Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures

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 the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency's mandate and the government's priorities.

In September 2004, the Agency was created within the federal Health Portfolio 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 the health care system.

The Agency's travel, hospitality and conference expenditures support the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians:

Public health involves the organized efforts of society to keep people healthy and to prevent injury, illness and premature death. It includes programs, services and policies that protect and promote the health of all Canadians. In Canada, public health is a responsibility that is shared by the three levels of government in collaboration with the private sector, non-government organizations, health professionals and the public.

Overall, the Agency manages travel, hospitality, and conference activities / expenditures with prudence and probity so that they demonstrate value for money and use the most economical options to minimize costs whenever possible.

For more detailed information on the Agency's mandate, including roles and responsibilities, please refer to the Agency's 2019-20 Departmental Plan and the 2018-19 Departmental Results Report.

Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Public Health Agency of Canada
Year ended March 31, 2019
Expenditure Category Expenditures for the Year ending March 31, 2019
($ thousands)
Expenditures for the Year ending March 31, 2018
($ thousands)
Variance
($ thousands)
Travel
Operational activities 3,179 2,960 220
Key Stakeholders 1,453 821 632
Internal governance 230 240 -10
Training 690 527 164
Other 389 354 35
A. Total Travel 5,942 4,901 1,041
B. Hospitality 188 133 55
C. Conference Fees 317 242 75
Total (A+B+C) 6,446 5,275 1,171
Differences may arise due to rounding

Significant variances compared with previous fiscal year:

Travel:
Compared with fiscal year 2017-18, Agency travel expenditures increased by 21% or $1.0M in 2018-19 mainly due to an increase in stakeholder engagement across Canada.
Hospitality:
Compared with fiscal year 2017-18, Agency hospitality expenditures increased by 41% or $55K due to an increase in the number of conferences related to Immunization, the Group A Streptococcal Disease and Dementia.
Conference Fees:
Compared with fiscal year 2017-18, Agency conference fee expenditures increased by 31% or $75K mainly due to greater participation in conferences and workshops related to vaccination, infectious diseases and laboratory management and design.

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