Public Health Agency of Canada - 2022-23 Financial Statements

Table of Contents

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, 2023, and all information contained in these financial statements rests with the management of the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency). These financial statements have been prepared by management using the Government of Canada'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 Agency's financial transactions. Financial information submitted in the preparation of the Public Accounts of Canada and included in the Agency'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 Agency 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 ongoing process to identify key risks, to assess effectiveness of associated key controls, and to make any necessary adjustments. A risk-based assessment of the system of ICFR for the year ended March 31, 2023 was completed in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Financial Management and the results and action plans are summarized in the annex.

The effectiveness and adequacy of the Agency's system of internal control is reviewed by the work of internal audit staff, who conduct periodic audits of different areas of the Agency's operations, and by the Departmental Audit Committee, which oversees management's responsibilities for maintaining adequate control systems and the quality of financial reporting.

The financial statements of the Agency have not been audited.

Original signed by Heather Jeffrey
Heather Jeffrey
President
Ottawa, Canada
Date: September 14, 2023

Original signed by Jaime Caceres
Jaime Caceres
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Ottawa, Canada
Date: September 6, 2023

Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)

As at March 31

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Restated (note 15)
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 4) $ 395,606 $ 1,081,168
Vacation pay and compensatory leave 27,448 30,798
Asset retirement obligations (note 5) 290 296
Deferred revenue 1 1
Employee future benefits (note 6) 8,045 8,646
Other liabilities 2,672 1,929
Total net liabilities 434,062 1,122,838
Financial assets
Due from Consolidated Revenue Fund 378,534 1,022,850
Accounts receivable and advances (note 7) 30,365 75,901
Total gross financial assets 408,899 1,098,751
Financial assets held on behalf of Government
Accounts receivable and advances (note 7) (10,557) (15,672)
Total financial assets held on behalf of Government (10,557) (15,672)
Total net financial assets 398,342 1,083,079
Agency net debt 35,720 39,759
Non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses (note 8) 504,206 866,230
Inventory (note 9) 3,343,118 2,711,289
Tangible capital assets (note 10) 138,117 128,019
Total non-financial assets 3,985,441 3,705,538
Agency net financial position $ 3,949,721 $ 3,665,779

Contractual obligations (note 11)
Contingent liabilities (note 12)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Original signed by Heather Jeffrey
Heather Jeffrey
President
Ottawa, Canada
Date: September 14, 2023

Original signed by Jaime Caceres
Jaime Caceres
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Ottawa, Canada
Date: September 6, 2023

Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position (Unaudited)

For the Year Ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 Planned Results 2023
Actual
2022
Actual Restated
(note 15)
Expenses
Infectious disease prevention and control $ 8,321,078 $ 3,398,771 $ 7,274,901
Health promotion and chronic disease prevention 410,518 409,987 289,206
Health security 535,826 981,199 2,589,484
Internal services 227,781 244,414 212,733
Expenses incurred on behalf of Government (66) 24 (4)
Total expenses 9,495,137 5,034,395 10,366,320
Revenues
Sales of goods and services
    Rights and privileges 224 1,884 338
    Services of a non-regulatory nature 14,234 14,346 14,030
    Lease and use of public property - 22 23
Interest 4 7 3
Other 49 3,343 7,555
Revenues earned on behalf of Government (409) (2,190) (6,772)
Total revenues 14,102 17,412 15,177
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 9,481,035 5,016,983 10,351,143
Government funding and transfers
Net cash provided by Government of Canada N/A 6,315,839 7,958,550
Change in due from Consolidated Revenue Fund N/A (644,316) 749,467
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 13) N/A 45,862 45,618
Transfer of the transition payments for implementing salary payments in arrears N/A (4) -
Other transfers of assets and liabilities (to) / from other government departments N/A (416,456) (217,660)
Net cost of (revenue from) operations after government funding and transfers N/A (283,942) 1,815,168
Agency net financial position – Beginning of year N/A 3,665,779 5,480,947
Agency net financial position – End of year N/A $ 3,949,721 $ 3,665,779

