Real Property Services Revolving Fund

Public Accounts of Canada 2019 Volume III—Top of the page Navigation

Statement of management responsibility

We have prepared the accompanying financial statements of the Real Property Services Revolving Fund as required by the Treasury Board Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities in accordance with the Receiver General reporting requirements. These financial statements were prepared by the management of the Fund in accordance with the significant accounting policies set out in note 2 of the financial statements, on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year.

Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of these financial statements rests with the management of the Fund. The information included in these financial statements is based on management's best estimates and judgment with due consideration given to materiality. To fulfill its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts which provides a centralized record of the Fund's financial transactions. Financial information submitted to the Public Accounts of Canada and included in the department's Departmental Results Report is consistent with these financial statements.

Management develops and disseminates financial management and accounting policies and issues specific directives which maintain standards of accounting and financial management. Management maintains systems of financial management and internal control which give due consideration to costs, benefits and risks. They are designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are properly authorized, are executed in accordance with prescribed regulations, and are properly recorded to maintain accountability of Government funds and safeguard the assets under the Fund's administration. Financial management and internal control systems are augmented by the maintenance of internal audit programs. Management also seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of data in its financial statements by the 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 its regulations, policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the organization.

Management has presented the financial statements to the independent external auditor who audited them and has provided an independent opinion, which is appended to these financial statements.

Approved by:

Marty Muldoon, CPA, CMA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Public Services and Procurement Canada

Jean-François‎ Lymburner
for Kevin Radford
Assistant Deputy Minister,
Real Property Servives Branch
Public Services and Procurement Canada

June 3, 2019
Gatineau, Canada

Statement of authority provided (used) (unaudited) for the year ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
EstimatesLink to Table note 1 Actual EstimatesLink to Table note 1 Actual
Net results (negative 2,700) (negative 3,556) (negative 3,625) 6,290
Operating source (use) of funds (negative 2,700) (negative 3,556) (negative 3,625) 6,290
Items requiring use of funds
Transfer between other government departments of salary overpayments receivables 71
Net other assets and liabilities (negative 1,000) 1,312 (negative 2,500) (negative 13,665)
Authority provided (used) (negative 3,700) (negative 2,173) (negative 6,125) (negative 7,375)

Reconciliation of unused authority (unaudited) as at March 31

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Debit balance in the accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority 270,618 264,742
Payables charges against the appropriation at year-end (negative 438,675) (negative 448,607)
Receivables credited to the appropriation at year-end 215,675 233,078
Other items 16,885 17,463
Net authority provided (used), end of year 64,503 66,676
Authority limit (note 1) 150,000 150,000
Unused authority carried forward 214,503 216,676

Independent auditor's report

To the Deputy Minister, Public Services and Procurement Canada

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of the Real Property Services Revolving Fund (the "Fund"), which comprise the statement of financial position as at March 31, 2019, and the statements of operations and net liabilities and of cash flow for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).

In our opinion, the financial statements of the Fund for the year ended March 31, 2019 are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the financial reporting provisions for revolving funds described by the Receiver General for Canada under the Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards ("Canadian GAAS"). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the "Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements" section of our report. We are independent of Public Services and Procurement Canada in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter - Basis of Accounting and Restriction on Use

We draw attention to Note 2 to the financial statements, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial statements are prepared to assist the Fund to meet the financial reporting requirements for revolving funds described by the Receiver General for Canada under the Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities. As a result, the financial statements may not be suitable for another purpose. Our report is intended solely for the Fund and the Treasury Board of Canada and should not be used by parties other than the Fund and the Treasury Board of Canada. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the financial reporting provisions for revolving funds described by the Receiver General for Canada under the Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Fund's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Fund or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Fund's financial reporting process.

