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Strategic Outcome: Open, fair, transparent and expedtious hearings related to the Tribunal's jurisdiction.; | ||||
Actual Spending 2007-08 ($ thousands) | Alignment to Government of Canada Outcome Area |
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Budgetary | Non- budgetary |
Total | ||
Process cases | $1,537 | $0 | $1,537 | A fair and secure marketplace |
The Registry of the Competition Tribunal contributes to the Government of Canada outcome area of a fair and secure marketplace by supporting the Tribunal in conducting open and timely hearings of cases falling under its jurisdiction.
Table 1: Comparison of Planned to Actual Spending (including FTEs)
2005- 06 Actual |
2006- 07 Actual |
2007-08 ($ thousands) |
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Main Estimates | Planned Spending | Total Authorities | Actual | |||
Process Cases | $1,590 | $1,524 | $1,536 | $1,536 | $1,750 | $1,537 |
Total | $1,590 | $1,524 | $1,536 | $1,536 | $1,750 | $1,537 |
Less: Non-respendable revenue |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Plus: Cost of services received without charge |
$485 | $523 | N/A | $630 | N/A | $630 |
Total Departmental Spending |
$2,075 | $2,047 | N/A | $2,166 | N/A | $2,167 |
$ | ||||||
Full-time Equivalents |
14 | 14 | N/A | 14 | N/A | 14 |
Table 2: Voted and Statutory Items
Vote or Statutory Item |
Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording |
2007-2008 ($ thousands) |
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Main Estimates |
Planned Spending |
Total Authorities |
Main Actual |
||
Vote 45 | Operating expenditures |
$1,536 | $1,536 | $1,600 | $1,537 |
Vote 45b | Transfer of $150K from Industry Vote 1 |
$150 | |||
(S) | Contributions to employee benefit plans |
$160 | $160 | $161 | $161 |
Total | $1,696 | $1,696 | $1,911 | $1,698 |
Statement of Management Responsibility
Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements of the Registry of the Competition Tribunal (Registry) for the year ended March 31, 2008 and all information contained in these statements rests with the Registry's 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 fulfill its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts that provides a centralized record of the Registry's financial transactions. Financial information submitted to the Public Accounts of Canada and included in the Registry'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 Registry.
The financial statements of the Registry have not been audited.
The original version was signed byRaynald Chartrand | Erminda Mondero |
Deputy Head and Registrar | Financial Officer |
Ottawa, Canada | |
Date: August 28, 2008 |
Table 16: Financial Statements of Department
REGISTRY OF THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL |
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Statement of Operations (unaudited) For the Year Ended March 31 (in dollars) |
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2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Expenses | |||||||
Process cases | |||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | $ | 1,125,613 | $ | 1,267,481 | |||
Accommodation | 570,132 | 459,000 | |||||
Professional and special services | 346,562 | 399,155 | |||||
Transportation and telecommunications | 129,253 | 106,023 | |||||
Utilities, materials and supplies | 50,951 | 33,824 | |||||
Amortization of tangible capital assets | 14,746 | (12,791) | |||||
Information | 11,895 | 11,029 | |||||
Rentals | 6,638 | 9,248 | |||||
Repair and maintenance | 1,395 | 685 | |||||
Net cost of operations | $ | 2,257,185 | $ | 2,273,654 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
REGISTRY OF THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL |
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Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) At March 31 (in dollars) |
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2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Financial assets | |||||||
Accounts receivable and advances (Note 4) | $ | 17,011 | $ | 48,108 | |||
Total financial assets | 17,011 | 48,108 | |||||
Non-financial assets | |||||||
Tangible capital assets (Note 5) | 102,844 | 40,127 | |||||
Total non-financial assets | $ | 102,844 | $ | 40,127 | |||
TOTAL | $ | 119,855 | $ | 88,235 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 138,618 | $ | 42,080 | |||
Vacation pay and compensatory leave | 24,222 | 65,249 | |||||
Employee severance benefits (Note 6) | 268,102 | 234,649 | |||||
Total liabilities | $ | 430,942 | $ | 341,978 | |||
Equity of Canada | (311,087) | (253,743) | |||||
