ARCHIVED - Canadian Transportation Agency

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

This page has been archived.

Section III – Supplementary Information

3.1 Organizational Information

The Agency exercises its powers through its seven Members, appointed by the Governor in Council: a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and five full-time Members. The Minister can also appoint up to three temporary Members.

The Chairman is accountable for the Agency's single program. All appointed Agency Members are accountable for making quasi-judicial decisions on individual matters before the Agency. Agency employees advise and support Members with these proceedings.

The Agency's organizational structure comprises four branches: the Rail and Marine Transportation Branch, the Air and Accessible Transportation Branch, the Legal Services and Secretariat Branch, and the Corporate Management Branch. The head of each branch as well as Communications and Internal Audit and Evaluation report to the Chairman.

The two program branches, the Rail and Marine Transportation Branch and the Air and Accessible Transportation Branch, relate to the Agency's regulatory functions. The Legal Services and Secretariat Branch performs regulatory activities and the Corporate Management Branch provides administrative support.

The Agency's headquarters are located in the National Capital Region. Agency personnel working in field offices in six cities across Canada carry out air and accessibility enforcement activities. More information about the role and the structure of the Agency can be found at its Web site at www.cta.gc.ca/about-nous/index_e.html.

3.2 Financial Performance Overview

As with most administrative tribunals, approximately 82 per cent of the Agency's expenditures are related to personnel costs. The Agency does not have any major capital projects. Other operating expenditures relate to the delivery of Agency activities and range from the costs associated with holding public hearings to the cost of ensuring that Agency employees have the proper electronic tools to do their jobs.

Financial Summary Tables

The Agency has one program activity – the economic regulation of the federal transportation system.

Table 1 Comparison of Planned to Actual Spending (including FTEs)

	2004–2005	2005–2006	2006–2007
(thousands of dollars)	Actual	Actual	Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual
Economic regulation of the federal transportation system *	27,176	27,633	26,817	26,817	27,835	26,551
Less: Non-Respendable revenue	(80)	(129)	0	0	(92)	(92)
Plus: Cost of services received without charge	3,715	3,710	3,483	3,483	3,421	3,421
Total Agency Spending	30,811	31,214	30,300	30,300	31,164	29,880
Full-time Equivalents	270	269	267	267	267	250

* Includes contributions to employee benefit plans.

Explanation of variances

The planned spending for the Agency in 2006–2007 was $26.8 million, however, the Agency concluded the year with a revised authority of $27.8 million. The change was due to an increase in appropriations for collective bargaining ($0.3 million) and the operating budget carry forward ($1.0 million) offset by a slight decrease in the employee benefit plan ($0.3 million).

Overall, the Agency's total authority in 2006–2007 was $27.8 million; however, the Agency concluded the year with actual spending of $26.6 million. The decrease of $1.2 million is primarily due to program-specific carry-forwards.

Table 2 Resources by Program Activity (thousands of dollars)

2006–2007 Budgetary
Program Activity: Economic regulation of the federal transportation system
	Operating	Contributions and other Transfer Payments	Total: Gross Budgetary Expenditures	Less: Respendable Revenue	Total: Net Budgetary Expenditures	Total
Main Estimates	26,817	0	26,817	0	26,817	26,817
Planned Spending	26,817	0	26,817	0	26,817	26,817
Total Authorities	27,835	0	27,835	92	27,743	27,743
Actual Spending	26,551	0	26,551	92	26,459	26,459

Table 3 Voted and Statutory Items (thousands of dollars)

				2006–2007
Vote	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual
	Canadian Transportation Agency
35	Operating expenditures	23,173	23,173	24,573	23,289
(S)	Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets	0	0	65	65
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	3,644	3,644	3,197	3,197
	Total	26,817	26,817	27,835	26,551

Table 4 Services Received Without Charge

(thousands of dollars)	2006–2007
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada	1,870
Contributions covering employer's share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) (excluding revolving funds). Employer's contribution to employees' insured benefits plans and associated expenditures paid by TBS	1,537
Worker's compensation coverage provided by Human Resources and Social Development Canada	14
Salary and associated expenditures of legal services provided by the Department of Justice Canada	0
Total 2006–2007 Services received without charge	3,421

Table 5 Sources of Non-respendable Revenue

(thousands of dollars)	2004–2005	2005–2006	2006–2007
	Actual	Actual	Main Estimates	Planned Revenue	Total Authorities	Actual
Refunds of previous years' expenditures	28.2	104.7	0.0	0.0	48.1	48.1
Administrative Monetary Penalties	50.8	24.0	0.0	0.0	40.0	40.0
Sales of Goods and Services	1.4	0.1	0.0	0.0	4.1	4.1
Total Non-respendable revenue	80.4	128.8	0.0	0.0	92.2	92.2

