Site Menu2019–20 Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures
Elections 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 Elections Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, 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.
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, commonly known as Elections Canada, is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament. Its mandate is to:
- be prepared to conduct a federal general election, by-election or referendum
- administer the political financing provisions of the Canada Elections Act
- monitor compliance with electoral legislation
- conduct public information campaigns on voter registration, voting and becoming a candidate
- conduct education programs for students on the electoral process
- provide support to the independent commissions in charge of adjusting the boundaries of federal electoral districts following each decennial census
- carry out studies on alternative voting methods and, with the approval of parliamentarians, test alternative voting processes for future use during electoral events
- provide assistance and co-operation in electoral matters to electoral agencies in other countries or to international organizations
A summary description of the agency's programs can be found in the 2019-20 Departmental Results Report.
| Expenditure category | Expenditures for the year ended March 31, 2020 ($ thousands) |
Expenditures for the year ended March 31, 2019 ($ thousands) |
Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
| Operational activities | 6,071 | 1,794 | 4,277 |
| Key stakeholders | 49 | 142 | (93) |
| Internal governance | 6 | 14 | (8) |
| Training | 51 | 79 | (28) |
| Other | 28 | 13 | 15 |
| A. Total travel | 6,205 | 2,042 | 4,163 |
| B. Hospitality | 205 | 236 | (31) |
| C. Conference fees | 15 | 31 | (16) |
| Total [A+B+C] | 6,425 | 2,309 | 4,116 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (also included in travel) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Significant variances compared with the previous fiscal year
Compared with fiscal year 2018–2019, expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences have increased by $4,116 thousand (178%). This increase is mainly due to travel expenses incurred by thousands of electoral workers and administrators conducting the 43rd general election in the fall of 2019 in the 338 electoral districts across the country.