Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2018

Management Statement for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2018

1. Introduction

This quarterly financial 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 under the Treasury Board Directive on Accounting Standards: GC 4400 Departmental Quarterly Financial Report. It should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the current year.

The quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

1.1 Canadian Transportation Agency Mandate

The Canadian Transportation Agency is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator which has, with respect to all matters necessary for the exercise of its jurisdiction, all the powers of a superior court.  

We operate within the context of the large and complex Canadian transportation system.

The Agency exercises its powers through its Members, who are appointed by the Governor-in-Council.

What we do: our three mandates

• We help ensure that the national transportation system runs efficiently and smoothly in the interests of all Canadians, including those who work and invest in it; the producers, shippers, travellers and businesses who rely on it; and the communities where it operates.
• We protect the human right of persons with disabilities to an accessible transportation network.
• We provide consumer protection for air passengers.

How we do it: our tools

To help advance these mandates, we have three tools at our disposal:

• Rule-making: We develop and apply ground rules that establish the rights and responsibilities of transportation service providers and users, and that level the playing field among competitors. These rules can take the form of binding regulations or less formal guidelines, codes of practice or interpretation notes.
• Dispute resolution: We resolve disputes that arise between transportation providers on the one hand, and their clients and neighbours on the other, using a range of tools from facilitation and mediation to arbitration and adjudication.
• Information provision: We provide information on the transportation system, the rights and responsibilities of transportation providers and users, and the Agency's legislation and services.

Further information on the Agency’s mandate, roles, responsibilities and programs can be found in Part III of the Estimates – Departmental Plan.

1.2 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 and Supplementary Estimates (as applicable) for the 2018-2019 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 money 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.

When Parliament is dissolved for the purposes of a general election, section 30 of the Financial Administration Act authorizes the Governor General, under certain conditions, to issue a special warrant authorizing the Government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. A special warrant is deemed to be an appropriation for the fiscal year in which it is issued.

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.

2. Highlights of Fiscal Quarter and Fiscal Year to Date (YTD) Results

• Details: Graph 1

  The figure illustrates the Agency's net budgetary authorities and expenditures for the quarter ending June 30, for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 where budgetary authorities and expenditures, in millions of dollars, is shown on the vertical axis and time period, in fiscal years, is shown on the horizontal axis.

  Time period: 2017-2018
  Net budgetary authorities: 30.91 million dollars
  Expenditures for the quarter ending June 30: 5.97 million dollars 

  Time period: 2018-2019
  Net budgetary authorities: 33.80 million dollars
  Expenditures for the quarter ending June 30: 6.70 million dollars

2.1 Statement of Authorities

The Agency’s total authorities available for use in 2018-2019, totalling $33,802,297, have increased by $2,888,131 when compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year as illustrated in the Statement of Authorities and in the Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object below. This increase is primarily attributable to the new funding received of $2,414,177 to support the Agency's modernization initiative, as announced in Budget 2018 , additional funding received ($599,745) to fund new collective agreements and a negative adjustment ($125,791) to reflect the revised Employee Benefit Plans (EBP) rate.

2.2 Statement of Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object

Compared to the previous year, total budgetary expenditures recorded in the first quarter increased by $728,002 from $5,971,651 to $6,699,653, as illustrated in the Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object below. The majority of this increase (80%, or $583,886 ) can be seen in the Personnel category. This increase is primarily due to the additional resources recruited to address the influx of air travel complaints as well as the increased rates of pay stemming from the renewal of collective agreements. Another notable increase can be seen in the Acquisition of Machinery and Equipment category.  This increase is primarily due to the acquisition of videoconference equipment, which will be used to facilitate oral hearings. 

With respect to all other budgetary expenditures by Standard Object, overall expenditures are similar to those of the previous fiscal year. Any difference is primarily attributable to the period in which the purchases were settled.

3. Risks and Uncertainties

Late in the first quarter of 2018-2019 fiscal year, the Agency received approval of additional authorities with an expanded mandate. The additional funding comes at a time when budgetary challenges continue to be compounded by externally-driven demands. Similar to the four previous quarters, the Agency again experienced higher demand for services especially those related to air travel complaints. Temporary resource decisions have been a result of the Agency's deliberate effort to manage the workload and expanded mandate pressures. The Agency will closely monitor new funds approved in June 2018 and continue to monitor reallocate resources to address operational pressures and ongoing priorities.

4. Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

Although there have been no significant changes in the nature of the Agency's operations or programs over the last quarter, the Agency will continue to exercise rigour and scrutiny in relation to its resources.

During the first quarter of 2018-2019, changes to the Agency senior management personnel were implemented.  Manon Fillion became the Chief Financial Officer of the Agency, replacing Carole Girard, effective August 13, 2018.

Approval by Senior Officials

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

Departmental Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)