Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013

As required by the Treasury Board Directive for the Management of Expenditures on Travel, Hospitality and Conferences, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for the Office of the Communications Security Establishment for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.

This information is updated annually and does not contain information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by federal departments and agencies are related to supporting departmental mandate(s) and the government’s priorities.

The Communications Security Establishment Commissioner is to determine whether CSEC performs its duties and functions in accordance with the laws of Canada.  This includes having due regard for the privacy of Canadians.  The Commissioner’s office exists to support the Commissioner in the effective discharge of his mandate.

The duties of the Commissioner are set out under the following subsections of the National Defence Act:

273.63(2)

  1. to review the activities of the CSEC to ensure they comply with the law;
  2. in response to a complaint, to undertake any investigation that the Commissioner considers necessary; 
  3. to inform the Minister of National Defence and the Attorney General of Canada of any activity of Communications Security Establishment Canada that the Commissioner believes may not be in compliance with the law;

273.65(8)

to review and report to the Minister as to whether the activities carried out under a ministerial authorization are authorized;

273.63(3)

to submit an annual report to the Minister on the Commissioner’s activities and findings within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year;

and under the Section 15 of the Security of Information Act:

to receive information from persons who are permanently bound to secrecy and who seek to defend the release of classified information about Communications Security Establishment Canada on the grounds that it is in the public interest.

Further details on the legislation, mandate and the program may be found in the Report on Plans and Priorities and the Departmental Performance Report.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of the Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner are summarized below:

Total annual expenditures (thousands of dollars)
Expenditure CategoryExpenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2013
Travel – Public Servants 6 4
Travel – Non-Public Servants 1 1
Total Travel 7 5
Hospitality 1 1
Conference Fees 5 -
TOTAL 13 6

The decrease in total costs is mostly due to a reduction in costs related to conference fees. The Office’s involvement in conference activities will start up again in 13-14.

Approved by:

Jean-Pierre Plouffe
Commissioner

J. William Galbraith
Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada
December 17, 2013 

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