Publication

Operating Context 2024-25

The 2024–25 fiscal year was characterized by strong demand for intergovernmental conferencing and an evolving operating environment that required agility, innovation, and financial discipline. Hybrid and virtual conferencing formats remained central to CICS’s service delivery, reflecting governments’ preference for flexible models that balance in-person engagement with efficiency. The Secretariat supported 163 intergovernmental conferences, the highest number ever delivered in a year that included in-person meetings. Of these, 125 were federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) and 38 were provincial-territorial (PT), underscoring the continued importance of CICS’s neutral role in facilitating dialogue across jurisdictions.

Demand was especially strong at senior levels of government. Minister-level meetings increased by 19% over the previous year (53 to 63), Deputy Minister-level conferences rose by 45% (60 to 87), and the number of First Ministers’ meetings increased from one to three. Client satisfaction remained exceptionally high, with 94.5% of conference organizers and 94.8% of participants rating services positively, both well above the 90% target. These results reflect the Secretariat’s capacity to deliver professional, impartial, and high-quality services despite continued external and internal pressures.

The operating context was shaped by several external factors. Inflationary pressures and fiscal restraint continued to affect costs and resources, while the imposition of U.S. tariffs in 2024–25 led to a series of urgent high-priority intergovernmental meetings, some organized with only days’ notice. These events highlighted both the unpredictability of the intergovernmental landscape and CICS’s ability to mobilize quickly and sustain service excellence under compressed timelines.

Financial sustainability remained a priority. Total budget authorities in 2024–25 were broadly consistent with the previous year, supported by the temporary additional funding announced in Budget 2023. The Secretariat utilized nearly 99% of its available resources, with less than 1% unspent, reflecting the resource intensity of in-person and hybrid meetings and the added costs of the independent program evaluation. While the temporary funding allowed the Secretariat to meet rising demand, financial pressures persisted, reinforcing the need for a long-term solution to stabilize CICS’s resource base.

Strategic renewal was a defining theme of 2024–25. The Secretariat launched a comprehensive program evaluation that engaged clients and examined internal processes to assess long-term relevance, performance, and sustainability. The evaluation validated the Secretariat’s neutral and professional role, while also underscoring the need to modernize funding and governance models. Progress was also made on modernization initiatives, including the launch of a new Conference Management System with enhanced usability and accessibility features, ongoing archival digitization supported by AI-based tools, and strengthened cybersecurity protocols.

Internally, CICS advanced its 2023–25 Accessibility Plan, introduced training and planning checklists to integrate accessibility into service delivery, and continued to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion. A new HR leader was appointed to implement succession planning, strengthen staffing processes, and support workforce resilience. Policy frameworks were updated across procurement, financial delegation, and internal controls, enhancing stewardship and accountability. Together, these actions reflected a year of both operational intensity and strategic preparation, positioning CICS to continue adapting to external challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term transformation.