- Quarterly Financial Report for the Quarter Ended
Management Statement
for the Quarter Ended
1. 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. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the - Main EstimatesFootnote 1.
1.2 Mandate and Program Activities
The objectives of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are to promote the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the knowledge of space through science and to ensure that space science and technologies provide social and economic benefits for Canadians.
More information is available on the CSA's mandate and Program Activities in the - Departmental PlanFootnote 1.
1.3 Basis of Presentation
This quarterly financial report (QFR) has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The Statement of Authorities annexed to this report includes the CSA's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the CSA, consistent with the Main Estimates and Supplementary estimates voted as at June 30 for fiscal years - compared to -. This QFR has 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.
The CSA uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual financial statements, which are part of the departmental performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis, that is, a partial accrual method of accounting. Expenditure basis accounting thus includes disbursements as well as some accruals for salaries and salary allowances.
This QFR report has not been subject to an external audit. However, it has been reviewed by the members of the CSA Audit Committee, who are satisfied with its presentation and content.
2. Highlights of the Quarterly Financial Results
This section highlights the significant factors that contributed to the changes to the authorities available for the fiscal year, as well as to the quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the quarter ended .
The following graph provides an overview of variations in available authorities and expenditures. Additional details on these variations are provided in sections 2.1 and 2.2 as well as in the appended annexes.
| Authorities | Quarterly Expenditures |
Year to Date Expenditures |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year - | 353.8 | 65.5 | 65.5 |
| Fiscal Year - | 432.4 | 58.5 | 58.5 |
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
2.1 Significant Changes in Authorities (Total Vote Available for Use) between fiscal - and -.
The total vote available for use as at is $353.8 million, and represents a decrease of $78.6 million compared to the same period of the previous year.
| Authorities (in thousands of dollars) | - | - | Variance | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote 1 - Operating expenditures | 161,269 | 184,498 | (23,229) | (13%) |
| Vote 5 - Capital expenditures | 122,420 | 192,112 | (69,692) | (36%) |
| Vote 10 - Grants and contributions | 60,966 | 45,748 | 15,218 | 33% |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 9,155 | 10,037 | (882) | (9%) |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 28 | 21 | 7 | 33% |
| Total budgetary authorities | 353,838 | 432,416 | (78,578) | (18%) |
The decrease of $23.2 million in Vote 1 - Operating Expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- A decrease of $9.5 million between - and - due to funding received in – for the provision of value-added satellite reports/images for humanitarian needs.
- A decrease of $9 million due to different cash flow requirements from two projects; replacement of cameras for the Mobile Servicing System (MSS RCAM) as well as the Dextre Deployable Vision System (DDVS).
- A decrease of $3 million due to a budgetary transfer from the Operating credit to the Grants and Contribution credit for the Space technologies development program.
- A decrease of $1.4 million between the two years due to the reduction announced in the Federal Budget for professional services, travel and advertising.
The decrease of $69.7 million in Vote 5 - Capital Expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- A decrease of $90.7 million related to the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). The variation between the two years is due to different needs for cash flows according to new milestones schedules, without affecting the launch that is still planned for .
- A decrease of $4.8 million between - and - due to a one-time funding ending in – for the Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Micro-Satellite (M3MSat) project.
- An increase of $10.3 million between the two years, due to different cash flow requirements for activities related to the space station.
- An increase of $7.5 million for items in Budget related to the security enhancement at John H. Chapman Space Centre as well as the purchase and installation of absorber material for the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) Anechoic Chamber.
The increase of $15.2 million in Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions Expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- An increase of $10 million over the same period last year, due to funding from the Federal Budget for the Contribution Program under the Canada and the European Space Agency Cooperation Agreement for the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program.
- An increase of $3 million due to a budgetary transfer from the Operating credit to the Grants and Contribution credit for the Space technologies development program
- An increase of $2.6 million between - and - based on the cash requirements of the Global Grants and Contributions Program to Support research, awareness and learning in Space Science and Technology, for the Canadian CubeSats initiative.
