Quarterly Financial Report: October 1 to December 31, 2017

Management statement for the quarter ended December 31, 2017

Introduction

This quarterly report has been prepared as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. It should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for fiscal year 2017–2018.

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

The Canada School of Public Service (the School) was created on April 1, 2004, when the legislative provisions of Part IV of the Public Service Modernization Act came into force. The School is a departmental corporation in the Treasury Board portfolio, and its mission is set out in the Canada School of Public Service Act.

The School was created to ensure that employees of the core public service have the competencies and common knowledge required to serve Canadians efficiently and effectively. To achieve this goal, the School offers a core curriculum that focuses on the key skills and knowledge required by a dynamic public service that must constantly adapt to the needs of its stakeholders and Canadians.

The School is the common learning service provider for the core public service. It has a legislative mandate to provide a range of learning activities to build individual and organizational capacity and management excellence within the public service. The School is in a unique position to offer relevant, affordable and quality learning services in both official languages to all public service employees across the country, as well as to functional communities and public service organizations.

The School's core responsibility is to "provide common learning to all employees of the core public service to serve Canadians with excellence."

Basis of presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using expenditure-based accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the School's spending authorities granted by Parliament, and those used by the department consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for fiscal year 2017–2018. This report has also been guided by 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 through appropriation acts in the form of annually approved limits 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 School uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements, which are part of the departmental results reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

Highlights of the quarter ended December 31, 2017, and fiscal year 2017–2018 results to date

1. Total authorities for fiscal year 2017–2018

• The School has two sources of funding:
  • appropriated funding as voted by Parliament for those activities to be paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund;
  • statutory funding authority for the respending of revenue and contributions to the employee benefit plans.
• Total authorities available in fiscal year 2017–2018 amount to $91.2 million. This is $3.5 million or 3.7% lower than the $94.7 million available in fiscal year 2016–2017. The $91.2 million comprises $68.2 million in voted appropriations and $23 million in statutory funding.
• Over a 3-year period that ended in fiscal year 2016–2017, the School underwent a significant transformation and implemented a new funding model that is primarily based on appropriations. At the same time, the School's appropriations were reduced by $3.3 million or 4.6%, from $71.5 million at the end of the third quarter in 2016–2017 to $68.2 million in 2017–2018.
• The statutory funding authority of $23 million in fiscal year 2017–2018 consists of $7 million of forecasted respendable revenue, $7.9 million of respendable revenue brought forward from the previous fiscal year under the provisions of section 18(2) of the Canada School of Public Service Act, and $8.1 million for employee benefit plans.

2. Planned expenditures for fiscal year 2017–2018

• The School has planned expenditures of $91.2 million for fiscal year 2017–2018, consisting of $67.6 million for salaries and benefits and $23.6 million for operating and maintenance.

3. Expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 2017

• Compared to the same quarter last fiscal year, overall expenditures decreased by $2.9 million ($16.8 million in 2017–2018 versus $19.7 million in 2016–2017), primarily in salaries and professional services.

4. Year-to-date expenditures as at December 31, 2017

• Overall expenditures decreased by $9.7 million for the 3 quarters ending December 31, 2017, compared to the same period last year ($45.7 million versus $55.4 million). This is primarily due to decreased expenditures in salaries, professional services and rentals, partially offset by an increase in other subsidies and payments as a result of Phoenix salary overpayments.

Risks and uncertainties

As previously noted, funding from appropriations has declined by 4.6% since fiscal year 2016–2017. Under the new funding model, which is primarily based on appropriations, funding for the School is mostly fixed. In response to this tighter financial context, the School has adopted a prudent and deliberate financial strategy, grounded in a rigorous budget management process and measures to contain costs. From the revenue accumulated as a result, the School is projecting to fund the development of high-quality learning content and innovation in learning initiatives.

Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

No significant changes were noted during the third quarter of 2017–2018.

Approval by senior officials

Statement of authorities (unaudited)

Departmental budgetary expenditures by standard object (unaudited)

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