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian GAAS will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian GAAS, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Deloitte LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants,
Licensed Public Accountants

June 3, 2019

Statement of financial position as at March 31

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Assets
Financial assets
Cash in transit 903 1,220
Accounts receivable (note 3) 228,109 244,303
Other assets (note 4) 34,061 33,003
Subtotal 263,073 278,526
Non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses 45 29
Total assets 263,118 278,555
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 5) 445,403 452,638
Vacation pay and compensatory leave 14,748 14,671
Contractors' security deposits 2,638 1,867
Employee severance benefits (note 6) 12,966 12,655
Total 475,755 481,831
Net liabilities (note 7) (negative 212,637) (negative 203,276)
Net financial position of the Fund 263,118 278,555

Statement of operations and net liabilities for the year ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Revenues
Real Property services—other government departments 1,740,040 1,689,039
Real Property services—Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio 259,207 241,466
Other revenues 3,222 2,228
Subtotal 2,002,469 1,932,733
Cost of sales (negative 1,551,262) (negative 1,507,692)
Gross profit 451,207 425,041
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits 319,521 305,800
Corporate and administrative services 82,969 64,110
Professional and special services 24,060 16,944
Occupancy costs 16,285 14,507
Utilities, materials and supplies 4,509 6,261
Transportation and telecommunications 3,619 2,885
Employee severance benefits (note 6) 3,083 2,831
Other expenses 717 1,839
Research and development costs 3,574
Total operating expenses 454,763 418,751
Net results (negative 3,556) 6,290
Net liabilities, beginning of year (negative 203,276) (negative 184,734)
Transfer between other government departments of salary overpayments receivables 71
Net financial resources used (provided) and change in the accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, during the year (note 7) (negative 5,876) (negative 24,832)
Net liabilities, end of year (note 7) (negative 212,637) (negative 203,276)

Statement of cash flows for the year ended March 31

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Operating activities
Net results (negative 3,556) 6,290
Variations in statement of financial position
Decrease (increase) in cash in transit 317 (negative 1,134)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable 16,194 (negative 52,315)
Decrease (increase) in other assets (negative 1,058) (negative 11,300)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses (negative 16) 86
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (negative 7,235) 79,883
Increase (decrease) in vacation pay and compensatory leave 77 1,866
Increase (decrease) in contractors' security deposits 771 (negative 116)
Increase (decrease) in employee severance benefits 311 1,572
Subtotal 9,361 18,542
Transfer between other government departments of salary overpayments receivables 71
Net financial resources provided (used) and change in the accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, during the year (note 7) 5,876 24,832
Accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, beginning of year 264,742 239,910
Accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, end of year 270,618 264,742

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2019

1. Authority and purpose

The Real Property Services Revolving Fund (the "Fund") is the funding mechanism for the Real Property Services (RPS) program. This program provides three types of real property services: project delivery services, property and facility management services, and advisory services. These services are provided to the real property portfolio of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and to other government departments (OGDs). Pursuant to the Revolving Funds Act, the program may spend any revenue received in respect of these services and, subject to Treasury Board approval, the aggregate of expenditures shall not at any time exceed the revenues received by more than $150,000,000.

The Fund received authorization from the Treasury Board to access its unused authority for a total amount of up to $10,000,000 to temporarily fund transitory cash elements at year end.

2. Significant accounting policies

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the significant accounting policies set out below to comply with the reporting requirements for revolving funds described by the Receiver General for Canada under the Treasury Board of Canada’s Directive on Charging and Special Financial Authorities. The basis of accounting used in these financial statements differs from Canadian public sector accounting standards mainly because:

The significant accounting policies are as follows:

(a) Revenue recognition

Revenues are recognized when professional and technical services are rendered. The recovery of disbursements made on behalf of other government departments, agencies, and outside parties are recognized when costs are incurred by the Fund and collection is reasonably certain.

(b) Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at amounts expected to be ultimately realized. An allowance is made for accounts receivable where recovery is considered uncertain.

(c) Expense recognition

All expenses are recorded on an accrual basis.

Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned by employees under their respective conditions of employment.