2.2 Significant Changes in Quarterly and Year-to-Date Expenditures (Votes Used) between fiscal - and -
Quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the quarter ended are of $65.5 and represent an increase, quarterly and year to date, of $7 million compared to the same period of the previous year.
| Expenditures by Vote (in thousands of dollars) |
- | - | Variance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | |
| Vote 1 - Operating expenditures | 24,777 | 24,777 | 22,717 | 22,717 | 2,060 | 2,060 |
| Vote 5 - Capital expenditures | 30,497 | 30,497 | 25,793 | 25,793 | 4,704 | 4,704 |
| Vote 10 - Grants and contributions | 7,913 | 7,913 | 7,444 | 7,444 | 469 | 469 |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 2,289 | 2,289 | 2,509 | 2,509 | (220) | (220) |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 12 | 12 | - | - | 12 | 12 |
| Total budgetary expenditures by Vote | 65,488 | 65,488 | 58,463 | 58,463 | 7,025 | 7,025 |
The increase of $2 million in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 1 – Operating expenditures, is mainly explained by the following:
- The increase of $1.5 million due to variations in the payment schedules of the implementation cycle of Government initiatives on Earth observation.
- An increase of $0.5 million due to retroactive payments after the ratifications of multiple collective agreements in which the funding is still to come.
The increase of $4.7 million in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 5 - Capital expenditures, is mainly explained by the following:
- The variations in the payment schedules for the RCM project.
No significant gap in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 10 – Grants and contributions.
| Expenditures by Standard Object (in thousands of dollars) | - | - | Variance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | |
| Personnel | 17,972 | 17,972 | 16,874 | 16,874 | 1,098 | 1,098 |
| Transportation and communications | 754 | 754 | 629 | 629 | 125 | 125 |
| Information | 515 | 515 | 455 | 455 | 60 | 60 |
| Professional and special services | 8,408 | 8,408 | 8,316 | 8,316 | 92 | 92 |
| Rentals | 369 | 369 | 395 | 395 | (26) | (26) |
| Repair and maintenance | 660 | 660 | 343 | 343 | 317 | 317 |
| Utilities, materials and supplies | 303 | 303 | 364 | 364 | (61) | (61) |
| Acquisition of land, buildings and works | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 28,559 | 28,559 | 23,553 | 23,553 | 5,006 | 5,006 |
| Transfer payments | 7,913 | 7,913 | 7,444 | 7,444 | 469 | 469 |
| Other subsidies and payments | 35 | 35 | 90 | 90 | (55) | (55) |
| Total budgetary expenditures by Standard Object | 65,488 | 65,488 | 58,463 | 58,463 | 7,025 | 7,025 |
The increase of $7 million in quarterly and year to date expenditures by standard object (all Votes included) is mainly explained by the following items:
- The $1 million increases in quarterly expenditures for the Personnel standard object is primarily due to:
- An increase of $0.6 million compared to the previous year in the recording of payroll transactions.
- An increase of $0.5 million compared to the previous year due to retroactive payments after the ratification of multiple collective agreements.
- The $5 million increase in quarterly expenditures for the Acquisition of machinery and equipment standard object is mainly explained by the variations in the payment schedules for the RCM project.
3. Risks and Uncertainties
The specific nature of the Canadian Space Program confronts us with issues related to the advanced technologies used in our space missions and issues related to the international aspect of some of our projects. These specific characteristics of the space sector create a risk of delays in the realization of projects and therefore, risk of deferral of the use of funds.
The year-to-date expenditures for the 1st quarter of - represent 19% of our authorities whereas 25% of our fiscal year has passed. This situation is similar to that of the previous fiscal years (14% for 2016-2017 and 16% for -) and represents no concerns. The situation concerning the cumulative expenditures will be restored at fiscal year-end when the accruals will be recorded, according to the full accrual method of accounting, combined with the deferral of budgets to the following year.
Government organizations are increasingly using space assets to deliver their mandate. Where there is a large diversity of missions and partnership opportunities to choose from, there is a risk that gaps may emerge between users' needs and services provided. In this context, the CSA has implemented an interdepartmental governance model that facilitates the identification and mitigation of potential gaps between supply and demand, while ensuring that adequate financial resources will be allocated to space activities.