TOTAL | $ | 119,855 | $ | 88,235 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | |||||||
REGISTRY OF THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL |
||
Statement of Equity of Canada (unaudited) At March 31 (in dollars) |
||
2008 | 2007 | |
Equity of Canada, beginning of year | (253,743) | (246,166) |
Net cost of operations | (2,257,185) | (2,273,654) |
Current year appropriations used (Note 3) | 1,697,344 | 1,700,955 |
Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund (Note 3) |
(127,636) | 42,122 |
Services provided without charge by other Government departments (Note 7) |
630,133 | 523,000 |
Equity of Canada, end of year. | (311,087) | (253,743) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
REGISTRY OF THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL |
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Statement of Cash Flow (unaudited) For the Year Ended March 31 (in dollars) |
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2008 | 2007 | ||||||
Operating Activities | |||||||
Net cost of operations | $ | 2,257,185 | $ | 2,273,654 | |||
Non-cash items: | |||||||
Amortization of tangible capital assets | |||||||
(Note 5) | (14,746) | (12,791) | |||||
Services provided without charge by | |||||||
other government departments (Note 7) | (630,132) | (523,000) | |||||
Variations in Statement of Financial Position | |||||||
Decrease in accounts receivable | |||||||
and advances | (31,097) | (47,284) | |||||
(Increase) decrease in liabilities | (88,964) | 26,915 | |||||
Cash used by operating activities | $ | 1,492,245 | $ | 1,743,076 | |||
Capital investment activities | |||||||
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets | 77,464 | ||||||
Cash used by capital investment activities | 77,464 | ||||||
Financing activities | |||||||
Net cash provided by Government of Canada | $ | (1,569,709) | $ | (1,743,076) | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
1. Authority and Objectives
The Competition Tribunal is a quasi-judicial adjudicative tribunal created in 1986 by the Competition Tribunal Act. Its mandate is to hear applications and issue orders related to the civil reviewable matters set out in Parts VII.1 and VIII of the Competition Act, whose purpose is to maintain and encourage competition in Canada, and to ensure that firms compete fairly and markets operate efficiently. The Tribunal has no other function and operates at arm's length from government and its departments.
The Competition Tribunal Act provides for an administrative infrastructure for the Registry. For the purpose of this report, a clear distinction between the Tribunal and its Registry must be established. While they assume complementary roles to support the implementation of the Competition Act, these two entities have different status, carry out different activities, and are subject to different accountability measures. One fundamental difference between the Tribunal and the Registry is that the former is a quasi-judicial body, while the latter is considered a federal department under the Financial Administration Act. In fact, the Financial Administration Act specifically excludes the Tribunal from the Registry's designation as a department.
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:
(a) Parliamentary appropriations
The Registry is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary appropriations. Appropriations provided to the Registry do not parallel financial reporting according to 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 provide a high-level reconciliation between the two bases of reporting.
(b) Net cash provided by Government
The Registry operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the Registry is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the Registry 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 of the federal government.
(c) Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund
The change is the difference between the net cash provided by Government and appropriations used in a year. It results from timing differences between when a transaction affects appropriations and when it is processed through the CRF.
(d) Expenses
Expenses are recorded on the accrual basis:
(e) Employee future benefits
(f) Accounts receivable and advances
Accounts receivable and advances are stated at amounts expected to be ultimately realized; a provision is made for receivables where recovery is considered uncertain.
(g) Tangible capital assets
All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $3,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. The Registry does not capitalize intangibles, works of art and historical treasures that have cultural, aesthetic or historical value.
Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:
Asset Class | Amortization Period |
Machinery and equipment | 10 years |
Informatics hardware | 3 — 4 years |
Other equipment | 5 — 10 years |
Leasehold improvements | period of the lease |
(h) 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 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 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 Registry receives 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 Registry 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:
2008 | 2007 | |||
(in dollars) | ||||
Net cost of operations | 2,257,185 | 2,273,654 | ||
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting appropriations | ||||
Add (Less): | ||||
Services provided without charge by other government departments | (630,132) | (523,000) | ||
Amortization of tangible capital assets | (14,746) | 12,791 | ||
(Increase) in employee severance benefits liability | (33,453) | (70,371) | ||
Decrease in vacation pay and compensatory leave liability | 41,026 | - | ||
Adjustment of previous year's accounts payable | - | 7,881 | ||
1,619,880 | 1,700,955 | |||
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations | ||||
but affecting appropriations | ||||
Add: Tangible capital assets acquisitions | 77,464 | |||
Current year appropriations used | 1,697,344 | 1,700,955 |
(b) Appropriations provided and used
Appropriations Provided | ||
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Vote 45 - Operating expenditures | 1,750,283 | 1,544,953 |
Statutory amounts | 160,826 | 178,112 |
Less: | ||
Lapsed appropriations: Operating | (213,765) | ( 22,110) |
Current year appropriations used | 1,697,344 | 1,700,955 |
(c) Reconciliation of net cash provided by Government to current year appropriations used
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Net cash provided by Government | 1,569,709 | 1,743,076 |
Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund |
|
|
Decrease in accounts receivable and advances | 31,097 | 47,284 |
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 96,538 | (97,286) |
Other adjustments | 7,881 | |
127,635 | (42,121) | |
Current year appropriations used | 1,697,344 | 1,700,955) |
4. Accounts Receivable and Advances
The following table presents details of accounts receivable and advances:
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Receivables from other Federal Government departments and agencies | 17,628 | 10,073 |
Receivables from external parties | (1,117) | 37,535 |
Employee advances | 500 | 500 |
Total | 17,011 | 48,108 |
5. Tangible Capital Assets
Cost | ||||
Opening balance |
Acquisitions | Disposals and write-offs |
Closing balance |
|
Capital asset class | ||||
Informatics hardware | 217,340 | 23,580 | - | 240,920 |
Other equipment | 172,824 | - | - | 172,824 |
Machinery & equipment | 122,847 | - | - | 122,847 |
Leasehold improvements | - | 53,884 | - | 53,884 |
Total | 513,011 | 77,464 | - | 590,475 |
Accumulated amortization | ||||
Opening balance |
Amortization | Disposals and write-offs |
Closing balance |
|
Capital asset class | ||||
Informatics hardware | 209,892 | 5,958 | - | 215,850 |
Other equipment | 142,860 | 7.902 | - | 150,762 |
Machinery & equipment | 120,133 | 886 | - | 121,019 |
Leasehold improvements | - | - | - | - |
Total | 472,885 | 14,746 | - | 487,631 |
Net Book Value | ||
2008 | 2007 | |
Informatics hardware | 25,070 | 7,449 |
Other equipment | 22,062 | 29,964 |
Machinery and equipment | 1,828 | 2,714 |
Leasehold improvements | 53,884 | - |
Total | 102,844 | 40,127 |
Amortization expense for the year ended March 31, 2008 is $14,746 (for the year ended
March 31, 2007 was - $12,791).
6. Employee benefits
Both the employees and the Registry contribute to the cost of the Plan. The 2007-08 expense amounts to $116,928 ($130,446 in 2006-07) which represents approximately 2.2 times (2.2 times in 2006-07) the contributions by employees.
The Registry'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.
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of the year | 234,649 | 164,278 |
Expense for the year | 33,453 | 70,371 |
Benefits paid during the year | - | - |
Accrued benefit obligation, end of the year | 268,102 | 234,649 |
7. Related party transactions
The Registry is related as a result of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies and Crown Corporations. The Registry enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. Also, during the year, the Registry received services which were obtained without charge from other Government departments as presented in part (a).
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Accommodation | 570,132 | 459,000 |
Employer's contribution t o the health and dental insurance plans | 60,000 | 64,000 |
Total | 630,132 | 523,000 |
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 cost of these services, which include payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada, are not included as an expense in the Registry's Statement of Operations.
2008 | 2007 | |
(in dollars) | ||
Accounts payable to other government departments and agencies | 75,286 | 24,864 |