Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures 2024-25
Organization: Polar Knowledge Canada
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 Polar Knowledge Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department’s or agency’s mandate and the Government of Canada’s priorities.
Mandate
Polar Knowledge Canada was created pursuant to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act and came into force on June 1, 2015. The purpose of Polar Knowledge Canada is to:
- Advance knowledge of the Canadian Arctic to improve economic opportunities, environmental stewardship and the quality of life of its residents and all other Canadians.
- Promote the development and dissemination of knowledge of the other circumpolar regions, including the Antarctic.
- Strengthen Canada’s leadership on Arctic issues.
- Establish a hub for scientific research in the Canadian Arctic.
Further details on Polar Knowledge Canada’s mandate, program activities and legislation may be found in the Departmental Plans and the Departmental Results Reports.
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Expenditure Category
|
Expenditures for the year ended
March 31, 2025 (a) |
Expenditures for the year ended
March 31, 2024 (b) |
Variance
(a−b) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
| Operational activities | $ 455 | $ 366 | $ 89 |
| Key stakeholders | $ 272 | $ 529 | $ (257) |
| Internal governance | $ 271 | $ 333 | $ (62) |
| Training | $ 103 | $ 141 | $ (38) |
| Other | $ 247 | $ 231 | $ 16 |
| A. Total travel | $ 1,348 | $ 1,600 | $ (252) |
| B. Hospitality | $ 60 | $ 63 | $ (3) |
| C. Conference fees | $ 29 | $ 38 | $ (9) |
| TOTAL (A+B+C) | $ 1,437 | $ 1,701 | $ (264) |
Significant variances compared with the previous fiscal year
Total travel, hospitality and conference fees: Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures decreased by 15.5% from 2023–24 to 2024–25. This reduction reflects a deliberate and strategic focus on limiting non‑discretionary spending while prioritizing expenditures that directly support the agency’s mandate.
Despite rising travel costs in the North, the agency continues to manage its resources prudently. As an organization headquartered in the North, travel remains a critical component of core operations, enabling meaningful, in‑person engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Northern communities.