Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2019
Introduction
This quarterly report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A).
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) works with partners to advance economic development in Canada's territories. The Agency supports, invests in and advocates for national, territorial and community level economic development; fosters growth and innovation; contributes to building capacity; and invests in foundational economic development projects in the territories. In addition, through the Northern Projects Management Office the Agency coordinates federal participation in the territorial environmental review processes and maintains the Crown consultation record for major projects.
Further details on CanNor's authorities, mandate and program activities may be found in the Departmental Plan and the Main Estimates.
Basis of Presentation
This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes CanNor's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the Agency, consistent with the Main Estimates, Supplementary Estimates (A) and other adjustments approved by Treasury Board, for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. 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.
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.
As part of the departmental performance reporting process, CanNor prepares its annual departmental financial statements on a full accrual basis in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies, which are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.
Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year to date (YTD) results
Statement of Authorities
Total authorities available for use for fiscal year 2019-2020 amounted to $67.5 million, a $16.5 million increase compared to 2018-2019. This variance is primarily attributable to additional funding of $14.7 million announced in Budget 2019.
Statement of Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object
Total expenditures by standard object for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, amounted to $15.5 million, an increase of $3.6 million over the $11.9 million reported for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. This variance is attributable to the timing of new or renewed funding under several transfer payment programs of $2.3 million, and the hiring of additional staff and associated employee benefits of $1.3 million, to deliver on those initiatives.
Other subsidies and payments reflects negative $156 thousand, due to the reclassification of expenditures incurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2019.
Risks and Uncertainties
While the North presents opportunities for economic development, growth and innovation, factors including its vast and remote geography, lack of infrastructure, connectivity challenges, the cost and access to energy, and shortage of skilled labour all contribute to a challenging operating environment. These factors create additional challenges for businesses and can also prevent Northerners from fully benefiting from economic development opportunities.
CanNor's key risks and response strategies are published in the Departmental Plan:
- Limited Economic Diversification - A high degree of reliance on the mining and oil/gas sector resulting in an increased vulnerability to the cyclical changes in commodity prices.
- Infrastructure Deficit - Higher capital and operating costs compared to southern Canada resulting from a core infrastructure deficit, including connectivity, constrain opportunities for northern economic development and impact the effectiveness of CanNor's programming.
- Labour Market - Competition within the limited labour pool in the North carries risks for recruitment and retention, which impacts the ability of businesses to grow and diversify.
Approved by:
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Paula Isaak
President
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Ross Miller, CPA, CMA
Chief Financial Officer
Statement of Authorities (unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars)
Fiscal year 2019-2020 | Fiscal year 2018-2019 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2020* | Used during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2019* | Used during the quarter December 31, 2018 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | |
Vote 1 - Net Operating | 19,095 | 5,008 | 11,583 | 15,240 | 3,765 | 9,523 |
Vote 5 - Transfer payments | 46,423 | 10,077 | 22,323 | 34,197 | 7,810 | 10,588 |
Budgetary statutory authorities | 1,955 | 378 | 1,135 | 1,582 | 308 | 925 |
Total authorities | 67,473 | 15,463 | 35,041 | 51,019 | 11,883 | 21,036 |
* includes only Authorities available for use and granted by Parliament at quarter-end. |
Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars)
Fiscal year 2019-2020 | Fiscal year 2018-2019 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2020 | Used during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 | Year-to-date used at quarter-end | Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2019 | Used during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 | Year- to- date used at quarter-end | |
Expenditures: | ||||||
Personnel | 14,387 | 3,817 | 9,515 | 11,441 | 2,532 | 7,761 |
Transportation and communications | 1,085 | 428 | 721 | 727 | 281 | 501 |
Information | 97 | 25 | 53 | 82 | 1 | 18 |
Professional and special services | 4,046 | 591 | 1,077 | 3,240 | 654 | 1,011 |
Rentals | 1,239 | 536 | 1,042 | 1,216 | 307 | 687 |
Repair and maintenance | 45 | 20 | 23 | 41 | 35 | 39 |
Utilities, materials and supplies | 127 | 20 | 53 | 53 | 5 | 27 |
Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 12 | 105 | 117 | 11 | 27 | 27 |
Transfer payments | 46,423 | 10,077 | 22,323 | 34,197 | 7,810 | 10,588 |
Other subsidies and payments | 12 | (156) | 117 | 11 | 231 | 377 |
Total budgetary expenditures | 67,473 | 15,463 | 35,041 | 51,019 | 11,883 | 21,036 |