Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for the Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department or agency's mandate and the government's priorities.

The mandate of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner is to review the activities of CSE to ensure it performs its duties and functions in accordance with the laws of Canada. This includes having due regard for the privacy of Canadians.  The Commissioner's office exists to support the Commissioner in the effective discharge of his mandate.

In order to fulfill this mandate the office incurs travel, hospitality and conference expenditures to:

• perform reviews in support of the mandate;
• attend and present at national and international forums related to the mandate of the Commissioner;
• provide learning opportunities to staff; and
• implement key government initiatives.

Total annual expenditures for travel, hospitality and conferences of the Office of the Communications Security Establishment Commissioner are summarized below.

Total annual expenditures (in thousands of dollars)

Expenditure Category	Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2019	Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2018	Variance 2019 to 2018
Travel Operational	0	4
Key stakeholders	60	2
Internal governance	0	0
Training	1	7
Other	0	0
Total	61	13	48
Hospitality	1	5	(4)
Conference Fees	4	3	1
TOTAL	66	21	45

Summary

There is a significant increase in total expenses (+$45 thousand) in fiscal year 2018–19, primarily due to a large increase in travel and a slight decrease (-$4 thousand) in hospitality from the previous year.

Travel

The increase from 2017–18 to 2018–19 was for stakeholder engagement. The Commissioner and senior officers of the office travelled to the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council meeting in held in Canberra, Australia. In addition, the Commissioner and a senior officer of the office travelled to London, England for a series of meetings with the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and senior members of his office to discuss legislative experiences in relation to Bill C-59, An Act respecting national security matters.

Hospitality

The major expenditures in fiscal year 2017–18 resulted from the office hosting the first in-person meeting of the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council meeting in Ottawa for two days in October 2017. There were no similar expenses in fiscal year 2018–19.

Conference Fees

Conference fees remained about the same.