Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for Fiscal Year 2015-2016

Introduction

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the respective annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conference fees for the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (ORSCC) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. It also provides the variance explanations from the previous fiscal year for each type of expenditure.

Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conference fees incurred by federal departments and agencies are related to activities that support a departmental or agency mandate and the government's priorities.

Mandate and Programs

Created by an Act of Parliament in 1875, the Supreme Court of Canada is Canada’s final court of appeal.  It serves Canadians by deciding legal issues of public importance, thereby contributing to the development of all branches of law applicable within Canada.  The independence of the Court, the quality of its work and the esteem in which it is held both in Canada and abroad contribute significantly as foundations for a secure, strong and democratic country founded on the Rule of Law.  The Supreme Court of Canada is an important national institution, positioned at the pinnacle of the judicial branch of government in Canada, separate from and independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.

The ORSCC provides all necessary services and support for the Court to process, hear and decide cases. It also serves as the interface between litigants and the Court.

The ORSCC has a single strategic outcome: The administration of Canada's final court of appeal is effective and independent. This strategic outcome is further supported by three programs: Court operations; Payment to Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada pursuant to the Judges Act; and Internal services.

Further details on the ORSCC's mandate and programs may be found in the Report on Plans and Priorities 2015-2016.

Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada

Significant Variances Compared to the Previous Fiscal Year

This section provides a brief explanation of significant variances from the previous year's annual expenditures for each category.

Travel

1. Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, the ORSCC's travel expenditures by public servants decreased by $8K, mainly due to a general decrease in operational travel costs; no significant variances to be noted.
2. Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, the ORSCC’s travel expenditures by non-public servants increased by $57K, mainly due to a general increase in operational travel costs; no significant variances to be noted.

Hospitality

Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, the ORSCC's hospitality expenditures decreased by $194K, mainly due to specific events occurring in 2014-15 and which were not repeated in 2015-16, such as:

• The ‘7^ème Conférence des chefs d’institution’ for the ‘Association des Cours Constitutionnelles ayant en Partage l’Usage du Français’ (ACCPUF); and
• The quinquennial Reunion of Supreme Court of Canada Law Clerks.

Conference fees

There have been no significant variances in comparison to fiscal year 2014-2015.

Approval by Senior Officials

Roger Bilodeau, Q.C., Registrar
October 26, 2016

Catherine Laforce, Chief Financial Officer
October 26, 2016