Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences

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 department of Natural Resources Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.

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 NRCan support the Department’s mandate and the government’s priorities.

NRCan’s vision is to improve the quality of life of Canadians by creating a sustainable resource advantage. It seeks to fulfill this vision by working to: improve the competitiveness of the natural resource sectors; enable the sustainable development of Canada’s resources; and enhance the safety and security of citizens.

The Department is an established leader in science and technology in the fields of energy, forests, and minerals and metals and uses our expertise in earth sciences to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of our landmass. It develops policies, programs, and regulations that help create a sustainable resource advantage, supporting strong, competitive natural resource sectors that are environmentally and socially responsible. NRCan uses partnerships and international collaboration to help drive progress on natural resources issues that are important to Canadians. More broadly, the Department plays a critical role in Canada’s future, contributing to high-paying jobs, business investment and overall economic growth.

In support and development of its programs, NRCan incurs travel, hospitality and conference expenses. In 2010-11, NRCan spent approximately $19.7 million on travel, conferences and hospitality. A large portion of these expenses (32% of travel; 28% of conferences and 24% of hospitality expenses) were in support of the program activity ‘Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources’, which supports the competitiveness of Canada's natural resources at home and abroad by reducing trade and policy barriers, promoting Canadian products abroad, increasing productivity and encouraging investment in our natural resources.

Another significant portion of expenses (19% of travel; 32% of conferences and 31% of hospitality expenses) also supported the program activity ‘Clean Energy’, which develops and delivers energy science and technology, policies, programs, legislation and regulations to mitigate air emissions and reduce other environmental impacts associated with energy production and use.

For more information on NRCan's Plans and Priorities, see the 2011-12 Reports on Plans and Priorities.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of Natural Resources Canada are summarized below:

(*) Includes international travel that is part of a department’s program.