Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in operations, personnel and program
A) Introduction
Statistics Canada's mandate
Statistics Canada (the Agency) is a member of the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio.
Statistics Canada's role is to ensure that Canadians have access to a trusted source of statistics on Canada that meets their highest priority needs.
The Agency's mandate derives primarily from the Statistics Act. The Act requires that the Agency collects, compiles, analyzes and publishes statistical information on the economic, social, and general conditions of the country and its people. It also requires that Statistics Canada conduct the census of population and the census of agriculture every fifth year, and protects the confidentiality of the information with which it is entrusted.
Statistics Canada also has a mandate to co-ordinate and lead the national statistical system. The Agency is considered a leader, among statistical agencies around the world, in co‑ordinating statistical activities to reduce duplication and reporting burden.
More information on Statistics Canada's mandate, roles, responsibilities and programs can be found in the 2016–2017 Main Estimates and in the Statistics Canada 2016–2017 Report on Plans and Priorities.
The quarterly financial report
- should be read in conjunction with the 2016–2017 Main Estimates and the 2016-2017 Supplementary Estimates;
- has been prepared by management, as required by Section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act, and in the form and manner prescribed by Treasury Board;
- has not been subject to an external audit or review.
Statistics Canada has the authority to collect and spend revenue from other government departments and agencies, as well as from external clients, for statistical services and products.
Basis of presentation
This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the Agency's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the Agency consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2016–2017 fiscal year. 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 moneys 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.
The Agency uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental results reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.
B) Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year-to-date results
This section highlights the significant items that contributed to the net increase in resources available for the year, as well as actual expenditures for the quarter ended December 31st.
Description for Chart 1: Comparison of gross budgetary authorities and expenditures as of December 31st, 2015, and December 31st, 2016, in thousands of dollars
This bar graph shows Statistics Canada's budgetary authorities and expenditures, in thousands of dollars, as of December 31st, 2015 and 2016:
- As at December 31st, 2015
- Net budgetary authorities: $535,941
- Vote netting authority: $120,000
- Total authority: $655,941
- Net expenditures for the period ending December 31st: $378,686
- Year-to-date revenues spent from vote netting authority for the period ending December 31st: $44,348
- Total expenditures: $423,034
- As at December 31st, 2016
- Net budgetary authorities: $775,438
- Vote netting authority: $120,000
- Total authority: $895,438
- Net expenditures for the period ending December 31st: $563,811
- Year-to-date revenues spent from vote netting authority for the period ending December 31st: $52,285
- Total expenditures: $616,096
Chart 1 outlines the gross budgetary authorities, which represent the resources available for use for the year as of December 31st.
Significant changes to authorities
Total authorities available for 2016–2017 have increased by $239.5 million, or 36.5%, from the previous year, from $655.9 million to $895.4 million (Chart 1). This net increase was mostly the result of the following:
- Increase for the Census of Population program ($210.6 million), as well as for the Census of Agriculture ($10 million);
- Increase for the Survey of Financial Security and Annual Household Wealth ($4.9 million);
- Increase in the value of the carry forward by $17.6 million.
In addition to the appropriations allocated to the Agency through the Main Estimates, Statistics Canada also has vote net authority within Vote 1, which entitles the Agency to spend revenues collected from other government departments, agencies, and external clients to provide statistical services. Vote netting authority is stable at $120 million in each of the fiscal years 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Significant changes to expenditures
Year-to-date net expenditures recorded to the end of the third quarter increased by $185.1 million, or 48.9% from the previous year, from $378.7 million to $563.8 million. (See Table A: Variation in Departmental Expenditures by Standard Object.)