(d) Employee future benefits

Pension benefits

Eligible employees of the Fund participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (the "Plan"), a multiemployer pension plan administered by the Government of Canada. The Fund's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year in which they are incurred and represent the total Fund obligation to the Plan. The Fund's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to the contributions paid. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

Severance benefits

Eligible employees of the Fund were entitled to severance benefits under labour contracts or conditions of employment. These benefits were earned as the services necessary to earn them were rendered. 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.

(e) Sick leave

Employees are permitted to accumulate unused sick leave. However, such leave entitlements may only be used in the event of an illness. As per current government practice, unused sick leave upon employee termination is not payable to the employee. Accordingly, no liability has been accrued in these financial statements. Payments of sick leave benefits are included in current operations as incurred.

(f) 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. However, if the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

(g) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported in the financial statements. At the time of preparation of these financial statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. The most significant items where estimates are used are the allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables from outside parties, the amount of certain liabilities, the liability for vacation pay and compensatory leave, and the liability for employee severance benefits. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimates. 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. Accounts receivable

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Other government departments and agencies 215,675 233,078
Outside parties 12,648 11,470
Subtotal 228,323 244,548
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables from outside parties (negative 214) (negative 245)
Net accounts receivable 228,109 244,303

4. Other assets

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Sales tax refundable advances 33,256 32,392
Other advances 805 611
Total other assets 34,061 33,003

5. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Outside parties 424,660 434,302
Other government departments and agencies 14,015 14,305
Subtotal 438,675 448,607
Accrued liabilities 6,728 4,031
Total accounts payables and accrued liabilities 445,403 452,638

6. Employee severance benefits

The Fund provides severance benefits to its employees based on eligibility, years of service and salary at termination of employment. These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid by future authorities.

Commencing in 2012, as part of collective agreement negotiations and changes to conditions of employment, the accumulation of severance benefits under the employee severance pay program ceased. The employees were given the option to be immediately paid the full or partial value of benefits earned to date or to collect the full or remaining value of benefits on termination from the public service. These changes have been reflected in the calculation of the outstanding severance benefits obligation.

Information about the severance benefits, measured as at March 31, is as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Employee severance benefits obligation, beginning of year 12,655 11,083
Expense for the year 3,083 2,831
Benefits paid during the year (negative 2,772) (negative 1,259)
Employee severance benefits obligation, end of year 12,966 12,655

7. Net liabilities

The accumulated surplus is the accumulation of each fiscal year's surplus net of deficits since the inception of the Fund.

The accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority (ANCAFA) represents the cumulative receipts and disbursements over the life of the Fund.

(in thousands of dollars)

  2019 2018
Accumulated surplus, beginning of year 61,466 55,176
Net results (negative 3,556) 6,290
Transfer between other government departments of salary overpayments receivables 71
Accumulated surplus, end of year 57,981 61,466
Accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, beginning of year (negative 264,742) (negative 239,910)
Net financial resources used (provided) and change in the accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, during the year (negative 5,876) (negative 24,832)
Accumulated net charge against the Fund's authority, end of year (negative 270,618) (negative 264,742)
Net liabilities, end of year (negative 212,637) (negative 203,276)

8. Contractual obligations

The nature of the Fund's activities can result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the Fund will be obligated to make future payments when the goods and services are received. Estimated future payments of significant contractual obligations are as follows:

(in thousands of dollars)

2020 679,933
2021 162,084
2022 42,945
2023 15,786
2024 and thereafter 25,279
Total contractual obligations 926,027

9. Contingent liabilities

In connection with its operations, the Fund is a defendant in certain litigation. It is estimated that pending and threatened litigation amount to $2.3 million ($13.4 million in 2017-2018). Settlement, if any, that may be made with respect to these actions, is expected to be accounted for as a charge against income of the applicable years.

10. Related party transactions

Through common ownership, the Fund is related to all Government of Canada departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The Fund enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms.

11. Comparative figures

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

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