2015-2016 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 (VRAB) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. 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 related to activities that support a departmental or agency mandate and the government’s priorities.

The Board exists to ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police members, and their families receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the law. The Board does this by providing an independent avenue of appeal for disability decisions made by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The Board's mission is to provide Veterans with timely, respectful hearings and fair, plain-language decisions.

Further detailed information on the Board's mandate, priorities, and program activities can be found in the 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities.

Expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences are made in support of the Board's mandate and business objectives. The majority of travel expenditures relates to members who must travel to locations across Canada to conduct Review hearings for Veterans.

Minimal hospitality expenditures generally are incurred to build and maintain relationships with various Veterans' organizations and support intensive professional development seminars. This allows members and staff to continuously improve program delivery.

Finally, in order to prepare the Board's Members and employees to address the varying needs of the traditional and modern day Veterans, they attend training and seminars to acquire the latest information to provide the best service.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of Veterans Review and Appeal Board are summarized below:

(in thousands of dollars)
Expenditure Category

 		 VRAB
Expenditures
for the year
ending
March 31, 2016
(a)		 VRAB
Expenditures
for the year
ending
March 31, 2015
(b)		 Variance (a - b)

 
Travel - Public Servants $501 $580 ($79)
Travel - Non-Public Servants $2 $14 ($12)
International Travel by Minister and Minister's Staff - - $0
Total Travel $503 $594 ($91)
Hospitality $3 $10 ($7)
Conference Fees $3 $2 $1
Total $509 $606 ($97)

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year.

TRAVEL:

  1. Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, travel expenditures by public servants decreased mainly due to:
     
    • A more efficient scheduling model and using teleconferences, videoconferences and WebEx for meetings and training when the opportunity presented itself.
       
  2. Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, departmental travel expenditures by non-public servants decreased mainly due to:
     
    • Fewer requirements for Board Member selection committee meetings pending the government-wide review of Governor-in-Council appointment processes. Use of teleconference/videoconference for these meetings.

HOSPITALITY:

  • Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, hospitality expenditures decreased mainly due to:
     
    • Only one Members' Combined Training session held as opposed to two in previous years.

CONFERENCE FEES:

  • Compared to fiscal year 2014-15, conference fees expenditures remained relatively the same.
 
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