Table 6 Resource Requirements by Branch (thousands of dollars)

2006–2007
Branches	Planned Spending	Actual
Chairman's Office	3,584	3,397
Corporate Management	5,626	5,884
Rail and Marine Transportation	5,867	5,444
Air and Accessible Transportation	8,576	8,792
Legal Services and Secretariat	3,164	3,034
Total	26,817	26,551

Table 7-A 2006–2007 User Fee Reporting - User Fees Act

A. User Fee	Fee Type	Fee Setting Authority	Date Last Modified	2006–2007					Planning Years
				Forecast Revenue ($000)	Actual Revenue ($000)	Full Cost ($000)	Performance Standard	Perfor-mance Results	Fiscal Year	Forecast Revenue ($000)	Estimated Full Cost ($000)
Fees charged for the processing of access requests filed under the Access to Information Act (ATIA)	Other products and services (O)	Access to Information Act	1992	< 1	< 1	5	Responses provided within 30 days following receipt of request; the response time may be extended pursuant to section 9 of the ATIA. Notice of extension to be sent within 30 days after receipt of request The Access to Information Act provides fuller details: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/A-1/218072.html	60-day processing standard met 83 percent of the time.	07-08	< 1	9
									08-09	< 1	9
									09-10	< 1	9
			Total (O)	< 1	< 1	5		Total	07-08	< 1	9
								Total	08-09	< 1	9
								Total	09-10	< 1	9

Table 7-B 2006–2007 User Fee Reporting - Policy on Service Standards for External Fees

Supplementary information on Service Standards for External Fees can be found at www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/dpr3/06-07/index_e.asp.

Table 8 Financial Statements

Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accrual accounting principles. The unaudited supplementary information presented in the financial tables in the Departmental Performance Report is prepared on a modified cash basis of accounting in order to be consistent with appropriations-based reporting. Note 3 of the financial statements reconciles these two accounting methods.

CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION AGENCY

Statement of Management Responsibility

Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2007 and all information contained in these statements rests with Agency management. These financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Treasury Board Accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector.

Management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of the information in these financial statements. Some of the information in the financial statements is based on management's best estimates and judgment and gives due consideration to materiality. To fulfil its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts that provides a centralized record of the Agency's financial transactions. Financial information submitted to the Public Accounts of Canada and included in the Agency's Departmental Performance Report is consistent with these financial statements.

Management maintains a system of financial management and internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance that financial information is reliable, that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, are executed in accordance with prescribed regulations, within Parliamentary authorities, and are properly recorded to maintain accountability of Government funds. Management also seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of data in its financial statements by careful selection, training and development of qualified staff, by organizational arrangements that provide appropriate divisions of responsibility, and by communication programs aimed at ensuring that regulations, policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the Agency.

The Agency has established an internal audit infrastructure that is effective, independent and objective, consistent with Treasury Board policy, managed by a dedicated resource reporting directly to the Deputy Head. The Agency's Audit Committee is chaired by the Deputy Head, with two other Agency Members, who are independent of operational functions. The Audit Committee approves the annual risk-based internal audit plan, budgets and reports.

The financial statements of the Agency have not been audited.

 

Canadian Transportation Agency
Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the year ended March 31st

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Operating Expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	23,588,036	25,535,362
Accommodation	1,869,734	2,080,128
Professional and special services	1,482,610	1,274,736
Transportation and telecommunication	964,909	930,094
Amortization of tangible capital assets	663,932	726,644
Repair and maintenance	337,109	408,760
Rentals	272,285	307,452
Utilities	219,453	202,843
Information	160,818	169,059
Materials & supplies	97,434	64,565
Loss on write-down of tangible capital assets	23,152	2,959
Loss on disposal of tangible capital assets	10,135	46,198
Other	831	2,407
Total Expenses	29,690,438	31,751,207
Revenues
Revenue from fines	40,095	24,000
Sales of goods and services	4,094	116
Gains on disposal of tangible capital assets	57	3,036
Total Revenues	44,246	27,152
Net Cost of Operations	29,646,192	31,724,055

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Canadian Transportation Agency
Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) at March 31^st

