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2014-2015 Quarterly Financial Report for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2014 (Revised)

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Management Statement
for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2014

Erratum

Date: January 29, 2015

Location: Section 2. Highlights of the Quarterly Financial Results, Graph, Authorities available for use and expenditures as at September 30, Fiscal Year 2014-2015.

Review: Authorities $479.4 million replaces $479.3 million.

Location: Section 2.1 Significant Changes in Authorities (Total Vote Available for Use) between fiscal 2014-2015 and 2013-2014, Authorities table, Fiscal 2014-2015, Vote 1 - Operating expenditures.

Annex 1, Statement of Authorities, Fiscal Year 2014-2015, Total available for use for the year ending March 31, 2015, Vote 1 – Operating expenditures.

Revision: Vote 1 - Operating expenditures $163,196 thousands replaces $163,127 thousands.

Location: Annex 2, Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object, Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2015, Professional and special services and Other Subsidies and payments.

Revisions: Professional and special services $112,771 thousands replaces $112,744 thousands.

Other subsidies and payments $3,666 thousands replaces $3,624 thousands.

Rationale for the revision: Adjustments to include frozen allotments that had been excluded in the initial Quarterly Financial Report.

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 EstimatesFootnote1, Supplementary Estimates, the previous quarterly report for the current year, as well as with Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 (Budget 2012).

1.2 Mandate and Program Activities

The mandate of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is to promote the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the knowledge of space through science and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians.

More information is available on the CSA's mandate and Program Activities in the 2014-15 Report on Plans and PrioritiesFootnote 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 September 30 for fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15. 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 September 30, 2014.

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 available for use and expenditures as at September 30 (in millions of dollars)
Authorities Quarterly Expenditures Year to Date Expenditures
Fiscal Year 2014-2015 479.4 67.5 110.2
Fiscal Year 2013-2014 488.7 128.3 179.4

Totals may not add up due to rounding.

2.1 Significant Changes in Authorities (Total Vote Available for Use) between fiscal 2014-2015 and 2013-2014

The total vote available for use as at September 30, 2014 is $479.3 million and represents a decrease of $9.4 million over the same period for the previous year.

Significant changes in the authorities
Authorities (in thousands of dollars) 2014-2015 2013-2014 Variance %
Vote 1 - Operating expenditures 163,196 171,615 (8,488) - 5 %
Vote 5 - Capital expenditures 266,888 272,688 (5,800) - 2 %
Vote 10 - Grants and contributions 39,307 33,630 5,677 17 %
Contributions to employee benefit plans 9,919 10,748 (829) - 8 %
Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets 44 9 35 389 %
Total budgetary authorities 479,354 488,690 (9,405) - 2 %

The following factors are key in explaining the $8.5 million decrease in Vote 1 - Operating Expenditures:

The following factors are key in explaining the decrease of $5.8 million in Vote 5 - Capital Expenditures:

The following factors are key in explaining the increase of $5.7 million in Vote 10 - Grants and Contributions:

2.2 Significant Changes in Quarterly and Year-to-Date Expenditures (Votes Used) between fiscal 2014-2015 and 2013-2014

Quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 are of $67.5 and $110.2 million and represent a $60.8 and $69.2 million decrease compared to the same period over the previous year.

Expenditures by Vote

Expenditures and expenditure variations by Vote for the quarter ended September 30:

Expenditures by Vote as at September 30
Expenditures by Vote
(in thousands of dollars)
2014-2015 2013-2014 Variance
Quarterly Year to date Quarterly Year to date Quarterly Year to date
Vote 1- Operating expenditures 33,423 57,924 31,819 54,435 1,604 3,489
Vote 5 - Capital expenditures 30,528 34,368 84,382 101,886 (53,854) (67,518)
Vote 10 - Grants and contributions 1,103 12,941 9,439 17,689 (8,336) (4,748)
Contributions to employee benifit plans 2,479 4,959 2,687 5,374 (208) (415)
Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crows assets 10 14 2 2 8 12
Total budgetary expenditures by Vote 67,543 110,206 128,329 179,386 (60,786) (69,180)

