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Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Quarterly Financial Report 2022—2023
For the quarter ended June 30, 2022

Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in
operations, personnel and programs

Introduction

This quarterly financial report has been prepared by management, as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates. This quarterly financial report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

This quarterly report addresses the financial reporting requirements of both Elections Canada (EC) and the Commissioner of Canada Elections (CCE), referred to hereafter as the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (OCEO) or the agency.

A summary description of the agency's programs can be found at www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/rpp/dp2022&document=p2&lang=e.

Basis of presentation

This quarterly financial report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities (see Table A.1 below) includes the agency's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the agency that are consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This quarterly financial 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 monies 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. With respect to the OCEO, the Canada Elections Act, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Referendum Act provide for all expenditures, with the exception of salaries of indeterminate employees, which are funded through an annual appropriation. The budgetary statutory authorities amounts presented in the tables below reflect only year-to-date expenditures, since statutory authorities are granted as expenditures are incurred.

When Parliament is dissolved for the purposes of a general election, section 30 of the Financial Administration Act authorizes the Governor General, under certain conditions, to issue a special warrant authorizing the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. A special warrant is deemed to be an appropriation for the fiscal year in which it is issued.

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

Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date results

During the first quarter of 2022-2023, the agency continued the post-event activities of the 44th general election held on September 20, 2021, as well as the decennial electoral boundaries redistribution exercise.

First quarter year-over-year variance

In the first quarter of 2022–2023, budgetary expenditures totalled $54.3 million compared with $45.7 million in the same period of 2021–2022. The increase of $8.6 million is explained by:

  • an increase of $9.8 million in Electoral expenditures (see Table A.1), which is explained by $16.6 million of reimbursements to parties and candidates from the 44th general election recognized in 2021–2022 to be reversed in the second quarter of 2022-2023, as well as a $6.8 million decrease mostly due to a reduction in activities related to the preparation for a general election;
  • a decrease of $2.2 million in Contributions to employee benefit plans (see Table A.1), due mostly to a temporary expenditure that was reversed in the second quarter 2021–2022;
  • an increase of $1.7 million in Expenditures under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act (see Table A.1), which is explained by activities related to the decennial electoral boundaries redistribution exercise; and
  • a decrease of $0.7 million in Program expenditures (see Table A.1), which is largely explained by a temporary expenditure in retroactive payments that was reversed in the second quarter of 2021–2022.
Figure 1 – First Quarter Expenditures Compared to Annual Authorities (Appropriation and Statutory Authority)

Figure 1 – First Quarter Expenditures Compared to Annual Authorities (Appropriation and Statutory Authority)

Text version of "Figure 1 – First Quarter Expenditures Compared to Annual Authorities (Appropriation and Statutory Authority)"

The bar graph shows a comparison of annual authorities and first quarter expenditures for 2021—2022 and 2022—2023 (in thousands of dollars).

  • 2021—2022: annual authorities of $81,857; first quarter expenditures of $45,699.
  • 2022—2023: annual authorities of $91,566; first quarter expenditures of $54,324.

*Annual authorities for statutory funds reflect expenditures only for the first quarter, since statutory authorities are granted as expenditures are incurred. Please refer to Tables A.1 and A.2 for details.

Risks and uncertainties

The OCEO's expenditures are influenced by the frequency, length and number of electoral events (general elections and by-elections) and by infrequent exercises such as referendums and the electoral district boundaries readjustment. Any of these events can significantly change expenditures from one fiscal year to the next.

The agency is continually updating its corporate risk framework and monitoring the risk environment and has identified the following risks:

  • Security: There is a risk that serious security and cybersecurity issues compromise EC's services, the privacy of Canadians and their trust and ability to participate in the electoral process.
  • Long-term strategy: There is a risk that continued tension between short-term operational readiness and long-term business transformation goals hinders the agency's ability meet the evolving expectations of Canadians.
  • Snap election: There is a risk that a general election is called before Elections Canada completes its return to readiness activities, which may compromise election delivery.
  • Electoral Reform: There is a risk that there is an insufficient implementation period for complex or major electoral reform leading to inefficient electoral preparations where the benefits intended by the legislator are not realised.

The agency has undertaken actions to mitigate these risks. As part of its readiness planning, the agency has a new operational approach to deliver an election in a pandemic and post-pandemic context.

Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

There was the following appointment during the first quarter of 2022-2023:

  • Effective May 3, 2022, Josée Leblanc, was appointed Senior Director, Integrity, Regulatory Policy and Parliamentary Affairs.