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
ASSETS
Financial Assets
Accounts receivable from external parties	6,402	39,233
Receivables from other Federal Government departments and agencies	476,715	97,972
Employee advances	12,850	16,060
Total financial assets	495,967	153,265
Non-Financial Assets
Prepaid expenses	177,746	200,435
Inventory	100,544	92,292
Tangible capital assets (Note 4)	2,624,596	2,514,552
Total non-financial assets	2,902,886	2,807,279
TOTAL	3,398,853	2,960,544
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable & accrued liabilities to external parties	1,441,416	1,184,951
Accounts payable to other Federal Government departments and agencies	119,842	341,842
Vacation pay and compensatory leave	909,520	1,072,306
Employee severance benefits (Note 5)	4,153,663	4,128,421
	6,624,441	6,727,520
Equity of Canada	(3,225,588)	(3,766,976)
TOTAL	3,398,853	2,960,544

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Canadian Transportation Agency
Statement of Equity of Canada (unaudited) at March 31st

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Equity of Canada, beginning of the year	(3,766,976)	(3,533,582)
Net cost of operations	(29,646,192)	(31,724,055)
Current year appropriations used (Note 3a))	26,550,696	27,633,407
Revenue not available for spending	(44,151)	(27,152)
Refund of previous year expenditures	(48,096)	(104,682)
Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund (Note 3c))	308,237	279,509
Services provided without charge by other Federal Government departments and agencies (Note 6)	3,420,894	3,709,579
Equity of Canada, end of year	(3,225,588)	(3,766,976)

The accompanying notes and schedules form part of this Statement.

Canadian Transportation Agency
Statement of Cash Flow (unaudited) for the year ended March 31st

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Operating Activities
Net cost of operations	29,646,192	31,724,055
Non-cash items:
Amortization of tangible capital assets	(663,932)	(726,644)
Loss on disposal and write-down of tangible capital assets	(33,287)	(49,157)
Services provided without charge by other Federal Government departments and agencies	(3,420,894)	(3,709,579)
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
Increase in accounts receivable	345,912	30,774
Increase (decrease) in employee advances	(3,210)	102
Increase (decrease) in pre-paids	(22,689)	22,351
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(34,465)	376,773
Decrease in vacation pay and compensatory leave	162,786	26,978
(Increase) in employee severance benefits	(25,241)	(432,049)
Increase in inventory	8,252	100
Cash used by operating activities	25,959,424	27,263,704
Capital investment activities
Net acquisitions of tangible capital assets	807,262	645,956
Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets	-	(128,578)
Cash used by capital investment activities	807,262	517,378
Financing activities
Net Cash provided by Government of Canada	26,766,686	27,781,082

The accompanying notes and schedules form part of this Statement.

Canadian Transportation Agency
Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited) Year ended March 31, 2007

1. Authority and Objectives

The Canadian Transportation Agency (the Agency ) was established on July 1, 1996, under the Canada Transportation Act, (S.C. 1996, c. 10) (the Act), as the continuation of the National Transportation Agency. As an independent quasi-judicial tribunal, the Agency has a multi-faceted role. It is an economic regulator, licensing authority, accessibility facilitator and aeronautical authority. It has the power of a superior court to issue decisions and order on matters within its jurisdiction. Under the Act and related legislation, it has various powers to help implement the federal government's transportation policy. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is appointed by the Governor-in-Council.

The objective of the Agency is to contribute to the attainment of an efficient and accessible Canadian transportation system that serves the needs of shippers, carriers, travellers and other users.

The Agency's mission is to administer transportation legislation and government policies to help achieve an efficient and accessible transportation system by education, consultation and essential regulation.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

1. Parliamentary appropriations – the Agency is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary appropriations. Appropriations provided to the Agency do not parallel financial reporting according to Canadian generally accepted accounting principles since appropriations are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the statement of operations and the statement of financial position are not necessarily the same as those provided through appropriations from Parliament. Note 3 provides a high-level reconciliation between the bases of reporting.

2. Net Cash Provided by Government - The Agency operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the Agency is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the Agency are paid from the CRF. The net cash provided by Government is the difference between all cash receipts and all cash disbursements including transactions between departments.

3. Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund is the difference between the net cash provided by government and appropriations used in a year, excluding the amount of non respendable revenue recorded by the Agency. It results from timing differences between when a transaction affects appropriations and when it is processed through the CRF.

4. Revenues:

   • Revenues from regulatory fees are recognized in the accounts based on the services provided in the year.

   • Other revenues are accounted for in the period in which the underlying transaction or event occurred that gave rise to the revenues.

5. Expenses – Expenses are recorded on the accrual basis:

   • Vacation pay and compensatory leave are expensed as the benefits accrue to employees under their respective terms of employment.

   • Services provided without charge by other government departments for accommodation, the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and legal services are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated cost.

6. Employee future benefits

   1. Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, a multi-employer plan administered by the Government of Canada. The Agency's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total Agency obligation to the Plan. Current legislation does not require the department to make contributions for any actuarial deficiencies of the Plan.

