Archived [2017-04-01] - Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures

Introduction

Travel covers a large spectrum of legitimate activities that are necessary to support statutory or regulatory requirements to deliver services to Canadians and to meet government priorities. In this way travel supports the direct delivery of the core mandate and operations of departments.  Travel may also support other departmental objectives and priorities.  The specific requirements set out in this Appendix are in addition to terms and conditions of reimbursement of travel on government business provided in the National Joint Council Travel Directive or the departmental equivalent as appropriate.

1.1 Planning

1.1.1 Prudent planning for travel applies to both federal employees and non-public servants.  Travel is to be avoided where cost efficient alternatives are appropriate and available.  Virtual presence, teleconference, videoconference and other remote meeting solutions are to be considered for every travel situation, and if not used the reason is to be documented in the travel authorization justification.  

1.1.2 The following categories of travel are to be identified and form part of the travel authorization for expenditure initiation for each proposed trip:

1. Travel that is required in support of the direct delivery of the core mandate of a department or legislative or legal requirements;
2. Travel that is necessary to engage key stakeholders in relation to policy, program or regulatory development or renewal or other matters that support the departments’ ongoing working relationship or operations with such communities;
3. Travel that is necessary to support sound internal governance of a department including management meetings and Departmental Audit Committee meetings, or that is necessary for the recruitment or hiring of employees;
4. Travel to enable the training of employees to meet the assigned duties of their positions; and
5. Other travel.  

1.1.3 Where “other travel” is selected as the category for the travel a detailed explanation regarding the purpose of the travel is required as part of the travel authorization.

1.1.4 The number of departmental travellers is to be limited to the minimum necessary to deliver the business of government.  The total number of travellers attending the same event or activity is to be justified for each travel authorization.

1.1.5 The most economical means is to be selected given the nature of the trip when booking transportation, accommodations and meeting facilities, including giving preference to using appropriate government facilities.  Where possible the travel arrangements should be booked in advance to obtain optimal discounted rates.

1.1.6 Travel that forms part of contract requirements is to be coded in the Receiver General Chart of Accounts as non-public servant travel.     

1.1.7 Travel that falls under the National Joint Council Foreign Service Directives or the National Joint Council Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive is to be coded in the Receiver General Chart of Accounts solely to those items.

1.1.8 Travel in support of the relocation of employees and their dependants is not part of travel expenditure initiation under this Appendix.  It is coded in the Receiver General Chart of Accounts separately and solely as relocation.  Such elements are subject to the requirements of the National Joint Council Relocation Directive.

1.1.9 Blanket travel authorities (BTA) as specified under the National Joint Council Travel Directive are not to be used for a departmental organization or other group of employees.  These approval authorities will follow the same travel authorization process under this Directive.  Cost information in the travel authorization will reflect the best cost estimates available at the time.

1.2 Travel Authorization

1.2.1 The authority to approve travel in a department may only be delegated by the Deputy Head to the Senior Departmental Manager level unless further delegated under section 1.2.2. 

1.2.2 The Deputy Head may delegate the authority to approve travel to appropriate managers below the Senior Departmental Manager level where all of the following three conditions are satisfied: 

1. where the program operations are regionally or globally dispersed;
2. where the potential for delay in obtaining approval at the Senior Departmental Manager level could be injurious to the public interest or timely delivery of departmental services or operations; and
3. there is no senior departmental manager present in the regional or foreign office.

1.2.3 Expenditure initiation for travel may be done in either of two ways:

1. approval by the delegated manager of the travel authorization for a trip; or
2. approval by the appropriate fund centre manager based on a travel plan approved by the delegated manager that reasonably covers the authorization elements of Table 1.  Where there are significant changes to trips within the travel plan at any point, those trips are to be reapproved by the delegated manager.  Departments using the approved travel plans for expenditure initiation are to apply enhanced mechanisms and controls for the monitoring of compliance with these requirements.