Most of the increase in spending is due to the 2016 Census of Population program. Statistics Canada spent approximately 72.7% of its authorities by the end of the third quarter, compared with 70.7% in the same quarter of 2015–2016.
| Departmental Expenditures Variation by Standard Object | Q3 year-to-date variation between fiscal year 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| $'000 | % | |
| (01) Personnel | 28,319 | 7.5 |
| (02) Transportation and communications | 49,393 | 465.7 |
| (03) Information | 4,102 | 80.6 |
| (04) Professional and special services | 107,651 | 893.2 |
| (05) Rentals | 2,062 | 17.2 |
| (06) Repair and maintenance | (189) | (24.7) |
| (07) Utilities, materials and supplies | 159 | 11.0 |
| (08) Acquisition of land, buildings and works | 47 | - |
| (09) Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 1,546 | 46.7 |
| (10) Transfer payments | 100 | - |
| (12) Other subsidies and payments | (128) | (80.0) |
| Total gross budgetary expenditures | 193,062 | 45.6 |
| Less revenues netted against expenditures | ||
| Revenues | 7,937 | 17.9 |
| Total net budgetary expenditures | 185,125 | 48.9 |
| Note: Explanations are provided for variances of more than $1 million. | ||
Description for Table A: Departmental expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)
This table displays the variance of departmental expenditures by standard object between fiscal 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The variance is calculated for year to date expenditures as at the end of the third quarter. The row headers provide information by standard object. The column headers provide information in thousands of dollars and percentage variance for the year to date variation.
01) Personnel: The increase was mainly due to the hiring to conduct census-related activities.
02) Transportation and Communications: The increase is explained by travel expenses for public servants and enumerators during the census collection period, as well as postage expenses for mailing of Census questionnaires and other related materials.
03) Information: The increase was the result of advertising costs associated with the census media plan.
04) Professional and special services: The increase was due to remuneration for approximately 35,000 temporary census staff, recruited to participate in census collection and processing activities.
05) Rentals: The increase was mainly due to building space rented for the regional census offices during the census collection.
09) Acquisition of machinery and equipment: Purchase of new software licenses as well as additional security equipment for the headquarters building.
Revenues: The increase is primarily the result of timing differences in the receipt of funds for scheduled key deliverables.
C) Risks and uncertainties
Many of the Agency's collective agreements are currently expired and negotiations continue between the unions and Treasury Board. In 2016–2017, the Agency continues to monitor its financial situation in anticipation of signature of these agreements. Once the collective agreements are signed, the strategy will be finalized to address the resulting financial impact within the corporate integrated strategic planning process.
In addition, Statistics Canada continues to work collaboratively with its service providers to ensure affordable and timely delivery of its key statistical programs.
Statistics Canada also uses risk management and a risk-based decision-making process to prioritize and conduct its business. In order to effectively do so, the Agency identifies its key risks and develops corresponding mitigation strategies in its Corporate Risk Profile.
D) Significant changes to operations, personnel and programs
In contrast with last year, Statistics Canada is undertaking major activities this fiscal year that are critical to the success of the 2016 Census of Population. These activities include finalizing the set-up of census field offices, hiring field staff, collecting data, follow-up with respondents, processing of returns, closing census field offices and processing facilities, developing and testing dissemination systems and processes, and starting data quality and evaluation studies. These activities culminate in the first of the census data releases, the Population and Dwelling Counts, in February 2017. Approximately 35,000 temporary census staff were hired for census collection and processing for the period from April through mid-September. The collection and processing activities of the 2016 Census program will wind down in the third quarter.
A new Chief Statistician was appointed on September 19, 2016.