   2. Severance benefits: Employees are entitled to severance benefits under labour contracts or conditions of employment. These benefits are accrued as employees render the services necessary to earn them. The obligation relating to the benefits earned by employees is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole.

7. Receivables – these are stated at amounts expected to be ultimately realized. A provision is made for receivables where recovery is considered uncertain.

8. Contingent liabilities - Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded. If the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

9. Inventories not for re-sale – These comprise of brochures that are held for future program delivery and are not intended for re-sale. They are valued at cost. If they no longer have service potential, they are written-off as there are no realizable value for these items.

10. Tangible capital assets – All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements are recorded at their acquisition cost (refer to the following table for the initial cost threshold). The capitalization of software and leasehold improvements has been done on a prospective basis from April 1, 2001. Amortization of capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the capital asset as identified in the table.

    
    

    Agency Asset Categories	Agency Useful Life		Threshold (initial cost equal/or more than)
    	Non-LAN	LAN	Non-LAN	LAN
    Informatics Hardware	3–5 years	3-10 years	$1	$1
    Software	3 years	Based on business case	$500	$1
    Furniture	15 years	10 years	$1,000	$1
    Accommodation improvements	Assessed on a case by case basis	Assessed on a case by case basis	$10,000	$1
    Car	7 years	N/A	$10,000	N/A
    Assets under construction	Not amortized until in service. Once in service, in accordance with asset category

    
    
11. Measurement uncertainty - The preparation of these financial statements in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. The most significant items where estimates are used are contingent liabilities, the liability for employee severance benefits and the useful life of tangible capital assets. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated. Management's estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are recorded in the financial statements in the year they become known.

3. Parliamentary Appropriations

The Agency receives most of its funding through annual Parliamentary appropriations. Items recognized in the statement of operations and the statement of financial position in one year may be funded through Parliamentary appropriations in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the Agency has different net results of operations for the year on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. The differences are reconciled in the following tables:

(a) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to current year appropriations used

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Net cost of operations	29,646,192	31,724,055
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting appropriations:
Add (Less) :
Services provided without charge by other Federal Government departments and agencies	(3,420,894)	(3,709,579)
Amortization of tangible capital assets	(663,932)	(726,644)
Revenue not available for spending	44,151	27,152
Refunds of previous years expenditures	48,096	104,682
(Loss) on disposals and write-offs of tangible capital assets	(33,287)	(49,157)
Increase vacation pay and compensatory leave	162,786	26,978
(Decrease) employee severance benefits	(25,241)	(432,049)
Other	-	48,463
	(3,888,321)	(4,710,154)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting appropriations
Add (Less) :
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets (Note 4)	807,262	597,054
Increase (decrease) prepaid expenses	(22,690)	22,352
Increase in inventory	8,253	100
Current year appropriations used	26,550,696	27,633,407

(b) Appropriations provided and used

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Operating expenditures (Vote 40 and 40a)	24,572,550	24,736,760
Statutory amounts	3,261,996	3,773,869
Less:
Appropriations available for future years	-	(64,624)
Lapsed appropriations - Operating	(1,283,850)	(812,598)
Current year appropriations used	26,550,696	27,633,407

(c) Reconciliation of net cash provided by Government to current year appropriations used

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Net cash provided by Government	26,766,686	27,781,082
Revenue not available for spending	44,151	27,152
Refund of previous years expenditures	48,096	104,682
Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund
Variation in accounts receivable and advances	(345,912)	(30,774)
Variation in employee advances	3,210	(102)
Variation in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	34,465	(376,773)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets	-	128,578
Reversal of expenses related to Justice Canada	-	(438)
	(308,237)	(279,509)
Current year appropriations used	26,550,696	27,633,407

4. Tangible Capital Assets (in dollars)

	Capital asset class
	Informatics Hardware	Software	Furniture	Car	Assets under construction	Total
Cost
Opening Balance	2,917,532	1,980,874	1,209,045	22,157	134,210	6,263,818
Acquisitions	349,910	460,788	63,360	-	359,364	1,233,422
Disposals and write-offs	373,330	-	54,279	-	426,160	853,769
Closing balance	2,894,112	2,441,662	1,218,126	22,157	67,414	6,643,471
Accumulated amortization
Opening balance	2,313,296	857,465	575,617	2,887		3,749,265
Amortization	303,610	264,120	93,537	2,665		663,932
Disposals and write-offs	359,297		35,025			394,322
Closing balance	2,257,609	1,121,585	634,129	5,552		4,018,875
2007
Net book value	636,503	1,320,077	583,997	16,605	67,414	2,624,596
2006
Net book value	604,236	1,123,408	633,428	19,270	134,210	2,514,552

Amortization expense for the year ended March 31, 2007 is $ 663,932 (2006 - $726,644).