1.2.4 The travel approval authority required under 1.2.1 does not apply to:

1. local travel within the normal office location and working environs of an employee using means such as taxis, public transit, personal vehicle or government fleet vehicles for the conduct of the government’s day to day business, such local travel can be authorized by the appropriate fund centre manager; or
2. travel required to enable the department to respond rapidly to urgent and unforeseeable events that require employees to travel on an emergency basis in order to provide expertise or delivery of departmental programs or services to safeguard health, safety and security.  In order to ensure efficient emergency responses, such travel expenditure initiation can be authorized by the appropriate fund centre manager with subsequent disclosure of the travel costs, for information purposes, to the Deputy Head. 

1.2.5 If Blanket Travel Authorities (BTAs) are used to satisfy the travel authorization for individuals, the BTA will also include all Table 1 information applying the best cost estimates available.

1.2.6 The trip data elements of Table 1 are to be included in the travel authorization for expenditure initiation purposes and, at a minimum, will form part of the associated authorization form.

1.3 Reporting and Control 

1.3.1 Departments will collect and sustain in their departmental financial management or related systems the travel category (element B) and the associated financial information data elements F to I specified in Table 1.

1.3.2 Departments will have appropriate internal controls and an associated monitoring system in place to support periodic departmental reviews of travel expenditures.  This will also contribute to the validation of the annual departmental report on the total annual spending on travel as set out in provision 6.1.4. 

Introduction

The provision of hospitality is often necessary to support the conduct of the government’s business and to deliver on core mandates and priorities.  In this way, it may support the conduct of business with other levels of government, industry or public interest groups, visits by foreign dignitaries as well as departmental business meetings. All federal employees are responsible for exercising rigorous management of hospitality, including taking measures to minimize and/or avoid costs. Decisions to offer hospitality must be carefully considered and demonstrate the necessity based on the circumstances and/or courtesy, diplomacy or protocol.

2.1 Planning

In the planning of hospitality expenditures the following limitations or exclusions are applied:

2.1.1 The provision of food and beverages is acceptable in accordance with the standard and maximum per person cost limits in Table 2.  These limits are based on the allowances set out in the National Joint Council Travel Directive and reflect per person hospitality costs provided per meal type over the course of a single day and per serving for refreshments.

1. The Standard Cost per Person is the expected meal cost per person to be applied in normal circumstances, particularly for events involving federal government persons only, and are approved by the appropriate delegated authority;
2. A cost per person exceeding the Standard Cost and up to the Maximum Cost per person is to be applied in exceptional circumstances, justified by the type of event, the status and nature of participants and for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy and/or protocol.  The Deputy Head is the approval authority for these proposed hospitality costs; and
3. Planned costs exceeding the maximum cost per person require approval by the Minister.

 2.1.2 The standard for hospitality is the provision of non-alcoholic beverages. The provision of alcoholic beverages is only permitted in special circumstances where it is a matter of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol involving non-public servants in government events. Alcoholic beverages will not be provided as hospitality at events involving only federal public servants. The provision of bottled water or water coolers to federal employees is not part of hospitality except in situations where they are provided as part of refreshments at events covered under this directive.

2.1.3 Exceptionally, the offering to non-public servants of tickets to the theatre or sporting events, tours of local areas or other places of interest, and other similar entertainment activities as well as other reasonable measures deemed appropriate for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol as part of a government event. Federal employees who are required to accompany non-federal government persons can similarly partake in the entertainment activities.

2.1.4 Local transportation to and from the event or activity is not considered as part of hospitality except in special circumstances involving non-public servants (e.g. a foreign dignitary) for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol.

2.1.5 Facility rental and associated costs such as audio/video equipment and technical support or translation services are not considered as part of hospitality except in special circumstances for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol (e.g. in circumstances where the costs are directly and inherently for hospitality purposes, such as the rental of a room to be used only for hosting a lunch).  These costs, however, do form part of approvals of events under this directive.       

