Report on annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences 2019-20
As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for Invest in Canada (IiC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020.
Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by federal departments and agencies are related to supporting departmental mandates and the government's priorities.
As outlined in the Invest in Canada Act, for the purpose of supporting economic prosperity and stimulating innovation in Canada, IiC’s mandate is to:
- promote foreign direct investment in Canada and attract and facilitate that investment; and,
- coordinate the efforts of the government, the private sector and other stakeholders with respect to foreign direct investment in Canada.
Total Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences
| Expenditure Category | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2020 | Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel - Public Servants | $ 1,158,727 | $ 651,823 |
| Travel - Non-Public Servants | $ 42,937 | $ 55,421 |
| Total Travel | $ 1,201,664 | $ 707,244 |
| Hospitality | $ 205,475 | $ 131,451 |
| Conference Fees | $ 40,976 | $ 18,285 |
| Total | $ 1,448,115 | $ 856,980 |
Significant Variances compared to the previous year
Total expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences increased by $591,135 (69% increase) from the previous year. This sharp increase indicates the progress IiC has made over the past year, rapidly developing and enhancing its business operations to ensure achievement of its mandate.
Travel
In 2019-20, IiC staffed up considerably its Investor Services Unit whose focus is to promote foreign direct investment in Canada and attract and facilitate that investment. Consequently, travel increased by $494,420 (70%) from the previous year but remained well below the travel budget for the year of $1,905,000 as IiC continued to make efforts to increase the use of teleconference and video conference in lieu of travel whenever possible.
Hospitality
In 2019-20, hospitality expenditures increased by $74,024 (56%) as IiC continued to expand its operations and presence at industry-based events. Like travel, the increase correlates with its increased staffing as the organization continued to mature.
Conferences
In 2019-20, conference expenditures increased by $22,691 (55%). Similarly, to travel and hospitality, the increase correlates with its increased staffing as the organization continued to mature.