The 2023-24 fiscal year was marked by significant evolution in our operational strategies and a continued commitment to meeting the needs of our stakeholders. Building on the lessons learned from the pandemic, we focused on refining our approach to hybrid conferencing—a format that has become central to our service delivery. Gathering feedback from provinces and territories was a crucial first step in developing a new Conference Policy, which aims to set realistic expectations for the Secretariat and its stakeholders, and to ensure continued service excellence.

Leadership changes within CICS brought a fresh strategic direction, emphasizing the strengthening of stakeholder relationships and a holistic evaluation of our organization. Despite facing resource challenges, the Secretariat demonstrated resilience and a commitment to renewal, overcoming difficulties and continuing to support intergovernmental collaboration successfully. This is reflected in the high satisfaction rates of 93% among conference participants and 95% among conference organizers.

The year saw a notable increase in conference activity, with a 56% rise in Minister-level meetings and a remarkable 119% increase in Provincial-Territorial conferences compared to 2022-23. The format of these conferences was nearly evenly split, with 49.2% being videoconferences and 50.8% hybrid conferences. This shift reflects the changing landscape of intergovernmental meetings and the need for flexibility in how we deliver our services.

To address the rising costs and other challenges brought about by the post-COVID environment, we developed innovative costing models and received our first supplemental budget installment. These resources were used to enhance internal controls and evaluate our costing structures, ensuring that we remain financially sustainable while continuing to offer high-quality services.

Recognizing the ongoing complexities caused by inflation, funding gaps, and staff turnover, CICS made a key decision to evaluate its program after 50 years of operation. This evaluation is intended to lay the groundwork for long-term operational sustainability and excellence, ensuring that we remain a vital facilitator of intergovernmental meetings in the years to come.

2023-24 was a year of transformation and adaptation for CICS, as we navigated a rapidly changing environment while remaining focused on our mission to support effective intergovernmental collaboration.