2017–18 Quarterly Financial Report – Q3

Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in operations, personnel and programs

1. 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. It should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates. The quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

Mandate

The Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada (the Office) is an independent agent of Parliament established to implement the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, which came into force in April 2007. The Office contributes to strengthening accountability and increases oversight of government operations by providing:

• public servants and members of the public with an independent and confidential process for receiving and investigating disclosures of wrongdoing in, or relating to, the federal public sector. It reports founded cases of wrongdoing to Parliament and makes recommendations to chief executives on corrective measures; and
• public servants and former public servants with a mechanism for making complaints of reprisal for the purpose of coming to a resolution. It investigates and can refer cases to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal.

Further details on the Office’s authority, mandate and program activities can be found in the Main Estimates (Part II) and in its corporate plans and reports.

Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the Office’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the Office consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the 2017-18 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 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.

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 Office uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual 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 the fiscal quarter and the fiscal year-to-date results

This section highlights the significant items that contributed to the variance in resources available for the year and net changes in actual expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, in comparison to the prior year.

From 2016-17 to 2017-18, total budgetary authorities available for use increased by $34,298 (0.6%). This change is mostly the result of:

• an increase of $76,735 in vote 1 authorities due to funding received for funding received for the 2017-18 collective bargaining.
• a decrease of $42,514 in budgetary statutory authorities due to the adjustment of the Employee Benefit Plan annual rate, from 17.2% in 2016-17 to 15.7% in 2017-18, as directed by the Treasury Board.

Budgetary expenditures used during the third quarter of 2017-18 increased by $174,361 (17.2%) as compared to the same quarter last year. The major changes in expenditures by standard object are summarized as follows:

• an increase of $127,982 in professional and special services primarily due to an increase in conciliation files and timing differences in billing and payments between 2016-17 and 2017-18.
• an increase of $67,798 in salary expenditures primarily due to the hiring of new employees.
• a decrease of $30,429 in rentals as the Office, which initially occupied 1.5 floors, ended one of its leases and is now occupying one single floor.
• an overall increase of $9,010 in other expenditures are attributable to the timing differences in billing and payments between 2016-17 and 2017-18.

3. ​Risks and Uncertainties

The Office continues to operate in a sensitive environment where there still exists a culture of resistance to whistleblowing within the federal public service due to various factors, including fear of reprisal. Decisions by individuals to disclose wrongdoing or submit a complaint of reprisal, the complexity of cases, as well as the legislative requirements and the Office’s service standards are major contributors to the workload. In turn, this drives the need to retain and recruit key skilled positions, such as investigators and case analysts.

Volume of cases does fluctuate by month throughout the year, and the complexity of each case can vary significantly. However, if there was a continued and significant increase in the number of cases and/or investigations, the Office runs the risk of not being able to process all files in a timely manner.

4. Significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs

There have been no significant changes during the current quarter related to operations, personnel or program.

5. Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by:

Ottawa, Canada

Feburary 28, 2018