Approval by senior officials

Stéphane Perrault
Chief Electoral Officer

Marc Limoges
Chief Financial Officer


Gatineau, Canada
August 29, 2022

Table A.1
Office of the chief electoral officer
Quarterly financial report
For the quarter ended June 30, 2022

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

Fiscal year 2021—2022 (in thousands of dollars)
  Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2022 1 Used during the quarter ended June 30, 2021 Year-to-date used at quarter-end
Vote 1 – Program expenditures 2 48,941 12,783 12,783
Statutory authorities
Electoral expenditures 3 26,961 26,961 26,961
Contributions to employee benefit plans 5,614 5,614 5,614
Expenditures under Electoral Boundaries Reajustment Act 251 251 251
Salary of the Chief Electoral Officer 90 90 90
Total statutory authorities 32,916 32,916 32,916
Total authorities 81,857 45,699 45,699

Statement of Authorities (unaudited) (continued)

Fiscal year 2022—2023 (in thousands of dollars)
Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2023 1 Used during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 Year-to-date used at quarter-end
Vote 1 – Program expenditures 2 49,335 12,093 12,093
Statutory authorities
Electoral expenditures 3 36,817 36,817 36,817
Contributions to employee benefit plans 3,398 3,398 3,398
Expenditures under Electoral Boundaries Reajustment Act 1,923 1,923 1,923
Salary of the Chief Electoral Officer 93 93 93
Total statutory authorities 42,231 42,231 42,231
Total authorities 91,566 54,324 54,324

More information is available in Table A 2.

Footnotes

1 Budgetary statutory authorities amounts in the "Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 20xx" columns reflect first quarter expenditures only, since statutory authorities are granted as expenditures are incurred.

2 Program expenditures is an annual appropriation that funds the salaries of the Office of the Chief Sectoral Officer's indeterminate employees.

3 Under the statutory authority, Electoral expenditures funds the operating expenditures of the agency and those incurred in preparing for and conducting elections, reimbursing election expenses to eligible candidates and parties, monitoring compliance with and enforcing the Canada Elections Act.

Table A.2
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Quarterly financial report
For the quarter ended June 30, 2022

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

Fiscal year 2021—2022 (in thousands of dollars)
Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2022 1 Expended during the quarter ended June 30, 2021 Year-to-date used at quarter-end
Expenditures:
Personnel 2 70,143 33,985 33,985
Transportation and communications 299 299 299
Information 2,025 2,025 2,025
Professional and special services 4,424 4,424 4,424
Rentals 4,203 4,203 4,203
Repair and maintenance 55 55 55
Utilities, materials and supplies 635 635 635
Acquisition of land, buildings and works - - -
Acquisition of machinery and equipment - - -
Transfer payments 913 913 913
Public debt charges - - -
Other subsidies and payments (840) 3 (840) (840)
Total gross budgetary expenditures 81,857 45,699 45,699
Less revenues netted against expenditures:
Revenues - - -
Total Revenues netted against expenditures: - - -
Total net budgetary expenditures 81,857 45,699 45,699

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited) (continued)

Fiscal year 2022—2023 (in thousands of dollars)
Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2023 1 Expended during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 Year-to-date used at quarter-end
Expenditures:
Personnel 2 63,674 26,432 26,432
Transportation and communications 597 597 597
Information 1,104 1,104 1,104
Professional and special services 5,068 5,068 5,068
Rentals 2,926 2,926 2,926
Repair and maintenance 157 157 157
Utilities, materials and supplies 1,305 1,305 1,305
Acquisition of land, buildings and works - - -
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 13 13 13
Transfer payments 16,703 16,703 16,703
Public debt charges - - -
Other subsidies and payments 19 19 19
Total gross budgetary expenditures 91,566 54,324 54,324
Less revenues netted against expenditures:
Revenues - - -
Total revenues netted against expenditures: - - -
Total net budgetary expenditures 91,566 54,324 54,324

Footnotes

1 Statutory expenditures in the "Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 20xx" columns reflect first quarter expenditures only, since statutory authorities are granted as expenditures are incurred.

2 Personnel expenditures include both Vote 1 - Program expenditures and Budgetary statutory authorities; all other categories of expenditures are solely budgetary statutory.

3 Other subsidies and payments, in fiscal year 2021-2022, includes a temporary $0.8 million credit in suspense accounts caused by the implementation of the new financial system.