2023-24 Departmental Plan
View as: Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat 2023–24 Departmental Plan The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., K.C., M.P. Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities ISSN : 2371-8234 Table of contents From the Institutional Head Plans at a glance Core responsibility: planned results and resources, and key risks Internal services: planned results Planned spending and human resources Planned spending Planned human resources Estimates by vote Future-oriented condensed statement of operations Corporate information Organizational profile Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do Operating context Reporting framework Supporting information on the program inventory Supplementary information table Federal tax expenditures Organizational contact information Appendix: definitions From the Institutional Head As Secretary of the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS), I am pleased to present the Agency’s 2023–24 Departmental Plan. This plan provides parliamentarians and Canadians with information on our mandate and objectives for the upcoming year. Through its sole program, the Secretariat provides professional administrative support services required for the planning and conduct of federal-provincial-territorial and provincial-territorial conferences of First Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers across Canada. Such multilateral meetings continue to be a key component of Canadian federalism and support the Government of Canada’s objective of maintaining open and collaborative relationships with every province, territory and Indigenous partners. Along with the added benefits of confidentiality, impartiality and expertise in service delivery, CICS facilitates the holding of such intergovernmental conferences. In 2022–23, CICS transitioned into the new “post pandemic” norm and was required, once again, to modify its service model as in-person meetings were gradually reintroduced. Throughout the year, the Secretariat remained agile and committed to respond to the growing demand for in-person and hybrid meetings, while coping with challenges including new conference technologies and unprecedented increases in conference costs pertaining to travel, interpretation and audiovisual services. As we approach 2023–24, we continue to foresee a significant increase in requests for in-person and hybrid senior-level meetings, while interest in videoconferences will remain high. The Secretariat is committed to redoubling its efforts in order to find innovative, long-term solutions to meet our clients’ needs. We trust that half a century of continuous, effective and impartial administrative support to multilateral conferences has equipped us well to meet this new challenge. André M. McArdle Secretary, Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat Plans at a glance The Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS) is fully committed to delivering quality, cost-effective conference services to federal, provincial and territorial governments. Our impartiality, expertise in service delivery and commitment to official languages make us the conference service provider of choice for senior-level intergovernmental conferences. We are determined to maintain this unique status. The agency is also committed to carrying out its role as official custodian of the information shared and discussed during federal-provincial-territorial and provincial-territorial conferences. To this day, the Secretariat is custodian to nearly 55 000 documents that offer a high-level snapshot of all the intergovernmental issues tackled over the course of the 4500 conferences served by CICS since 1973. The previous fiscal year was a year of transition for […]
by Dan Henri
Read more »
Future-Oriented Statement of Operations 2023-24
CANADIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT Future-Oriented Statement of Operations (unaudited) ISSN 3111-0363 For the Year Ended March 31 (in dollars) Forecast Results for 2022-23 Planned Results for 2023-24 Expenses Intergovernmental Conference Services Internal Services 4,881,862 2,092,227 4,714,288 2,020,410 Total expenses 6,974,089 6,734,697 Revenues Sharing cost agreement – Transfers received from the provincial governments Revenues earned on behalf of government 953,800 (953,800) 953,800 (953,800) Total revenues 0 0 Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 6,974,089 6,734,697 Notes to the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations (Unaudited) 1. Methodology and Significant Assumptions The future-oriented statement of operations has been prepared on the basis of government priorities and departmental plans as described in the Departmental Plan. The information in the forecast results for fiscal year 2022−23 is based on actual results as at January 23, 2023 and on forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year. Forecasts have been made for the planned results for the 2023−24 fiscal year. The main assumptions underlying the forecasts are as follows: The department’s activities will remain substantially the same as the previous The Secretariat expects the volume of in-person and videoconferences to continue to be in high demand for the fiscal year 2023-24. The CICS is anticipating spending the entirety of its appropriation in that fiscal year. Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on historical experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue. These assumptions are made as at January 23, 2023. 2. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information In preparing this Future-Oriented Statement of Operations, the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS) has made estimates and assumptions concerning the future. These estimates and assumptions may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions are based on past experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and are continually evaluated. Factors that could lead to material differences between the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and the historical statement of operations include: The timing and the amount of equipment acquisitions or disposals which may affect gains, losses and amortization expense. Implementation of new collective Intergovernmental influences may affect the volume and complexity of conferences supported and managed by Conference Other changes to the operating budget, such as new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the fiscal After the Departmental Plan is tabled in Parliament, the CICS will not be updating the forecasts for any changes in financial resources made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Departmental Results Report. 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The Future-Oriented Statement of Operations has been prepared using the Government of Canada’s accounting policies in effect for fiscal year 2022−23 and is based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian public sector accounting standards. Significant accounting policies are as follows: a) Expenses Expenses for the […]
by Thomas Walsh
Read more »
Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2022
Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in operations, personnel and program 1.Introduction This quarterly 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 Directive on Accounting Standards. This report should be read in conjunction with the 2022-23 Main Estimates (and as applicable – Supplementary Estimates and previous quarterly reports for the current year). The mandate of the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS) is to support federal, provincial and territorial governments in the planning and conduct of senior level intergovernmental conferences held across Canada. The primary objective of CICS is to relieve client departments of the numerous technical and administrative tasks associated with the planning and conduct of multilateral conferences, thereby enabling participants to concentrate on substantive intergovernmental policy issues. CICS provides continuous, effective, and impartial administrative services to these meetings. This quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review. Basis of Presentation This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the department’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the department consistent with the 2022-23 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (as applicable). This quarterly 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 moneys 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. As part of the departmental performance reporting process, CICS prepares its annual departmental financial statements on a full accrual basis in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies, which are based on Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for the public sector. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis. 2.Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year to date (YTD) results The trend of increased demand for in-person conferences continued during the third quarter of this fiscal year, which significantly increased conference related expenses, when comparing to the previous fiscal year. Year to date, CICS served 52 in-person conferences and 35 videoconferences, compared to 3 in-person conferences, 101 videoconferences and 9 teleconferences during the same period of 2021-22. 2.1Statement of Authorities CICS’ authorities available for 2022-23 are approximately $92.3 thousand higher ($83.8 thousand voted, $8.5 thousand statutory) than the prior fiscal year, due to multi-year funding for collective bargaining obligations. 2.2Statement of Department Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object Year to date operating expenses to December 31, 2022 are $4.4 million, approximately $989 thousand higher than for the same period in 2021-22. This increase is largely attributable to the following factors: –Transportation and communications: an increase of $532 thousand for travel costs and the shipping of equipment related to the return to in-person conferences; –Rentals: an increase of $179 thousand for the rental […]
by Thomas Walsh
Read more »