Risks also arise from the Canada / ESA Cooperation Agreement such as variations in amounts payable caused by changes in the Gross National Product (GNP) statistics, the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar against the euro (exchange rate), inflation and the enforcement of the ESA's industrial policy. These risks have an impact on both costs and cash flow profiles.
To mitigate all of these risks, the CSA regularly reviews its project portfolio, activity plans, schedules and financial management strategies to adjust to changes brought to the space programs of its key partners (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ESA and other space agencies). In addition, the CSA continued the implementation of its governance framework and investment monitoring, which effectively improves the management and control process already in place.
4. Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs
On , the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) launched the fourth astronaut recruitment campaign in Canadian history. After a one-year selection process, the CSA announced on , the appointment of two new astronauts, Joshua Kutryk and Jennifer Sidey.
Treasury Board approved the Canadian Space Agency's - to -
Investment Plan. Along with this approval, Treasury Board approved the
Organizational Project Management Capacity at a level 3 – "Evolutionary
" for the Canadian Space Agency. This reflects a more capable and mature governance and project management capability. This also represents the
highest improvement ever over a three-year period in the history of
assessments in the Government of Canada.
Approval by Senior Officials
Approved by,
The original version was signed by Sylvain Laporte, President, in Longueuil, Quebec, on .
The original version was signed by Marie-Claude Guérard, CPA CGA, Chief Financial Officer, in Longueuil, Quebec, on .
Annex 1
| Fiscal Year - | Fiscal Year - | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total available for use for the year ending Footnote 2 $ |
Used during the quarter ended $ |
Year to date used at quarter-end $ |
Total available for use for the year ending Footnote 2 $ |
Used during the quarter ended $ |
Year to date used at quarter-end $ |
|
| Vote 1: Operating expenditures | 161,269 | 24,777 | 24,777 | 184,498 | 22,717 | 22,717 |
| Vote 5: Capital expenditures | 122,420 | 30,497 | 30,497 | 192,112 | 25,793 | 25,793 |
| Vote 10: Grants and contributions | 60,966 | 7,913 | 7,913 | 45,748 | 7,444 | 7,444 |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 9,155 | 2,289 | 2,289 | 10,037 | 2,509 | 2,509 |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 28 | 12 | 12 | 21 | - | - |
| Total budgetary authorities | 353,838 | 65,488 | 65,488 | 432,416 | 58,463 | 58,463 |
Annex 2
| Expenditures: | Fiscal Year - | Fiscal Year - | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planned expenditures for the year ending $ |
Used during the quarter ended $ |
Year to date used at quarter-end $ |
Planned expenditures for the year ending $ |
Used during the quarter ended $ |
Year to date used at quarter-end $ |
|
| Personnel | 67,470 | 17,972 | 17,972 | 68,389 | 16,874 | 16,874 |
| Transportation and communications | 4,497 | 754 | 754 | 4,249 | 629 | 629 |
| Information | 3,044 | 515 | 515 | 2,775 | 455 | 455 |
| Professional and special services | 121,464 | 8,408 | 8,408 | 138,185 | 8,316 | 8,316 |
| Rentals | 2,950 | 369 | 369 | 3,361 | 395 | 395 |
| Repair and maintenance | 3,137 | 660 | 660 | 7,675 | 343 | 343 |
| Utilities, materials and supplies | 1,851 | 303 | 303 | 1,817 | 364 | 364 |
| Acquisition of land, buildings and works | 445 | - | - | 595 | - | - |
| Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 81,096 | 28,559 | 28,559 | 155,220 | 23,553 | 23,553 |
| Transfer payments | 60,966 | 7,913 | 7,913 | 45,748 | 7,444 | 7,444 |
| Other subsidies and payments | 6,918 | 35 | 35 | 4,402 | 90 | 90 |
| Total budgetary expenditures | 353,838 | 65,488 | 65,488 | 432,416 | 58,463 | 58,463 |
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