Publications Archive - Page 4 of 57

Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended September 30th, 2025

ISSN 2817-3473 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 2025-26 Main Estimates. 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 logistical 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 logistical support to these meetings. The 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 2025-26 Main Estimates. 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 money 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 Operating expenditures from July 1 to September 30, 2025, increased slightly by $91,000 in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2024-2025. This increase is primarily attributable to personnel-related expenses, as well as costs associated with equipment, supplies, and materials. To date, CICS has supported 30 in-person conferences and 49 videoconferences, compared with 30 in-person conferences and 39 videoconferences during the same period in 2024-2025. 2.1 Statement of Authorities CICS’ authorities for 2025-26 as of the second quarter are approximately $196,000 lower than last year (a decrease of $256,000 in voted authorities and an increase of $60,000 in statutory authorities). This variance is mainly due to the fact that the operating budget carry-forward for the current fiscal year is significantly lower than in the previous year. 2.2 Statement of Department Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object Year to date operating expenses to September 30, 2025, are $3.5 million, approximately $479,000 lower than for the same period in 2024-25. The observed decrease is largely attributable to the following factors: Personnel: a decrease of $36,000 primarily due […]

by Ray Chen Read more »

2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report

View as: ISSN: 2818-5331 Introduction to the 2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s DSDS in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025. The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s DSDS and 2024 to 2025 DSDS Report. To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s departmental strategy reports on Canada’s progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS. Commitments for the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat GOAL 10:ADVANCE RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TAKE ACTION ON INEQUALITY FSDS Context: This Goal’s focus on taking action on inequality and advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities draws inspiration from SDG Global Indicator Framework targets: 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard Social, economic, and environmental inequalities persist in Canada. These inequalities disproportionately affect people with multiple intersecting identity factors such as gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, faith community, Indigeneity, disability, sexual orientation, and low socioeconomic status. Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities Target: Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada) IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY DEPARTMENTAL ACTION PERFORMANCE INDICATOR STARTING POINT TARGET HOW THE DEPARTMENTAL ACTION CONTRIBUTES TO THE FSDS GOAL AND TARGET AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, TO CANADA’S 2030 AGENDA NATIONAL STRATEGY AND SDGS RESULTS ACHIEVED Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Ensure all employees […]

by Aaron Lampole Read more »

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.

by Aaron Lampole Read more »