Segmented information (note 14)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Change in Agency Net Debt (Unaudited)

For the Year Ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022 Restated (note 15)
Net cost of (revenue from) operations after government funding and transfers $ (283,942) $ 1,815,168
Change due to tangible capital assets
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 28,653 17,401
Amortization of tangible capital assets (18,479) (19,773)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets (42) (32)
Net gain (loss) on disposal of tangible capital assets including adjustments 27 (75)
Transfer from other government departments 77 -
Transfer to other government departments (138) (119)
Total change due to tangible capital assets 10,098 (2,598)
Change due to prepaid expenses (362,024) (1,030,816)
Change due to inventory 631,829 (777,253)
Increase (decrease) in Agency net debt (4,039) 4,501
Agency net debt - Beginning of year 39,759 35,258
Agency net debt - End of year $ 35,720 $ 39,759

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the Year Ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Restated
(note 15)
Operating activities
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers $ 5,016,983 $ 10,351,143
Non-cash items:
    Amortization of tangible capital assets (18,479) (19,773)
    Net gain (loss) on disposal of tangible capital assets including adjustments 27 (75)
    Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 13) (45,862) (45,618)
Transfer of the transition payments for implementing salary payments in arrears 4 -
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
    Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities 685,562 (223,533)
    Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave 3,350 (4,426)
    Decrease (increase) in asset retirement obligations 6 (7)
    Decrease (increase) in employee future benefits 601 48
    Decrease (increase) in other liabilities (743) (181)
    Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and advances (40,421) (525,869)
    Increase (decrease) in prepaid expenses (362,024) (1,030,816)
    Increase (decrease) in inventory 631,829 (777,253)
Transfer of assets and liabilities to / (from) other government departments 416,395 217,541
Cash used in operating activities 6,287,228 7,941,181
Capital investing activities
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 28,653 17,401
Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets (42) (32)
Cash used in capital investing activities 28,611 17,369
Net cash provided by Government of Canada $ 6,315,839 $ 7,958,550

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)

For the Year Ended March 31, 2023

1. Authority and objectives

The Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) was created by Orders In Council on September 24, 2004. The Public Health Agency of Canada Act, assented to December 12, 2006, provides a statutory foundation for the Agency.

The Agency has the responsibility to:

The Agency's core responsibilities, as part of the Departmental Results Framework, are described as follows:

Core Responsibility 1: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention

Promote the health and well-being of Canadians of all ages by conducting surveillance and public health research and supporting community-based projects which address the root causes of health inequities and the common risk and protective factors that are important to promoting better health and preventing chronic disease.

Core Responsibility 2: Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

Protect Canadians from infectious diseases by predicting, detecting, assessing, and responding to outbreaks and new threats; and, contribute to the prevention, control, and reduction of the spread of infectious disease among Canadians.

Core Responsibility 3: Health Security

Prepare for and respond to public health events and emergencies (e.g., floods, forest fires, and outbreaks such as COVID-19); address health and safety risks associated with the use of pathogens and toxins; and, address travel-related public health risks.

Internal Services

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; and acquisition management services.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

These financial statements are prepared using the Agency'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:

(a) Parliamentary authorities

The Agency is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the Agency 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 Financial Position and in the Statement of Operations and Agency Net 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 Agency Net Financial Position are the amounts reported in the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2022-23 Departmental Plan. Planned results are not presented in the "Government funding and transfers" section of the Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position and in the Statement of Change in Agency Net Debt because these amounts were not included in the 2022-23 Departmental Plan.

(b) Net cash provided by Government

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

(c) Amounts due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund

Amounts due from 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 Agency is entitled to draw from the CRF without further authorities to discharge its liabilities.

(d) Revenues

(e) Expenses

(f) Employee future benefits

  1. Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (the "Plan"), a multiemployer pension plan administered by the Government. The Agency's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total agency obligation to the Plan. The Agency'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.