2.1.6 Federal employees can be provided hospitality only in situations where:

1. federal employees are required to participate in operations, business meetings, training or events that extend beyond normal working hours. This includes situations where employees are required to work through normal break and meal periods.  It may include situations where there are no nearby or appropriate facilities to obtain refreshments or meals and/or where staff dispersal is not effective or efficient.
2. federal employees are required to be part of an event, or to participate in a government hosted conference, which includes participants that are not employees of the Government of Canada and for whom hospitality will be provided as a matter of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol.      

2.1.7 Non-public servants can be provided hospitality in events where it is a matter of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol or is necessary to facilitate the achievement of the government’s business.

2.2 Hospitality Authorization ^{See footnote 1}

2.2.1 Ministerial approval is required when the following hospitality components are present, unless delegated under paragraph 2.2.2

1. Total hospitality costs associated with an event exceed $5,000; or
2. Alcoholic beverages will be provided; or
3. Food and beverage costs exceed the maximum cost per person (Table  2); or
4. Entertainment will be provided; or
5. Hospitality or entertainment will be provided to a spouse or to a person accompanying an event participant; or
6. Hospitality paid by the federal government will be extended at the residence of a federal employee.

2.2.2 Ministers may choose to delegate to a deputy head, in writing, any element of the approval authorities in 2.2.1 (b) to (f) or an increased hospitality approval authority limit under 2.2.1 (a) to meet operational requirements.

2.2.3 When a deputy head has increased delegation for any element of 2.2.1 (a.) to (f.), event approvals will still be required as set out in Appendix 4 if applicable.

2.2.4 Deputy Head approval of hospitality is required when the total hospitality costs exceed $1,500 but are $5,000 or less and none of the components listed in 2.2.1 (a.) to (f.) are present at the ministerial level.

2.2.5 Senior departmental manager or delegate approval of hospitality is required when total hospitality costs associated with the event are $1,500 or less, and none of the elements listed in 2.2.1 are present.

2.2.6 With the exception of the Minister, an individual who is a participant at a hospitality event may not approve the hospitality. In such circumstances, the approval of higher authority is to be obtained.  In situations when the deputy head is in attendance the CFO will be the approval authority for hospitality.

2.2.7 With respect to the Office of Auditor General, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Office of the Information Commissioner, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner; deputy heads of these organizations can exercise the ministerial approval authority in section 2.2.

2.2.8 According to Section 12.(1)(b) of the Financial Administration Act, deputy heads have authority to provide for awards to employees and may approve hospitality as a part of a related ceremony consistent with this Directive.  Deputy heads may also provide hospitality consistent with the National Public Service Week: Serving Canadians Better Act.  Event approvals under Appendix 4 of this Directive may still apply.

2.3 Reporting and Controls

2.3.1 When a public servant is the recipient of hospitality, he/she is responsible for ensuring that he or she does not seek reimbursement for equivalent meals or refreshments as a part of a travel claim or other expense claim.

2.3.2 Departments will have appropriate internal controls and an associated monitoring system in place to support periodic departmental reviews of hospitality expenditures.   This will also contribute to the validation of the annual departmental report on the total annual spending on hospitality as set out in provision 6.1.4.

Introduction

Conferences or similar events often provide unique opportunities for exchange, debates or discussion of specialized or professional information, including establishing or maintaining relationships necessary for the conduct of government business or the delivery of the core mandate of a department. Conferences tend to be organized by external organizations and participants are charged fees to attend.  To that end, conference approval authorities are conscious of the need for prudence and probity including justification where travel approval is required under Appendix 1 or under the event approval requirements of Appendix 4.

3.1 Planning

3.1.1 The objective of attending a conference will be principally to support the delivery of the core mandate of the department and should be specified in the applicable conference approval document.  Where travel is involved the travel authorization elements of Table 1 in Appendix 1 will apply as well as the rationale for the minimum number of necessary conference participants.

