Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences

As required by the Treasury Board Directive for the Management of Expenditures on Travel, Hospitality and Conferences, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for the Canada Industrial Relations Board (the CIRB or the Board) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. It also provides an explanation for all variances from the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.

This information is updated annually and does not contain information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by the CIRB are for the most part directly related to supporting the Board’s mandate and the government’s priorities.  In particular, 72% of the Board’s travel expenses are directly related to hearings and case-related activities. Similarly, 66% of the hospitality expenses are related to the Board’s annual meeting and to client consultations on proposed regulatory amendments.

Mandate

The CIRB is an independent, representational, quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for the interpretation and application of Part I (Industrial Relations) and certain provisions of Part II (Occupational Health and Safety) of the Canada Labour Code (the Code). The Board was established in January 1999 through amendments to Part I of the Code. The mandate of the Board is to contribute to and promote effective industrial relations in the federally regulated private sector.

Further information on the Board’s mandate, role, responsibilities and programs can be found in the Board’s 2011–12 Departmental Performance Report.

The Board's total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are summarized below:

Expenditure Category Expenditures
for the year
ending March 31, 2012
(a)		 Expenditures
for the year
ending March 31, 2011
(b)		 Variance
(a - b)
(in dollars)
Travel–Public Servants 637,045 621,528 15,517
Travel–Non-Public Servants 3,968 750 3,218
Total Travel 641,013 622,278 18,735
       
Hospitality 8,712 7,397 1,315
Conference Fees - - -
TOTAL 649,725 629,675 20,050

Variances compared to the previous fiscal year

Travel

Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-11, the CIRB's travel expenditures by public servants increased by a total of $15,517, mostly due to an increase in training-related travel expenses.

Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-11, the CIRB's travel expenditures by non-public servants increased, due to the hiring of a consultant to assist the Board with its national consultations regarding the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2001.

Hospitality:

The CIRB's hospitality expenditures increased by $1,315, due to a special event held for the official naming of the Board's main hearing room in honour of the Board's first Chairperson, Mr. Marc Lapointe.

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