(g) Financial instruments

A contract establishing a financial instrument creates, at its inception, rights, and obligations to receive or deliver economic benefits. The financial assets and financial liabilities portray these rights and obligations in the financial statements. The Agency recognizes a financial instrument when it becomes a party to a financial instrument contract.

Financial instruments consist of accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

All financial assets and liabilities are recorded at cost or amortized cost. Any associated transaction costs are added to the carrying value upon initial recognition.

Accounts receivable are initially recorded at cost and, where necessary, are discounted to reflect their concessionary terms. When necessary, an allowance for valuation is recorded to reduce the carrying value of accounts receivable to amounts that approximate their net recoverable value.

(h) Non-financial assets

Prepaid expenses are disbursements made, pursuant to a contract, before delivery of the goods or rendering of the service.

Inventories are valued at cost and are comprised of supplies and equipment held for future program delivery and are not primarily intended for resale. A provision is recorded for inventories that no longer have service potential or have service potential that extends over a period of time beyond one year, and are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

The costs of acquiring land, buildings, equipment and other capital property are capitalized as tangible capital assets and, except for land, are amortized to expense over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as described in note 10. All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $10,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. Tangible capital assets do not include immovable assets located on reserves as defined in the Indian Act, works of art, museum collection and Crown land to which no acquisition cost is attributable, and intangible assets.

(i) Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities 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.

(j) Contingent assets

Contingent assets are possible assets which may become actual assets when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. If the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, the contingent asset is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

(k) Asset retirement obligations

An asset retirement obligation is recognized when all of the following criteria are satisfied: there is a legal obligation to incur retirement costs in relation to a tangible capital asset, the past event or transaction giving rise to the retirement liability has occurred, it is expected that future economic benefits will be given up and a reasonable estimate of the amount can be made. The costs to retire an asset are normally capitalized and amortized over the asset's estimated remaining useful life. An asset retirement obligation may arise in connection with a tangible capital asset that is not recognized or no longer in productive use. In this case, the asset retirement cost would be expensed. The measurement of the liability is the Agency's best estimate of the amount required to retire a tangible capital asset.

When the future cash flows required to settle or otherwise extinguish a liability are estimable, predictable, and expected to occur over extended future periods, a present value technique is used. The discount rate used reflects the government's cost of borrowing, associated with the estimated number of years to complete remediation.

The recorded liabilities are adjusted each year, as required, for present value adjustments, inflation, new obligations, changes in management estimates and actual costs incurred.

(l) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes at March 31. The estimates are based on facts and circumstances, historical experience, general economic conditions and reflect the Agency's best estimate of the related amount at the end of the reporting period. The most significant items where estimates are used are contingent liabilities, asset retirement obligations, 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.

Asset retirement obligations are subject to measurement uncertainty as discussed in note 5 due to the evolving technologies used in the estimation of the costs for asset retirements, the use of discounted present value of future estimates costs, inflation, and interest rates.

(m) Related party transactions

Related party transactions, other than inter-entity transactions, are recorded at the exchange amount.

Inter-entity transactions are transactions between commonly controlled entities. Inter-entity transactions, other than restructuring transactions, are recorded on a gross basis, and are measured at the carrying amount, except for the following:

  1. Services provided on a recovery basis are recognized as revenues and expenses on a gross basis and measured at the exchange amount.
  2. Certain services received on a without charge basis are recorded for departmental financial statement purposes at the carrying amount.

3. Parliamentary authorities

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

(a) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to current year authorities used

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Restated
(note 15)
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers $ 5,016,983 $ 10,351,143
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Amortization of tangible capital assets (18,479) (19,773)
Gain (loss) on disposal of tangible capital assets 40 31
Services provided without charge by other government departments (45,862) (45,618)
Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave 3,350 (4,426)
Decrease (increase) in employee future benefits 601 48
Refund/adjustment of prior year's expenditures 26,021 18,170
Bad debt expense 28 (7)
Statutory spending authority equivalent to revenues earned 13,220 13,039
Other 73,021 (29,607)
Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities 51,940 (68,143)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets 28,653 17,401
Increase (decrease) in inventory 1,048,343 (565,790)
Increase (decrease) in prepaid expenses (362,024) (1,030,816)
Proceeds from disposal of Crown assets 744 82
Increase in salary overpayments to be recovered 1,085 1,503
Issuance of advances to employees 50 52
Transition payments for implementing salary payments in arrears 4 -
Total items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities 716,855 (1,577,568)
Current year authorities used $ 5,785,778 $ 8,705,432

(b) Authorities provided and used

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Authorities provided:
Vote 1 - Operating expenditures $ 10,989,365 $ 15,379,583
Vote 5 - Capital expenditures 59,707 117,965
Vote 10 - Grants and contributions 685,433 881,670
Payments in connection with Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021 145,976 -
Other statutory amounts 71,824 65,880
Subtotal 11,952,305 16,445,098
Less:
Authorities available for future years (786) (112)
Lapsed authorities (6,165,741) (7,739,554)
Current year authorities used $ 5,785,778 $ 8,705,432

4. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

The following table presents details of the Agency's accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Accounts payable - Other government departments and agencies $ 15,482 $ 38,300
Accounts payable - External parties 168,554 542,870
Total accounts payable 184,036 581,170
Accrued liabilities 211,570 499,998
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 395,606 $ 1,081,168

5. Asset retirement obligations

The Agency has recorded asset retirement obligations for retirement activities linked to machinery and equipment, and other asset retirement obligations.

The changes in asset retirement obligations during the year are as follows:

Asset retirement obligations

(in thousands of dollars) Retirement activities - machinery and equipment Other 2023 Total 2022 Restated (note 15)
Opening balance $ 203 $ 93 $ 296 $ 289
Revisions in estimates (5) (8) (13) -
Accretion expense 5 2 7 7
Closing balance $ 203 $ 87 $ 290 $ 296

Accretion expense is the increase in the carrying amount of an asset retirement obligation due to the passage of time.

The undiscounted future expenditures, adjusted for inflation, for the planned projects comprising the liability are $346.8 thousand ($346.8 thousand as at March 31, 2022).

Key assumptions used in determining the provision are as follows:

Key assumptions

Rates and Discount Periods 2023 2022
Discount rate 2.90% 2.45%
Discount period and timing of settlement 1 to 16 years 2 to 17 years
Long-term rate of inflation 2.00% 2.00%

6. Employee future benefits

(a) Pension benefits

The Agency'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/Québec Pension Plan benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and the Agency contribute to the cost of the Plan. Due to the amendment of the Public Service Superannuation Act following the implementation of provisions related to Economic Action Plan 2012, employee contributions 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 2022-23 expense amounts to the following:

Pension benefits

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Expense for the year $ 39,627 $ 37,575


For Group 1 members, the expense represents approximately 1.02 times (1.01 times in 2021-22) the employee contributions and, for Group 2 members, approximately 1.00 times (1.00 times in 2021-22) the employee contributions.

The Agency's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

b) Severance benefits

Severance benefits provided to the Agency'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, 2023, substantially 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:

Severance benefits

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Accrued benefit obligation - Beginning of year $ 8,646 $ 8,694
Expense for the year (166) 444
Benefits paid during the year (435) (492)
Accrued benefit obligation - End of year $ 8,045 $ 8,646

7. Accounts receivable and advances

The following table presents details of the Agency's accounts receivable and advances balances:

Accounts receivable and advances

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Accounts receivable - Other government departments and agencies $ 19,094 $ 52,157
Accounts receivable - External parties 1,851 14,702
Employee advances 9,442 9,092
Subtotal 30,387 75,951
Allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables from external parties (22) (50)
Gross accounts receivable and advances 30,365 75,901
Accounts receivable held on behalf of Government (10,557) (15,672)
Net accounts receivable and advances $ 19,808 $ 60,229

The following table provides an aging analysis of accounts receivable from external parties and the associated valuation allowances used to reflect their net recoverable value.

Aging analysis of accounts receivable from external parties and the associated valuation allowances

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Accounts receivable from external parties
Not past due $ 714 $ 7,996
Number of days past due
    1 to 30 929 6,386
    31 to 60 3 68
    61 to 90 25 75
    91 to 365 75 88
    Over 365 105 89
Sub-total 1,851 14,702
Less: Valuation allowance (22) (50)
Total $ 1,829 $ 14,652

8. Prepaid expenses

The following table presents details of the Agency's prepaid expenses:

Prepaid expenses

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Pharmaceutical and other medicinal products $ 504,206 $ 759,463
Diagnostic testing kits - 58,767
Other fees and services - 48,000
Total prepaid expenses $ 504,206 $ 866,230

9. Inventory

The following table presents details of the Agency's inventory:

Inventory

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Personal protective equipment $ 913,993 $ 1,093,857
Pharmaceutical and other medicinal products 1,958,645 592,037
Laboratory supplies and testing devices 21,971 376,438
Medical and laboratory equipment 341,208 467,146
Social services supplies 3,401 3,377
Other medical supplies 66,913 120,990
Other goods and supplies 36,987 57,444
Total inventory $ 3,343,118 $ 2,711,289

The cost of distributed inventory recognized as an expense in the Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position is $2,254.8 million in 2022-23 ($6,160.7 million in 2021-22).

10. Tangible capital assets

Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

Amortization period by asset class

Asset class Sub-asset class Amortization period
Buildings Buildings 25 years
Works and infrastructure Works and infrastructure 25 years
Leasehold improvements Leasehold improvements Lease term, max. 40 years
Machinery and equipment Machinery and equipment 8-12 years
Computer equipment 3-5 years
Computer software 3 years
Other equipment 5-12 years
Vehicles Motor vehicles 4-7 years
Other vehicles 10 years
Assets under construction Other construction or work in progress Assets under construction are recorded in the applicable asset class in the year they are put into service and are not amortized until they are put into service.

Tangible capital assets (in thousands of dollars)

Cost Opening balance Restated (note 15) Acquisitions Disposals and write-offs Transfers and adjustments Closing balance
Land $ 604 $ - $ - $ - $ 604
Buildings 134,208 - - (8) 134,200
Works and infrastructure 1,166 36 - - 1,202
Leasehold improvements 240 - - - 240
Machinery and equipment 191,953 25,307 (2,225) 1,965 217,000
Vehicles 8,724 237 (73) 24 8,912
Assets under construction 4,269 3,073 - (1,994) 5,348
Total $ 341,164 $ 28,653 $ (2,298) $ (13) $ 367,506
Accumulated amortization Opening balance Restated (note 15) Amortization Disposals and write-offs Transfers and adjustments Closing balance
Buildings $ 93,654 $ 2,728 $ - $ - $ 96,382
Works and infrastructure 600 47 - - 647
Leasehold improvements 29 10 - - 39
Machinery and equipment 115,401 15,026 (2,223) (2) 128,202
Vehicles 3,461 668 (73) 63 4,119
Total $ 213,145 $ 18,479 $ (2,296) $ 61 $ 229,389
Net book
value
Net book value 2022
Restated (note 15)
Net book value 2023
Land $ 604 $ 604
Buildings 40,554 37,818
Works and infrastructure 566 555
Leasehold improvements 211 201
Machinery and equipment 76,552 88,798
Vehicles 5,263 4,793
Assets under construction 4,269 5,348
Total $ 128,019 $ 138,117

Adjustments include assets under construction of $1,994 thousand that were transferred to other categories upon completion of the assets.

11. Contractual obligations

The nature of the Agency's activities may result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the Agency will be obligated to make future payments in order to carry out its transfer payment programs or when the services/goods are received. Significant contractual obligations that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:

Contractual obligations

(in thousands of dollars) Transfer payments Operating contracts Total
2023-24 $ 330,738 $ 4,003,937 $ 4,334,675
2024-25 115,069 467,350 582,419
2025-26 53,357 462,906 516,263
2026-27 34,353 364,284 398,637
2027-28 and thereafter 6,263 1,171,998 1,178,261
Total $ 539,780 $ 6,470,475 $ 7,010,255

12. Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown.

Claims and litigations:

Claims have been made against the Agency in the normal course of operations. These claims include items with pleading amounts and others for which no amount is specified. While the total amount claimed in these actions is significant, their outcomes are not determinable. The Agency has recorded an allowance for claims and litigations where it is likely that there will be a future payment and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made. Claims and litigations for which the outcome is not determinable and a reasonable estimate can be made by management amount to approximately $105.3 million ($5.3 million in 2021-22) at March 31, 2023.


13. Related party transactions

The Agency is related as a result of common ownership to all government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. Related parties also include individuals who are members of key management personnel or close family members of those individuals, and entities controlled by, or under shared control of, a member of key management personnel or a close family member of that individual.

The Agency enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. In addition, the Agency has agreements with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada related to the provision of various finance and administrative services.

(a) Common services provided without charge by other government departments

During the year, the Agency received services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to accommodation, legal services and the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans. These services provided without charge have been recorded at the carrying value in the Agency's Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position as follows:

Common services provided without charge by other government departments

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans $ 38,713 $ 38,916
Accommodation 6,877 6,436
Legal services 272 266
Total $ 45,862 $ 45,618


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 the 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 Agency's Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position.

(b) Other transactions with other government departments and agencies

Other transactions with other government departments and agencies

(in thousands of dollars) 2023 2022
Expenses $ 259,740 $ 302,318
Revenues 13,280 13,094


Expenses and revenues disclosed in (b) exclude common services provided without charge, which are already disclosed in (a).

14. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on the Agency's core responsibility. 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 for the main core responsibilities, by major object of expense and by major type of revenue. The segment results for the period are as follows:

Segmented information

(in thousands of dollars) Infectious disease prevention and control Health promotion and chronic disease prevention Health security Internal services 2023 Total 2022 Total Restated (note 15)
Expenses
Utilities, materials and supplies $ 1,777,974 $ 449 $ 488,020 $ 443 $ 2,266,886 $ 6,174,988
Inventory adjustments for valuation and write-offs 558,008 - 130,921 - 688,929 1,681,541
Transfer payments 318,320 308,297 1,752 - 628,369 519,380
Professional and special services 313,633 21,869 147,809 102,360 585,671 1,159,222
Salaries and employee benefits 231,336 74,280 146,508 85,009 537,133 523,260
Other 161,123 12 5,839 18 166,992 4,371
Information services 4,414 3,487 530 54,380 62,811 106,969
Rentals 3,343 64 43,264 125 46,796 79,507
Amortization of tangible capital assets 16,977 20 1,481 1 18,479 19,773
Transportation and communications 3,607 509 11,043 1,013 16,172 83,946
Accommodation 4,870 995 1,860 1,084 8,809 8,237
Repair and maintenance 5,166 5 2,172 9 7,352 5,123
Bad debt - - - (28) (28) 7
Expenses incurred on behalf of Government - - - 24 24 (4)
Total expenses 3,398,771 409,987 981,199 244,438 5,034,395 10,366,320
Revenues
Sales of goods and services
    Rights and privileges 1,884 - - - 1,884 338
    Services of a non-regulatory nature 94 - 3,045 11,207 14,346 14,030
    Lease and use of public property - - 22 - 22 23
Interest - - - 7 7 3
Other 1,566 - 1,777 - 3,343 7,555
Revenues earned on behalf of Government (1,978) - (205) (7) (2,190) (6,772)
Total revenues 1,566 - 4,639 11,207 17,412 15,177
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers $ 3,397,205 $ 409,987 $ 976,560 $ 233,231 $ 5,016,983 $ 10,351,143

15. Adjustment to prior year's results

In 2022-23, the Agency adopted a change in accounting policy for asset retirement obligations. This change has been applied retroactively and comparative information for 2021-22 has been restated. The effect of this adjustment is presented in the table below:

Adjustment to prior year's results

(in thousands of dollars) 2022 As previously stated Effect of the adjustment 2022 Restated
Statement of Financial Position
Asset retirement obligations $ - $ 296 $ 296
Total net liabilities 1,122,542 296 1,122,838
Agency net debt 39,463 296 39,759
Tangible capital assets 127,974 45 128,019
Total non-financial assets 3,705,493 45 3,705,538
Agency net financial position 3,666,030 (251) 3,665,779
Statement of Operations and Agency Net Financial Position
Infectious disease prevention and control $ 7,274,880 $ 21 $ 7,274,901
Total expenses 10,366,299 21 10,366,320
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 10,351,122 21 10,351,143
Net cost of (revenue from) operations after government funding and transfers 1,815,147 21 1,815,168
Agency net financial position – Beginning of year 5,481,177 (230) 5,480,947
Agency net financial position – End of year 3,666,030 (251) 3,665,779
Statement of Change in Agency Net Debt
Net cost of (revenue from) operations after government funding and transfers $ 1,815,147 $ 21 $ 1,815,168
Amortization of tangible capital assets (19,759) (14) (19,773)
Total change due to tangible capital assets (2,584) (14) (2,598)
Increase (decrease) in Agency net debt 4,494 7 4,501
Agency net debt - Beginning of year 34,969 289 35,258
Agency net debt - End of year 39,463 296 39,759
Statement of Cash Flows
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers $ 10,351,122 $ 21 $ 10,351,143
Amortization of tangible capital assets (19,759) (14) (19,773)
Decrease (increase) in asset retirement obligations - (7) (7)
Note 3 - Parliamentary authorities
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers $ 10,351,122 $ 21 $ 10,351,143
Amortization of tangible capital assets (19,759) (14) (19,773)
Other (29,600) (7) (29,607)
Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities (68,122) (21) (68,143)
Note 5 - Asset retirement obligations
Opening balance $ - $ 289 $ 289
Accretion expense - 7 7
Closing balance - 296 296
Note 10 - Tangible capital assets
Cost - Buildings $ 134,160 $ 48 $ 134,208
Cost - Machinery and equipment 191,795 158 191,953
Cost - Total 340,958 206 341,164
Accumulated amortization - Buildings 93,625 29 93,654
Accumulated amortization - Machinery and equipment 115,269 132 115,401
Accumulated amortization - Total 212,984 161 213,145
Net book value - Buildings 40,535 19 40,554
Net book value - Machinery and equipment 76,526 26 76,552
Net book value - Total 127,974 45 128,019
Note 14 - Segmented information
Other $ 4,364 $ 7 $ 4,371
Amortization of tangible capital assets 19,759 14 19,773
Total expenses 10,366,299 21 10,366,320
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 10,351,122 21 10,351,143

16. Comparative information

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

Annex to the Statement of Management Responsibility Including Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Fiscal Year 2022-23

1. Introduction

This document provides summary information on the measures taken by the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, including information on internal control management, assessment results, and related action plans.

Detailed information on the Agency's authority, mandate, and core responsibilities can be found in the Agency's Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report.

2. Agency's system of internal control over financial reporting

2.1 Internal control management

The Agency has a well-established governance and accountability structure to support departmental assessment efforts and oversight of its system of internal control. A departmental Internal Control Management Framework, approved by the Deputy Head, is in place and includes:

The Internal Control over Financial Management Framework is also supported by:

2.2 Service arrangements relevant to financial statements

The Agency relies on other organizations for processing certain transactions that are recorded in its financial statements.

2.2.1 Common service arrangements
2.2.2 Specific arrangements

Readers of this annex may refer to the annexes of the above-noted departments for a greater understanding of the systems of internal controls over financial reporting related to these specific services.

3. Agency assessment results for the 2022-23 fiscal year

The following table summarizes the status of the ongoing monitoring activities, as per the results of the 2022-23 Ongoing Monitoring and Assessment Plan.

Table 1. Progress during fiscal year 2022-23

Previous fiscal year's ongoing monitoring plan for fiscal year 2022-23 Status
Internal Controls over Financial Management
Entity-Level Controls Completed as planned. Report currently in draft for Q2 2023-24 release.
Investment Planning Completed as planned. No remedial actions required.
Project Management Deferred to fiscal year 2023-24.
CFO attestation Completed as planned. No remedial actions required.
Costing Completed as planned. No remedial actions required.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Inventory Management Activities ongoing into fiscal year 2023-24.
Pay administration Completed as planned. Remedial actions are underway.
Financial statements, year-end, and reporting Completed as planned. Remedial actions are underway.
Revenues, receivables, and receipts Completed as planned. No remedial actions required.
Purchasing, payables and payments Completed as planned. Remedial actions are underway.
Information technology general controls Completed as planned. Remedial actions are underway.

3.1 New or significantly amended key controls

Corrective actions identified as a result of the execution of the 2022-23 Ongoing Monitoring Plan, and those identified in an earlier entity-level control assessment (2019-20) have been implemented as of March 31, 2023, and are described below.

3.2 Ongoing monitoring program

The Agency undertook an extensive review of the approach to ensure that the planning and conducting of the comprehensive risk assessment of its financial management business processes would be efficient and effective. This assessment was completed in the second quarter and was critical for informing the development of the 2022-23 to 2026-27 Internal Control Monitoring Plan, shown in Section 4, and reflects a balance of process risk, availability of resources, timing of overlapping assurance activities, and the requirements of the Management Accountability Framework.

In advancing its Ongoing Monitoring of Internal Controls program, the Agency completed its design and operating effectiveness assessment of Costing and CFO Attestation and Investment Planning processes.

Additionally, in collaboration with the National Microbiology Laboratory and the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, the Agency has completed the development of control documentation related to inventory management. This enabled the commencement of an assessment of laboratory's process in Q4 of 2022-23 which has been completed and enabled a draft report to be developed. The assessment of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile is planned for Q3 of 2023-24.

Readers may refer to Health Canada's annex for a greater understanding of the changes to key controls, and for details of the status of their ongoing monitoring program for internal controls over financial reporting related to the specific services outlined in Section 2.2.2.

4. Agency's status and action plan for the next fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years

The Agency's ongoing monitoring plan over the next few years is shown in the table below. The ongoing monitoring plan is based on:

Table 4.1 Public Health Agency of Canada's Rotational Ongoing Monitoring Plan

Key Control Areas 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27
Entity-Level Controls No Yes No Yes
Budgeting and Forecasting Yes No Yes No
Investment Planning No Yes No Yes
Project Management No Yes No Yes
CFO Attestation No No Yes No
Costing No Yes No Yes
Grants and Contributions Yes No Yes No
Inventory Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pay Administration * Yes Yes Yes Yes
Financial Statements, Year-end and Reporting * No No Yes No
Revenue, Receivables and Receipts * No No Yes No
Purchasing, payables and payments * No No Yes No
Capital Assets * Yes No No Yes
Travel, Hospitality, Conference events and relocation * No No No Yes
Information technology general controls * Yes Yes Yes Yes

* Denotes internal control areas managed by Health Canada.

5. Departmental status and action plan to achieve Ongoing Monitoring

Building on progress to-date, the Agency is positioned to complete the full assessment of its system of internal controls over financial reporting in the 2023-24 fiscal year. At that time, the department will be applying its ongoing monitoring plan to reassess control performance on a risk basis across key control areas. The status and action plan for the completion of the identified control areas for the next fiscal year and for subsequent years are shown in the following table.

Status and action plan of key control areas

Key control areas Status and action plan
Risk Assessment and Documentation Design effectiveness testing Operational effectiveness testing Remediation and Ongoing monitoring rotation *
Inventory Management Complete 2023-24 fiscal year 2024-25 fiscal year
Investment Planning Complete Complete 2023-24 fiscal year 2025-26 fiscal year

* The ongoing monitoring plan is subject to change as a result of subsequent risk assessments.

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