2011-2012 Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences Report
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 Veterans Review and Appeal Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. It also provides the variance explanations from the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.
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 for the most part directly related to supporting departmental mandate(s) and the government's priorities.
VRAB exists to ensure that Veterans, Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police members, and their families receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the law. VRAB does this by providing an independent avenue of appeal for disability decisions made by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). It is VRAB's job is to provide Veterans with fair, impartial, and accessible hearings, and to issue clear decisions in a timely manner.
Further detailed information on VRAB's mandate, priorities, and program activities can be found in the 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities.
Expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are made in support of VRAB's mandate and business objectives. The majority of travel expenditures relates to Veterans Review and Appeal Board Governor-in-Council members who must travel to approximately 30 locations across Canada, to conduct review hearings as well as other locations where there is sufficient demand.
Hospitality expenditures generally are incurred to build and maintain relationships with various Veterans' organizations. This allows members and staff to better understand and serve clients' needs.
Finally, in order to prepare VRAB's Members and employees to address the varying needs of the traditional and modern day Veterans, training and seminars are attended to acquire the latest information to better serve our clients.
Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of Veterans Review and Appeal Board are summarized below:
| Expenditure Category | VRAB Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012 (a) | VRAB Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2011 (b) | Variance (a - b) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel - Public Servants | $851 | $877 | ($26) |
| Travel - Non-Public Servants | $1 | $0 | $1 |
| International Travel by Minister and Minister's Staff | |||
| Total Travel | $852 | $877 | ($25) |
| Hospitality | $11 | $10 | $1 |
| Conference Fees | $1 | $2 | ($1) |
| TOTAL | $864 | $889 | ($25) |
Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year.
TRAVEL:
- Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental travel expenditures by public servants decreased mainly due to:
- An increased effort in managing travel spending by taking measures to allow savings like using teleconferences for meetings when the opportunity presented itself.
- Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental travel expenditures by public servants increased mainly due to:
- The travel expenses for a contractor to provide training not available locally, allowing a greater number of employees and Members to attend.
- Minister and Minister's Staff: Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, there were no departmental international travel expenditures.
HOSPITALITY:
- Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental hospitality expenditures increased mainly due to:
- An increased outreach to Veterans interest based groups.
CONFERENCE FEES:
- Compared to fiscal year 2010-2011, departmental conference fees expenditures decreased mainly due to:
- A restraint in spending by attending every second year.
- The promotion and encouragement to take advantage of and implement modern technology such as web-based conferences.