During the year, $426,160 of assets under construction was transferred to software and to furniture. The net acquisition of tangible capital assets is therefore, $807,262.

5. Employee Benefits

(a) Pension benefits: The Agency's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored and administered by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum period of 35 years at a rate of 2 percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and the department contribute to the cost of the Plan. The 2006–2007 expense amounts to $3,197,314 ($3,642,256 in 2005–2006), which represents approximately 2.2 times (2.6 in 2005–2006) the contributions by employees.

The Agency's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

(b) Severance benefits: The Agency provides severance benefits to its employees based on eligibility, years of service and final salary. These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid from future appropriations. Information about the severance benefits, measured as at March 31, is as follows:

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year	4,128,421	3,696,372
Expense for the year	639,463	974,538
Benefits paid during the year	(614,221)	(542,489)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year	4,153,663	4,128,421

6. Related party transactions

The Agency is related as a result of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies and Crown corporations. The Agency enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. Also, during the year, the Agency received services which were obtained without charge from other Government departments as presented hereafter.

Services provided without charge by other government departments:

During the year the Agency received without charge from other departments, accommodation, the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans, workman's compensation coverage, and legal services. These services without charge have been recognized in the Agency's Statement of Operations as follows:

	2007	2006
	(in dollars)
Accommodation	1,869,734	2,080,128
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans	1,536,936	1,602,670
Workman's compensation coverage	14,224	25,825
Legal services	-	956
Total	3,420,894	3,709,579

The Government has structured some of its administrative activities for efficiency and cost-effectiveness purposes so that one department performs these on behalf of all without charge. The costs of these services, which include payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General, are not included as an expense in the Agency's Statement of Operations.

7. Comparative information

Comparative figures have been reclassified in Note 3(c) to conform to the current year's presentation.

Table 9 Response to Parliamentary Committees, and Audits and Evaluations for Fiscal Year 2006–2007

Response to Parliamentary Committees

During the reporting period, there were no Parliamentary Committee recommendations on which the Agency was asked to respond.

Response to the Auditor General of Canada, including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD)

During the reporting period, no recommendation of the Auditor General nor the CESD was addressed specifically to the Agency.

External Audits (note: These refer to other external audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of the Official Languages).

No external audits were done during fiscal year 2006–2007.

Internal Audits or Evaluations

During 2006–2007, two internal audits and two follow-up audits were conducted. Internal audits were conducted on:

1. Records Management: key recommendations concerned the need to acquire temporary resources to eliminate backlog, a review of job classifications of staff, and the creation of a comprehensive electronic and paper-based records inventory. Management has agreed to implement the audit's recommendations where time and resources allow.

2. Performance Indicators and Measures: key recommendations include further refinements in an Agency-wide coordinated approach for the development phase of meaningful performance indicators and measures, including a communications strategy; and, refinements be made to the Performance Management Plan to ensure support of the Agency's strategic goals. Management agreed and began implementing recommendations while the audit was being finalized.

3. The report for two follow-ups conducted in 2006–2007 on audits conducted in prior years was also issued:

• the Classification function; and,
• the Accessible Transportation Directorate.

These follow-up audits were conducted in order to provide senior management with assurance that prior recommendations had been acted upon by those responsible for the areas selected for follow-up. All recommendations in the original audit reports were agreed to and implemented except for a few relatively minor instances where management provided adequate explanations as to why those particular recommendations were not implemented as suggested.

More information concerning the audits is available at the following Web site: www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/database/newdeptview_e.asp?id=29.

Table 10 Client Centred Service

Providing quality service to Canadians is a core value of the Agency in achieving its mission. The Agency strives to provide the highest level of expertise and to reach decisions through an impartial, transparent and fair process. While the Agency has limited capacity to conduct broad, ongoing surveys, periodic formal and informal feedback has been received from shippers, producers, carriers and consumers. Further, all participants in the Agency's mediation process are asked to provide feedback on the process. This feedback has been a valuable tool in identifying priority areas for improvement.

The Agency will continue its steady progress towards improving the way it delivers programs and services, as well as identifying opportunities to seek meaningful feedback from stakeholders. During 2006–07, the Agency thoroughly analyzed its case data and worked to develop plans to improve its levels of service.

Table 11 Travel Policies

The Agency follows the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) Special Travel Authorities and the TBS Travel Directive, Rates and Allowances.

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page