3.1.2 The number of employees attending a conference from a department will be the minimum necessary to achieve the departmental objective.

3.1.3 Departments that are organizing a conference will consider the availability and appropriateness of virtual presence or other remote meeting solutions to minimize costs for participating departments or other participants, and will use available government facilities as a first choice.

3.2 Conference Authorization ^{See footnote 2}

3.2.1 The conference approval authority is the senior departmental manager level as set out in the delegation of financial authorities document.

3.2.2 Where multiple employees in a department will be attending the same conference which constitutes an event, the total planned conference costs will be provided for approval to the most senior approval authority as defined under Appendix 4.

3.3 Reporting and Controls

3.3.1 Departments will have appropriate internal controls and an associated monitoring system in place to support periodic departmental reviews of conference expenditures.   This will also contribute to the validation of the annual departmental report on the total annual spending on conferences as set out in provision 6.1.4.

Introduction

Events typically represent or support the business activities and governance of a department and may include both employees and non-public servants.  In keeping with the provisions of this Appendix, the approval of planned spending on events will be subject to appropriate disclosure that supports both Ministerial and deputy head oversight of their departments.

4.1 Planning

4.1.1 Departments will determine the maximum number of employees that are appropriately attending the same event in considering the appropriate event approval authority as specified in section 4.2.  This will include obtaining the records of the planned costs where travel is involved, as well as other cost factors when a department is hosting an event such as professional services and facilities rental that will usually fall under a specific fund centre.

4.1.2 In situations where the primary purpose of an event relates to the direct delivery of the core mandate of a department approvals as set out in section 4.2 are not required.  All other appendices to this directive continue to apply.

4.1.3 Training activities are considered events.  The following criteria define training that does not require approvals, note that all other appendices to this directive continue to apply, as set out in section 4.2 including:

1. Formalized programs approved and delivered by a department to departmental staff to ensure that staff are qualified to perform their assigned duties;
2. Formalized program of instruction to ensure that staff are qualified to perform their assigned duties approved by a department and delivered by a third party such as the Canada School of Public Service, universities or colleges; or
3. Formalized program of instruction or accreditation approved by a professional body as recognized by federal or provincial statute and delivered by organizations certified by the professional body, including for the purpose of acquiring or maintaining those accreditations required by staff as part of their duties.

4.1.4 In situations where a department is organizing the event with a total departmental cost in excess of $25,000 and other departments are participating, it is incumbent on the lead organizing department to obtain estimated costs for the total of the participants from other federal departments.  The participating departments are required to provide the estimated cost information including total estimated participant’s costs related to travel as per provision 4.2.2.

4.2 Event Authorization ^{See footnote 3}

4.2.1 Ministerial approval is required when total departmental costs associated with an event will exceed $25,000.

4.2.2 Where an event requiring ministerial approval is hosted by the department, the minister will also be provided, for information purposes, the total estimated federal cost for all participating departments.

4.2.3 Deputy head approval of an event is required when total departmental costs associated with the event exceed $5,000 but are $25,000 or less. 

4.2.4 Senior departmental manager or delegate approval of an event is required when the event has total departmental costs of $5,000 or less. 

4.2.5 For the calculation of the total departmental costs for a single event in order to determine the required approval authority, total costs are to include items such as conferences fees, professional services charges, hospitality, accommodation, transportation, meals, taxes, gratuities and service charges, costs incurred by the Minister or the Minister's staff for activities related to a department's programs that are charged to the department's budget, and other relevant costs directly attributable to the particular event.  These costs exclude salary costs and other departmental fixed operating costs as part of the on-going operations of the department.

4.2.6 According to Section 12.(1)(b) of the Financial Administration Act, deputy heads have authority to provide for awards to employees and may approve an event as a part of a related ceremony consistent with this Directive.  Deputy heads may also approve an event related to the National Public Service Week Act, consistent with 4.2.3.

