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Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2012

Table of Contents

Introduction

This quarterly financial report has been prepared by management as required by section 65.1 of the Financial Administration Act and in the form and manner prescribed by the Treasury Board. It should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates, the previous quarterly financial report, as well as Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012 (Budget 2012). This quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

Mandate and program activities

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) supports the Commissioner of Official Languages in fulfilling his mandate, which consists of taking all actions and measures within his authority to ensure recognition of the status of each of the official languages and compliance with the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act in the administration of the affairs of federal institutions, including any of their activities relating to the advancement of English and French in Canadian society.

Further information about OCOL’s responsibilities and program activities can be found in the 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities and in the Main Estimates.

Basis of presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes OCOL’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and used by OCOL, consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2012-13 fiscal year. This quarterly report has also been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework designed to meet financial information needs with respect to the use of spending authorities.

The authority of Parliament is required before moneys can be spent by the government. Approvals are given in the form of annually approved limits through appropriation acts or through legislation in the form of statutory spending authority for specific purposes.

OCOL uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual financial statements, which are part of the organization's performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament are prepared on an expenditure basis.

As part of the Parliamentary business of supply, the Main Estimates must be tabled in Parliament on or before March 1 preceding the new fiscal year.  Budget 2012 was tabled in Parliament on March 29, after the tabling of the Main Estimates on February 28, 2012.  As a result the measures announced in the Budget 2012 could not be reflected in the 2012-13 Main Estimates.

In fiscal year 2012-13, frozen allotments will be established by Treasury Board authority in departmental votes to prohibit the spending of funds already identified as savings measures in Budget 2012.  In future years, the changes to departmental authorities will be implemented through the Annual Reference Level Update, as approved by Treasury Board, and reflected in the subsequent Main Estimates tabled in Parliament.

Highlights of Fiscal Quarter and Fiscal Year to Date

This section presents a brief analysis of significant variances in relation to actual expenditures and planned expenditures that affected both the quarter and the year to date results, compared to the same periods of the preceding fiscal year.

Significant changes to authorities

As of December 31, 2012, total authorities available for the fiscal year decreased by $1.1 million compared to the previous fiscal year, mainly due to the following factors:

  • A $1.5 million decrease in the amount allocated by Treasury Board for reimbursement of eligible paylist expenditures;
  • A $0.3 million increase in the operating budget carry forward amount.

Significant changes to budgetary expenditures

OCOL has spent approximately 68% of its authorities as of December 31, 2012, of which 80% represent personnel costs.

Expenditures in this quarter have not significantly changed compared to the same quarter last fiscal year.  However, the year to date expenditures decreased by $0.8 million or 5.3% due to:

  • Personnel costs decreased by $1.3 million mainly due to a reduction in payments of severance pay and termination benefits.
  • Professional and special services increased by $0.4 million due the implementation of IM/IT integrated solution;

Risks and Uncertainties

Funding required for IM/IT

The inadequate core systems and support related to IM/IT are still a high risk. OCOL is gradually implementing its strategic plan as funding permits. The Budget 2012 reflected necessary IT investments to address its deteriorating applications.  Details are discussed in the Budget 2012 Implementation section.

A-Base Review

Management is presently implementing the action plan prepared in response to the A-Base Review conducted in 2010–11. This review identified several constraints within the organization as well as opportunities for optimizing resources.

Budget 2010

The cost containment measures announced in Budget 2010 are another financial risk OCOL faces because it has to absorb salary increases that have been agreed on in collective agreements through its A-Base funding. Management has implemented various measures to adjust to this financial constraint.

Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

There have been no significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs during the current quarter.

Budget 2012 Implementation

As announced in Budget 2012, OCOL contributes to the Government’s expenditure restraint efforts by reallocating operating savings towards necessary information technology investments. Over a four-year period, a total of $4.2 million will be allocated to the implementation of an IM/IT integrated solution.

The implementation of the action plan as a result of the A-Base review produced some efficiency gains and released funds. 

OCOL has conducted a comprehensive analysis and identified expenditure items to determine which projects could be delayed. For example, the launch of the awareness campaign that had been planned for the travelling public has been rescheduled to a later date, and all proposed staffing actions are referred to our staffing committee to determine if any can be delayed.

For the immediate future, OCOL allocates its resources based on the most important priorities related to its mandate. However, once information technology investments have been made, OCOL will need to reallocate its resources back to programs to ensure delivery on its mandate.

Approval by Senior Officials

The original version was approved and signed by:

Graham Fraser
Commissioner of Official Languages

Nancy Premdas, CMA
Chief Financial Officer
Assistant Commissioner
Corporate Management

Ottawa, Canada
February 15, 2013

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

(in thousands of dollars)
Fiscal year 2012-13 Fiscal year 2011-12
Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2013* Used during the quarter ended December 31, 2012 Year to date used at quarter-end Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2012* Used during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 Year to date used at quarter-end
Vote 20 - Program expenditures 19,348 4,777 12,994 20,437 4,712 13,780
Budgetary statutory authorities 2,250 563 1,688 2,301 575 1,726
Total budgetary authorities 21,598 5,340 14,682 22,738 5,287 15,506
Total authorities 21,598 5,340 14,682 22,738 5,287 15,506

*Includes only Authorities available for use and granted by Parliament at quarter end.

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

(in thousands of dollars)
EXPENDITURES: Fiscal year 2012-13 Fiscal year 2011-12
Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2013 Expended during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 Year to date used at quarter-end Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2012 Expended during the quarter ended  September 30, 2011 Year to date used at quarter-end
Personnel 15,161 4,062 11,684 16,611 4,258 12,986
Transportation and communications 958 219 479 1,001 252 610
Information 208 68 108 283 42 64
Professional and special services 4,384 786 1,830 3,773 605 1,420
Rentals 109 53 252 121 22 54
Repair and maintenance 261 38 65 233 21 197
Utilities, materials and supplies 161 36 81 165 47 104
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 350 78 183 545 40 70
Other subsidies and payments 6 - - 6 - 1
Total gross budgetary expenditures 21,598 5,340 14,682 22,738 5,287 15,506
Total net budgetary expenditures 21,598 5,340 14,682 22,738 5,287 15,506