Board Policy on Financial Management.

The financial statements of the PBC have not been audited.

1. Authority and Objectives

As an independent administrative tribunal, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) contributes to keeping Canadians safe by making timely conditional release, record suspension, and expungement decisions and clemency recommendations, in an open and accountable manner, while respecting the rights and dignity of both offenders and victims, in accordance with its statutory responsibilities and authorities. The legal authority under which the PBC operates includes the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and its Regulations, the Criminal Records Act and its Regulations, Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, the Letters Patent, the Criminal Code, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and other legislation.

The PBC’s core responsibilities are:

• Conditional release decisions: is based on the principle that community safety is enhanced by the timely and gradual release of offenders to the community under supervision. Quality conditional release decisions, based on the risk of re-offending in conjunction with effective programs and treatment, and effective community supervision all contribute to a release process. Through this core responsibility, the Parole Board of Canada staff (PBC) provides timely, accurate information for Board member decision-making, and develops training and policies that are essential tools for risk assessment and decision-making;
• Conditional release openness and accountability: This core responsibility ensures that the PBC operates in an open and accountable manner, consistent with the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA). This core responsibility includes working with victims of crime, offenders, and the public by providing information about our policies and programs, including access to the PBC's registry of decisions, as well as providing assistance for observers at hearings. The core responsibility also includes working to encourage citizen engagement, enhancing public education and awareness, investigating incidents in the community (i.e., when a new offence(s) occurs), monitoring the PBC's performance and reporting on conditional release results;
• Record suspension decisions and expungement/Clemency recommendations: A record suspension or pardon is designed to support the successful reintegration of an individual into society. It is a formal attempt to remove the stigma of a criminal record for people convicted of an offence under an Act of Parliament, who have completed their sentence, having met criteria in the Criminal Records Act (CRA) and demonstrated law-abiding behaviour for a prescribed number of years. Record suspensions or pardons can be revoked or cease to have effect for a number of reasons. Through this core responsibility, the PBC screens applications for completeness and eligibility, collects information for Board member decision-making and develops policy to guide decision processes. In addition, under the Expungement Act the PBC will order the expungement of records of convictions for eligible offences that would be lawful today. Persons convicted of an offence listed in the schedule to the Expungement Act may apply, as well as authorized representatives in cases where the person is deceased. The main difference between a record suspension and an expungement is that with a record suspension, the criminal record is held ‘separate and apart’ from other criminal records, while an expungement will destroy the record. The PBC is also responsible for assessing requests and providing recommendations under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (i.e., Clemency) and providing advice to the Minister on the merits of each case; and
• Internal services: are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of Programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. 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 financial statements are prepared using the Government’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:

1. Parliamentary authorities

   The PBC is financed by the Government of Canada through parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the PBC 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 Departmental Net Financial Position and the 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 Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position are the amounts reported in the Future-oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2021-22 Departmental Plan. Planned results are not presented in the "Government funding and transfers" section of the Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position and in the Statement of Change in Departmental Net Debt because these amounts were not included in the 2021-22 Departmental Plan.

2. Net Cash Provided by Government

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

3. 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 the PBC is entitled to draw from the CRF without further authorities to discharge its liabilities.

4. Revenues

   Revenues from regulatory fees are recognized in the accounts based on the services provided in the year. Other revenues are recognized in the period the event giving rise to the revenues occurred. Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge the department’s liabilities. While the Chairperson is expected to maintain accounting control, she 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 the entity’s gross revenues.

5. Expenses

   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 accommodation, information technology services, employer contributions to the health and dental insurance plans, legal services and workers’ compensation are recorded as operating expenses at their carrying value.

6. Employee future benefits
   1. Pension benefits

      Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Superannuation Plan, a multiemployer pension plan administered by the Government. The PBC’s contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total departmental obligation to the Plan. The PBC’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.

   2. 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.

7. Accounts and loans receivable

   Accounts and loans receivable are initially recorded at cost and where necessary, are discounted to reflect their concessionary terms. Concessionary terms of loans include cases where loans are made on a long-term, low interest or interest-free basis. 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.

8. Non-financial assets

   All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $5,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost.  

9. Contingent liabilities

   Contingent liabilities, including the allowance for guarantees, are potential liabilities which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. If the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, a provision is accrued and an expense recorded to other expenses. If the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

   For guarantees, an allowance is recorded when it is determined that a loss is likely and the amount of the allowance is estimated taking into consideration the nature of the guarantee, loss experience and current conditions. The allowance is reviewed on an ongoing basis and changes in the allowance are recorded as expenses in the year they become known.

10. Measurement uncertainty

    In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the global outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. Responses to the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in a significant impact on the Canadian and global economies. In preparing our financial statements, we have assessed the impact of the economic uncertainty due to COVID-19 and have determined that it did not have a significant impact on our financial operations, control environment, estimates, going concern assessment, or asset valuation. The exception which impacted on our financial operations was a significant reduction in travel expenditures and offset in part by an increase in the setup of remote work expenditures.

    The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes at March 31. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. The estimates are based on facts and circumstances, historical experience, general economic conditions and reflect the Government's best estimate of the related amount at the end of the reporting period. The most significant items where estimates are used are the liability for employee future benefits and the useful life of tangible capital assets. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated. Management’s estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are recorded in the financial statements in the year they become known.

3. Parliamentary authorities

The PBC receives most of its funding through annual parliamentary authorities. Items recognized in the Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position, and the Statement of Financial Position in one year may be funded through parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the PBC 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:

5. Employee future benefits

1. Pension benefits

   The PBC’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 percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Quebec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

   Both the employees and the PBC contribute to the cost of the Plan. Due to the amendment of the Public Service Superannuation Act following the implementation of provisions related to Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012, employee contributors have been divided into two 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 2021-22 expense amounts to $4,355,353 ($4,614,980 in 2020-21). For Group 1 members, the expense represents approximately 1.01 times (1.01 times in 2020-21) the employee contributions and, for Group 2 members, approximately 1.00 times (1.00 times in 2020-21) the employee contributions.

   The PBC’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.

2. Severance benefits

   Severance benefits provided to the PBC’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, 2015, 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:

   (in thousands of dollars)	2022	2021
   Accrued benefit obligation - Beginning of year	$ 1,155	$ 1,306
   Expense for the year	(14)	98
   Benefits paid during the year	(157)	(249)
   Accrued benefit obligation - End of year	$ 984	$ 1,155

8. Related party transactions

The PBC is related as a result of common ownership to all Government departments, agencies and Crown Corporations.

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

During the year, the PBC received common services which were obtained without charge from other government departments as disclosed below.

1. Common services provided without charge by other government departments

   During the year, the PBC received services without charge from certain common service organizations related to accommodation, legal services, the employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and workers' compensation coverage. Since 2008, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) was providing information technology (IT) services to PBC without charge. In 2020-21, a master service agreement was negotiated with CSC where PBC does now have to pay for the IT services and future years, in transition as part of the negotiations CSC absorbed $1.0M in 2020-21. These services provided without charge have been recorded in the PBC’s Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position as follows:

   (in thousands of dollars)	2022	2021
   Accommodation	$ 4,272	$ 4,205
   Information technology services	-	1,009
   Employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans	3,723	3,373
   Legal services	348	315
   Workers’ compensation	3	3
   Total	$ 8,346	$ 8,905

   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 Services and Procurement Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General are not included in the PBC's Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position.

9. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on the PBC’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 by the core responsibilities, by major object of expense and by major type of revenue. The segment results for the period are as follows: