Public Health Agency of Canada Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2023

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Authority, Mandate and Program
  • 1.2 Basis of Presentation
• 2. Highlights of fiscal quarter results
  • 2.1 Significant changes to authorities
  • 2.2 Authorities used analysis
• 3. Risks and Uncertainty
• 4. Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs
• 5. Approval by Senior Officials
• 6. Statement of Authorities (unaudited)
• 7. Agency budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

1. Introduction

This quarterly financial report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act, in the form and manner prescribed by the Directive on Accounting Standards, GC 4400 Departmental Quarterly Financial Report. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates. Please note that this quarterly financial report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

1.1 Authority, Mandate and Program

The Public Health Agency of Canada was created within the federal Health Portfolio in September 2004. The core mandate of the Agency is to deliver on the Government of Canada's commitment to increase its focus on public health in order to help protect and improve the health and safety of all Canadians and to contribute to strengthening public health capacities across Canada.

The Agency has the responsibility to:

• contribute to the prevention of disease and injury, and the promotion of health;
• enhance the quality and quantity of surveillance data and expand the knowledge of disease and injury in Canada;
• provide federal leadership and accountability in managing national public health events;
• strengthen intergovernmental collaboration on public health and facilitate national approaches to public health policy and planning; and
• serve as a central point for sharing Canada's expertise with international partners and to translate international knowledge and approaches to inform and support Canada's public health priorities and programs.

The Agency aims to achieve a strategic outcome of protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health by providing strategic policy advice and support to the Minister of Health on a range of Core Responsibilities, including:

• Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention;
• Infectious Disease Prevention and Control; and
• Health Security.

The Agency also delivers a number of grant and contribution programs related to these programs.

Further information on the mandate, roles, responsibilities and program of the Agency can be found in the 2023-24 Departmental Plan and the 2023-24 Main Estimates.

1.2 Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities (Section 6.0) includes the Agency's spending authorities granted by Parliament, or received from Treasury Board Central Votes, and those used by the Agency consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the 2023-24 fiscal year. This quarterly report has been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework designed to meet financial information needs with respect to the use of spending authorities.

The authority of Parliament is required before moneys can be spent by the Government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through Appropriation Acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

The Agency uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

2. Highlights of fiscal quarter results

The following graph provides a comparison of the Agency's net authorities and expenditures.

Figure 1 - Text description

The graph above provides a comparison of the net budgetary authorities and expenditures as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 for the Agency's combined Vote 1, Vote 5, Vote 10 and Statutory Votes. As of December 31, 2023, PHAC had a total of $5,614.5 million in authorities available for spending compared to $12,085.6 million on December 31, 2022. PHAC's year-to-date expenditures as of December 31, 2023 were $2,668.0 million compared to $4,562.9 million on December 31, 2022.

2.1 Significant changes to authorities

The Agency's total authorities available for use decreased from $12,085.6 million to $5,614.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2022-23. This year-to-date net reduction of $6,471.0 million is explained by decreases in funding for the following initiatives:

• $3.6 billion for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and deployment operations;
• $2.0 billion for the procurement of COVID-19 therapeutics;
• $745.6 million following the lifting of border measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• $156.2 million to sustain pandemic and surge capacity operations for COVID-19;
• $143.2 million for payments to provinces and territories for the COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to provide consistent tracking of COVID-19 vaccination history;
• $107.7 million for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment;
• $89.6 million for the Sero-Surveillance Consortium to provide research bodies with the required resources to gain a better understanding of COVID-19;
• $50.4 million for the decrease in operating funds transferred from the previous fiscal year;
• $29.1 million for innovative research and procurement of testing technologies related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• $21.0 million for mental health support related to COVID-19 including support for distress centers;
• $11.8 million for the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada for prevention, support programs, research, surveillance, public awareness, and evaluation; and
• $11.2 million for various other initiatives.

The decreases are offset by increases in the following initiatives:

• $208.5 million to help combat the ongoing mpox health crisis in Canada;
• $164.9 million for the surveillance and risk assessment initiative to strengthen Canada's ability to detect and respond to public health events and emergencies through data and risk assessment;
• $38.0 million for the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline to provide Canadians with safe, high quality, equitable, accessible and evidence-based crisis support, 24/7/365;
• $30.8 million related to the ratification of new collective bargaining agreements and related pay increases;
• $25.0 million for the procurement of molecular SARS-CoV-2 tests;
• $17.2 million for the increase in contributions to employee benefit plans;
• $9.0 million for the distress line investment to support the needs of those experiencing mental health crisis and distress;
• $4.8 million for the Pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program;
• $4.6 million for the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge and the Framework for Diabetes in Canada; and
• $17.5 million for various other initiatives.

2.2 Authorities used analysis

As of December 31, 2023, total year-to-date net expenditures amounted to $2,668.0 million compared to $4,562.9 million for 2022-23, a decrease of $1,894.9 million. Expenditures during the third quarter of 2023-24 amounted to $1,048.9 million, compared to $2,181.2 million for 2022-23, representing a decrease of $1,132.3 million. These decreases are primarily due to variances in the following areas:

• Quarterly spending for utilities, materials and supplies for 2023-24 decreased by $1.0 billion compared to the third quarter of 2022-23. A decrease of $1.6 billion is observed for 2023-24 year-to-date expenditures compared to 2022-23. These decreases are primarily due to reduced expenditures relating to COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, and for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment. These are partially offset by increases in expenditures for the mpox outbreak response.
• Quarterly spending for professional and special services decreased by $133.4 million compared to the same quarter of 2022-23 and by $265.8 million in year-to-date spending. These decreases are primarily due to demobilization for border testing, travel and quarantine measures, reduced spending for storage services for the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile and reductions related to the National Vaccine Management IT platform.
• Quarterly spending for transfer payments decreased by $10.5 million for 2023-24 compared to the same quarter in 2022-23 and year to date spending increased by $12.5 million. The decrease in spending is primarily related to reduced expenditures for the Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites program, Sero-Surveillance, and the Immunization Partnership Fund. This decrease is offset by increases in expenditures for Mental Health programs including the 9-8-8 Suicide crisis line and the distress line investment, the Pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program, for the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation and for the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund.
• Quarterly spending on rentals decreased by $7.7 million compared to the same quarter in 2022-23. A decrease of $38.5 million is observed in 2023-24 for year-to-date expenditures. These variances are primarily due to no spending for rental facilities related to COVID-19 quarantine measures in 2023-24.
• Quarterly spending for other subsidies and payments decreased by $4.7 million compared to the same quarter in 2022-23 and by $25.3 million in year-to-date spending. These decreases are mainly due to less foreign exchange losses resulting from fewer transactions in foreign currency.
• Quarterly spending for transportation and communications for 2023-24 decreased by $3.7 million compared to the same quarter in 2022-23 and by $6.9 million in year-to-date spending. These decreases are primarily due to reduced expenditures following demobilization for border testing, travel and quarantine measures.
• Quarterly spending for personnel increased by $19.0 million compared to the same quarter in 2022-23, and by $1.5 million in year-to-date spending. These increases are primarily due to payments following the ratification of new collective bargaining agreements.
• Quarterly spending in Statutory expenditures increased by $11.2 million for 2023-24 compared to the same quarter in 2022-23 and by $49.7 million in year-to-date spending. These increases are primarily related to payments made to provinces and territories for the proof of vaccination fund pursuant to the Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021. This increase is partially offset by a decrease in spending for contributions to employee benefit plans due to a reduction in workforce in 2023-24.
• Quarterly spending for information increased by $4.9 million for 2023-24 compared to the same quarter in 2022-23 and decreased by $25.6 million in year-to-date spending. The increase for the quarter is primarily due to timing differences for payments related to the Shared Services Partnership with Health Canada. The decrease in year-to-date spending is primarily due to reductions in spending for the COVID-19 public education campaign.

3. Risks and Uncertainty

The dominant financial risks faced by the Agency relate to the nature of its mandate and the need to respond to public health events. While the Agency is adjusting its activities, structures and organizational alignment following Budget 2023, it plans to support the stabilization of its core activities in the coming fiscal years. The Corporate Risk Profile is being revised to better reflect these adjustments. This revision will reinforce the support of the Agency's commitment to the mandate of protection, prevention, and promotion for the most pressing public health needs and priorities.

4. Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

The Agency is undergoing changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs as it continues to play a vital role in helping protect and improve the health and safety of all Canadians. As the situation has evolved, the Agency has scaled down initiatives related to COVID-19 with the expiry of many temporary budgetary authorities related to the pandemic response. The Agency will continue to strategically assess and tailor its public health responses to best meet the needs of Canadians.

5. Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by:

Heather Jeffrey, President
Public Health Agency of Canada
Ottawa, Canada

Martin Krumins, Chief Financial Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
Ottawa, Canada

6. Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

7. Agency budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)