The following factor is key in explaining the $1.6 and $3.5 million quarterly and year-to-date increases in the use of Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures over the same period of the previous year:

The following factor is key in explaining the $53.9 and $67.5 million quarterly and year-to-date decreases in the use of Vote 5 - Capital Expenditures over the same period of the previous year:

The following factor is key in explaining the $8.3 and $4.7 million quarterly and year-to-date decreases in the use of Vote 10 – Grants and contributions Expenditures over the same period of the previous year:

Expenditures by Standard Object

Expenditures and expenditure variations by standard object for the quarter ended September 30:

Expenditures by Standard Object as at September 30
Expenditures by Standard Object
(in thousands of dollars)
2014-2015 2013-2014 Variance
Quaterly Year to date Quaterly Year to date Quaterly Year to date
Personnel 15,279 34,998 17,275 36,885 (1,996) (1,887)
Transports and communications 624 1,196 845 1,538 (221) (342)
Information 565 780 723 1,070 (158) (290)
Professional and special services 17,824 23,401 16,905 21,984 919 1,417
Rentals 729 988 832 1,071 (103) (83)
Repair and maintenance 382 562 1,042 1,552 (660) (990)
Utilities, materials and supplies 389 762 373 801 16 (39)
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 28,880 30,277 78,973 94,731 (50,093) (64,454)
Transfer payments 1,103 12,941 9,439 17,689 (8,336) (4,748)
Other subsidies and payments 1,768 4,301 1,922 2,065 (154) 2,236
Total budgetary expenditures by Standard Object 67,543 110,206 128,329 179,386 (60,786) (69,180)

The $50.1 and $64.5 million decreases in quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the Acquisition of machinery and equipment standard object are attributable to variations in the payment schedules of the Major Crown Project Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM).

The $8.3 and $4.7 million decreases in quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the Transfer payments standard object are explained in the previous section "Expenditures by vote", under the paragraph referring to Vote 10 – Grants and Contributions Expenditures.

The explanation for the $2.2 million increase in year-to-date expenditures for the Other subsidies and payments standard object is due to a one-time transition payment for implementing salary payment in arrears by the Government of Canada.

The $2.0 and $1.9 million decreases in quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the Personnel standard object are mainly due to the decrease in payments related to the Work force Adjustment Directive.

The $0.9 and $1.4 million increases in quarterly and year-to-date expenditures for the Professional and special services standard object are mainly attributable to the variations in the payment schedules for Interdepartmental agreements, in the activities implementation cycle, and in the projects development cycle, which are inherent characteristics of the implementation of the Canadian Space Program.

3. Risks and Uncertainties

Characteristics specific to the implementation of the Canadian Space Program: International cooperation is essential to the achievement of the CSA's programs because partnerships with other space-faring nations make it possible to share technical expertise, knowledge and infrastructure. The CSA also relies on partnerships with Canadian businesses and universities to convert scientific and technological advances into innovative products and services. The domestic market is relatively small and the viability of Canada's space sector depends on its positioning on international markets. Furthermore, space projects make use of innovative technologies that will sometimes be tested for the first time in harsh space conditions.

These specific characteristics of the space sector create a risk of delays in the realization of projects and therefore risks of postponements of the use of funds.

The year-to-date expenditures for the 2nd quarter of 2014-15 represent 23% of our authorities whereas 50% of our fiscal year has passed. This situation is similar to that of the previous fiscal years and represents no concerns.

From the Canada / ESA Cooperation Agreement also arise risks such as variations in amounts payable caused by changes in the Gross National Product (GNP) statistics, the depreciation 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 these risks, the CSA regularly reviews its project portfolio, activity plans, schedules and financial management strategies to adjust to changes brought in the space programs of its key partners (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ESA and other space agencies).

4. Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

This Quarterly Financial Report was approved by Mr. Luc Brûlé, acting President, following the departure of the President Mr. Walter Natynczyk on October 31, 2014.

5. Budget 2012 Implementation

This section provides an overview of the savings measures announced in Budget 2012 that are being implemented in order to refocus government and programs, make it easier for Canadians and businesses to deal with their government and, modernize and reduce the back office.

The CSA will achieve annual savings of $29.5 million starting in fiscal year 2014-15 through key measures that actively contribute to the Government's overarching plan to return to a balanced budget. Therefore, the CSA will increasingly focus its Programs and support in response to the growing demand for space-based solutions that serve the mandates and operations of Government departments and agencies.

In the first two years of implementation, the CSA achieved savings of approximately $7.9 and $24.7 million for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14. The ongoing savings will amount to $29.5 million by 2014-15 and will be reflected in the votes as follows:

By the end of the fiscal year, the main decreases in expenditures arising for the savings measures announced in Budget 2012 will be reflected in Vote 1 – Operating expenditures, in several standard objects mainly those for Personnel and Transportation and communications.

There are no financial risks or uncertainties related to these savings.

Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by,

The original version was signed by Luc Brûlé, Acting President, in Longueuil, Quebec, on November 24, 2014.

The original version was signed by Marie-Claude Guérard, Chief Financial Officer, in Longueuil, Quebec, on November 24, 2014.

Annex 1

Canadian Space Agency
Quarterly Financial Report
For the quarter ended September 30, 2014
Statement of Authorities
(unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars)
Authorities Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Fiscal Year 2013-2014
Total available for use for the year ending
March 31, 2015
Footnote 2
$
Used during the quarter ended
September 30, 2014
$
Year to date
used at
quarter-end
$
Total available for use for the year ending
March 31, 2014
Footnote 2
$
Used during the quarter ended
September 30, 2013
$
Year to date
used at
quarter-end
$
Vote 1: Operating expenditures 163,196 33,423 57,924 171,615 31,819 54,435
Vote 5: Capital expenditures 266,888 30,528 34,368 272,688 84,382 101,886
Vote 10: Grants and contributions 39,307 1,103 12,941 33,630 9,439 17,689
Contributions to employee
benefit plans
9,919 2,479 4,959 10,748 2,687 5,374
Spending of proceeds from the
disposal of surplus Crown assets
44 10 14 9 2 2
Total budgetary authorities 479,354 67,543 110,206 488,690 128,329 179,386

Annex 2

Canadian Space Agency
Quarterly Financial Report
For the quarter ended September 30, 2014
Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object
(unaudited)
(in thousands of dollars)
Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Fiscal Year 2013-2014
Planned expenditures for the year ending
March 31, 2015
$
Used
during the
quarter ended
September 30, 2014
Footnote 3
$
Year to date
used at
quarter-end
Footnote 3
$
Planned expenditures for the year ending
March 31, 2014
$
Used
during the
quarter ended September 30, 2013
$
Year to date
used at
quarter-end
$
Personnel 70,032 15,279 34,998 72,516 17,275 36,885
Transportation and communications 4,405 624 1,196 4,098 845 1,538
Information 2,227 565 780 908 723 1,070
Professional and special services 112,771 17,824 23,401 106,753 16,905 21,984
Rentals 3,986 729 988 2,347 832 1,071
Repair and maintenance 3,012 382 562 3,397 1,042 1,552
Utilities, materials and supplies 3,271 389 762 2,330 373 801
Acquisition of land, buildings and works - - - 1,110 - -
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 236,677 28,880 30,277 257,584 78,973 94,731
Transfer payments 39,307 1,103 12,941 33,630 9,439 17,689
Other subsidies and payments 3,666 1,768 4,301 4,017 1,922 2,065
Total budgetary expenditures 479,354 67,543 110,206 488,690 128,329 179,386
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