Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2019–2020

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency’s mandate and the government’s priorities.

The CNSC’s travel, hospitality and conference expenditures support the delivery of the following core programs and services to Canadians:

• regulating the development, production and use of nuclear energy in Canada to protect health, safety and the environment
• regulating the production, possession, use and transport of nuclear substances, and the production, possession and use of prescribed equipment and prescribed information
• implementing measures respecting international control of the development, production, transport and use of nuclear energy and substances, including measures respecting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices
• disseminating objective scientific, technical and regulatory information concerning the CNSC’s activities, and about how the development, production, possession, transport and use of nuclear substances affect the environment and the health and safety of persons

For more information on the CNSC’s mandate and core programs and/or services, please consult the CNSC’s Departmental Results Report or Departmental Plan.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Expenditure category	Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2020 ($ thousands)	Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2019 ($ thousands)	Variance ($ thousands)
Travel
Operational activities	$2,810	$3,103	($293)
Key stakeholders	$576	$692	($116)
Internal governance	$308	$278	$30
Training	$618	$936	($318)
Other	$63	$59	$4
A. Total travel	$4,375	$5,068	($693)
B. Hospitality	$140	$172	($32)
C. Conference fees	$116	$187	($71)
Total (A+B+C)	$4,631	$5,427	($796)
International travel by minister and minister’s staff* (included in travel)	N/A	N/A	N/A

* The CNSC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Natural Resources, whose travel expenses are included in Natural Resources Canada’s Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences.

Significant variances compared with previous fiscal year

Travel: Overall decrease as a result of the elimination of planned travel in the fourth quarter of 2019–20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operational activities: Compared with 2018–19, expenditures decreased primarily as a result of the cancellation of planned travel in the fourth quarter of 2019–20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key stakeholders: Compared with 2018–19, expenditures decreased primarily as a result of the cancellation of planned travel in the fourth quarter of 2019–20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Internal governance: Compared with 2018–19, expenditures increased primarily as a result of travel costs incurred to support the Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission, as part of which an international team of senior nuclear and radiation safety experts met with representatives of the Commission.

Training: Compared with 2018–19, expenditures decreased as a result of the cancellation of planned travel in the fourth quarter of 2019–20 because of the COVID‑19 pandemic and the implementation of internal cost containment measures.

Other: No significant changes.

Hospitality: Compared with fiscal year 2018–19, expenditures decreased as a result of costs incurred in that year to support participation by Commission staff and stakeholders in public hearings for the Bruce and Pickering nuclear generating stations.

Conference fees: Compared with fiscal year 2018–19, expenditures decreased primarily as a result of a decrease in conference participation by the Commission’s technical support staff.