4.3 Reporting and Controls

4.3.1 Departments will have appropriate internal controls and an associated monitoring system in place to support periodic departmental reviews of event expenditures.

blanket travel authority (autorisation générale de voyager)

authorization for travel which is continuous or repetitive in nature, with no variation in the specific terms and conditions of trips and where it is not practical or administratively efficient to obtain prior approval from the employer for each individual trip. Any exceptions to the blanket travel authority (BTA) parameters shall require that the individual trip be specifically approved, prior to travel status, where possible. BTA does not apply to groups of employees. Employees may have more than one BTA simultaneously.

business meetings (réunion d’affaires)

meetings conducted to advance government objectives or operations, including departmental and/or interdepartmental working sessions, work planning meetings, advisory and corporate management committees and staff retreats. Business meetings may or may not involve non-public servants. Typically, meetings that take place as part of sound management and governance of a department, including meetings of Departmental Audit Committees, are considered business meetings. 

conferences (Conférences)

refers to a congress, convention, seminar, symposium or other formal gathering, which are usually organized by a third party external to government, where participants debate or are informed of the status of a discipline (e.g. sciences, economics, technology, management). (This definition is based on the object of expenditure 0823 Conference Fees of the Receiver General Chart of Accounts). Guest speakers are often part of such conferences that involve employees and/or non-public servants. Retreats, work-planning meetings and training seminars or courses that provide training are not considered as conferences.

deputy head (administrateur général)

for the purposes of this Directive deputy head includes all those individuals who have legal status as the deputy of a minister but not including associate deputy ministers.

entertainment (divertissement)

includes, but is not limited to tickets to musical, theatre, sporting or similar events, tours of local or other places of interest, and other similar activities for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy and protocol.

events (événements)

include business meetings, departmental or corporate management meetings, conferences as well as any other formal gathering of public servants or non-public servants invited to participate in these activities including prestigious ceremonies, awards and recognition ceremonies. Events do not include meetings or activities whose sole purpose is the direct delivery of core departmental mandates, including examples such as inspections of food processing plants, the conduct of military exercises, or undertaking regulatory or quasi-judicial proceedings which may involve participants from other levels of government or foreign governments, foreign or political dignitaries, national or international organizations, industry representatives and public interest groups.

federal public servant (fonctionnaire fédéral)

is any person who is currently paid a salary by the Government of Canada from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

hospitality (accueil)

consists of the provision of meals, beverages or refreshments to non-public servants in events which are necessary for the effective conduct of government business and for courtesy, diplomacy or protocol purposes. In some circumstances and within restrictions defined in this directive, hospitality can also be provided to employees. Exceptionally, in situations involving non-public servants, it may also include entertainment, local transportation to and from events as well as other reasonable measures deemed appropriate for reasons of courtesy, diplomacy or protocol. Hospitality does not include expenditures for employees or individuals on travel status subject to the National Joint Council Travel Directive; local transportation to and from events or activities for employees; rental of facilities and associated costs; and bottled water or water coolers provided to employees on on-going basis above and beyond an event as defined in this Directive.

non-public servant (personne ne faisant pas partie du gouvernement fédéral)

is any person who is not currently paid a salary by the Government of Canada from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

protocol (protocole

is a set of conventions governing correct etiquette and precedence.

reception (réception)

an extended period between when attendees arrive and when the meal is served, these might also serve the purpose of sustaining attendees during the wait before a meal.  Reception food may also be served with no main meal afterward if circumstances dictate.

refreshments (rafraichissements)

include beverages or food (e.g. light snacks) or both, that do not constitute a normal meal but are served between meals.

senior departmental managers (cadres supérieurs du ministère)

For the purpose of this directive, senior departmental managers are defined as managers reporting directly to a deputy head and also includes, where applicable, the most senior regional departmental managers.

travel status (déplacement)

occurs when an employee or traveller is on authorized government travel.

traveller (voyageur)

a person who is authorized to travel on federal government business.