Approval by senior officials
The original version was signed by
Anil Arora, Chief Statistician
Stéphane Dufour, Chief Financial Officer
Date signed February 10, 2017
| Fiscal year 2016–2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31st, 2017 | Expended during the quarter ended December 31st, 2016 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | |
| in thousands of dollars | |||
| Expenditures | |||
| (01) Personnel | 537,192 | 129,414 | 405,962 |
| (02) Transportation and communications | 91,884 | 4,299 | 60,000 |
| (03) Information | 13,896 | 718 | 9,190 |
| (04) Professional and special services | 209,513 | 5,320 | 119,704 |
| (05) Rentals | 21,315 | 5,233 | 14,017 |
| (06) Repair and maintenance | 5,730 | 195 | 577 |
| (07) Utilities, materials and supplies | 6,411 | 505 | 1,609 |
| (08) Acquisition of land, buildings and works | - | 47 | 47 |
| (09) Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 9,342 | 2,786 | 4,858 |
| (10) Transfer payments | 100 | - | 100 |
| (12) Other subsidies and payments | 55 | 16 | 32 |
| Total gross budgetary expenditures | 895,438 | 148,533 | 616,096 |
| Less revenues netted against expenditures | |||
| Revenues | 120,000 | 25,708 | 52,285 |
| Total revenues netted against expenditures | 120,000 | 25,708 | 52,285 |
| Total net budgetary expenditures | 775,438 | 122,825 | 563,811 |
| Fiscal year 2015–2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31st, 2016 | Expended during the quarter ended December 31st, 2015 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | |
| in thousands of dollars | |||
| Expenditures | |||
| (01) Personnel | 484,748 | 131,624 | 377,643 |
| (02) Transportation and communications | 38,602 | 4,354 | 10,607 |
| (03) Information | 17,340 | 2,876 | 5,088 |
| (04) Professional and special services | 56,557 | 5,163 | 12,053 |
| (05) Rentals | 25,410 | 1,042 | 11,955 |
| (06) Repair and maintenance | 7,559 | 289 | 766 |
| (07) Utilities, materials and supplies | 11,104 | 735 | 1,450 |
| (08) Acquisition of land, buildings and works | - | - | - |
| (09) Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 14,437 | 827 | 3,312 |
| (10) Transfer payments | 100 | - | - |
| (12) Other subsidies and payments | 84 | 20 | 160 |
| Total gross budgetary expenditures | 655,941 | 146,930 | 423,034 |
| Less revenues netted against expenditures | |||
| Revenues | 120,000 | 24,651 | 44,348 |
| Total revenues netted against expenditures | 120,000 | 24,651 | 44,348 |
| Total net budgetary expenditures | 535,941 | 122,279 | 378,686 |
Description for Appendix A: Departmental expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)
Table 1:
This table displays the departmental expenditures by standard object for the fiscal year 2016-2017. The row headers provide information by standard object for expenditures and revenues. The column headers provide information in thousands of dollars for planned expenditures for the year ending March 31; expended during the quarter ended December 31st; and year to date used at quarter-end 2016-2017. Table 2:
This table displays the departmental expenditures by standard object for the fiscal year 2015-2016. The row headers provide information by standard object for expenditures and revenues. The column headers provide information in thousands of dollars for planned expenditures for the year ending March 31; expended during the quarter ended December 31st; and year to date used at quarter-end 2015-2016.
| Fiscal year 2016–2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total available for use for the year ending March 31st, 2017Footnote 1 | Used during the quarter ended December 31st, 2016 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | |
| in thousands of dollars | |||
| Vote 1 — Net operating expenditures | 696,601 | 103,116 | 504,683 |
| Statutory authority — Contribution to employee benefit plans | 78,837 | 19,709 | 59,128 |
| Total budgetary authorities | 775,438 | 122,825 | 563,811 |
|
|||
| Fiscal year 2015–2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total available for use for the year ending March 31st, 2016Footnote 1 | Used during the quarter ended December 31st, 2015 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | |
| in thousands of dollars | |||
| Vote 1 — Net operating expenditures | 466,863 | 105,009 | 326,877 |
| Statutory authority — Contribution to employee benefit plans | 69,078 | 17,270 | 51,809 |
| Total budgetary authorities | 535,941 | 122,279 | 378,686 |
|
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Description for Appendix B: Statement of authorities (unaudited)
Table 1:
This table displays the departmental authorities for the fiscal year 2016-2017. The row headers provide information by type of authority, Vote 1 – Net operating expenditures, Statutory authority and Total Budgetary authorities. The column headers provide information in thousands of dollars for Total available for use for the year ending March 31; used during the quarter ended December 31st; and year to date used at quarter-end for 2016-2017. Table 2:
This table displays the departmental authorities for the fiscal year 2015-2016. The row headers provide information by type of authority, Vote 1 – Net operating expenditures, Statutory authority and Total Budgetary authorities. The column headers provide information in thousands of dollars for Total available for use for the year ending March 31; Used during the quarter ended December 31st; and year to date used at quarter-end for 2015-2016.