- 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.
1.1 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.
1.2 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 year - 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. Partial accrual method of accounting 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 - | 348.9 | 41.9 | 41.9 |
| Fiscal Year - | 353.8 | 65.5 | 65.5 |
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 $348.9 million, and represents a decrease of $4.9 million compared to the same period of the previous year.
| Authorities (in thousands of dollars) | - | - | Variance | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote 1 - Operating expenditures | 170,770 | 161,269 | 9,501 | 6% |
| Vote 5 - Capital expenditures | 112,229 | 122,420 | (10,191) | (8%) |
| Vote 10 - Grants and contributions | 56,411 | 60,966 | (4,555) | (7%) |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 9,463 | 9,155 | 308 | 3% |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 20 | 28 | (8) | (30%) |
| Total budgetary authorities | 348,893 | 353,838 | (4,945) | (1%) |
The increase of $9.5 million in Vote 1 - Operating expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- An increase of $15.1 million due to additional funding received to extend Canada's participation in the International Space Station (ISS) mission from to .
- An decrease of $2.0 million due to a budgetary transfer from the Operating Vote to the Grants and contributions Vote for the Space technologies development program.
- The residual difference consists of multiple variations inherent to the Canadian Space Program (CSP) Resource Management. They result from the fact that budgetary requirements by vote are not linear from one year to the next, requiring vote transfers or fund carry forwards to another fiscal year.
The decrease of $10.2 million in Vote 5 - Capital expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- A decrease of $7.5 million due to the end of the additional funding obtained for items in Budget related to the security enhancement at John H. Chapman Space Center as well as the purchase and installation of absorber material for the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) Anechoic Chamber.
- A decrease of $4.4 million compared to the previous year due to the end of the additional funding obtained for the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) infrastructure and corresponding equipment to maintain its space capabilities and improve compliance with applicable building codes and standards.
- An increase of $2.6 million due to different cash flow requirements for Surface Water & Ocean Topography (SWOT-C) project related activities.
- The residual difference consists of multiple variations inherent to the Canadian Space Program (CSP) Resource Management. They result from the fact that budgetary requirements by vote are not linear from one year to the next, requiring vote transfers or fund carry forwards to another fiscal year.
The decrease of $4.6 million in Vote 10 - Grants and Contributions expenditures is mainly explained by the following items:
- A decrease of $5.0 million over the same period last year, due to the funding profile of the additional funding obtained in the Budget for the Contribution Program under the Canada-European Space Agency Cooperation Agreement for the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program.
- An increase of $2.0 million due to a budgetary transfer from the Operating Vote to the Grants and contributions Vote for the Space technologies development program.
- The residual difference consists of multiple variations inherent to the Canadian Space Program (CSP) Resource Management. They result from the fact that budgetary requirements by vote are not linear from one year to the next, requiring vote transfers or fund carry forwards to another fiscal year.
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 $41.9 million and represent a decrease, quarterly and year to date, of $23.6 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 | 23,496 | 23,496 | 24,777 | 24,777 | (1,281) | (1,281) |
| Vote 5 - Capital expenditures | 2,692 | 2,692 | 30,497 | 30,497 | (27,805) | (27,805) |
| Vote 10 - Grants and contributions | 13,340 | 13,340 | 7,913 | 7,913 | 5,427 | 5,427 |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 2,366 | 2,366 | 2,289 | 2,289 | 77 | 77 |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 6 | 6 | 12 | 12 | (6) | (6) |
| Total budgetary expenditures by Vote | 41,900 | 41,900 | 65,488 | 65,488 | (23,588) | (23,588) |
The decrease of $1.3 million in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 1 – Operating expenditures, is mainly explained by the following:
- A decrease of $3.8 million due to variation in the payment schedules for the implementation cycle of activities related to ISS.
- An increase of $1.8 million due to variation in the payment schedules for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program (PILT).
- An increase of $0.9 million in salary expenses due to the ratification of collective agreements.
The decrease of $27.8 million in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 5 - Capital expenditures, is mainly explained by the following:
- The variations the payment schedules for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) project.
The increase of $5.4 million in the quarterly and year to date expenditures in Vote 10 – Grants and contributions, is mainly explained by the following:
- The variations in the payment schedules to the European Space Agency (ESA) as well as the Class Grant Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology.
| Expenditures by Standard Object (in thousands of dollars) | - | - | Variance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | Quarterly | Year to date | |
| Personnel | 18,882 | 18,882 | 17,972 | 17,972 | 910 | 910 |
| Transportation and communications | 796 | 796 | 754 | 754 | 42 | 42 |
| Information | 561 | 561 | 515 | 515 | 46 | 46 |
| Professional and special services | 4,304 | 4,304 | 8,408 | 8,408 | (4,104) | (4,104) |
| Rentals | 285 | 285 | 369 | 369 | (84) | (84) |
| Repair and maintenance | 609 | 609 | 660 | 660 | (51) | (51) |
| Utilities, materials and supplies | 604 | 604 | 303 | 303 | 301 | 301 |
| Acquisition of land, buildings and works | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 554 | 554 | 28,559 | 28,559 | (28,005) | (28,005) |
| Transfer payments | 13,352 | 13,352 | 7,913 | 7,913 | 5,439 | 5,439 |
| Other subsidies and payments | 1,953 | 1,953 | 35 | 35 | 1,918 | 1,918 |
| Total budgetary expenditures by Standard Object | 41,900 | 41,900 | 65,488 | 65,488 | (23,588) | (23,588) |
The $0.9 million increase in quarterly and year to date expenditures for the Personnel standard object is primarily due to:
- An increase in salary expenses due to the ratification of collective agreements during the previous fiscal year.
The $4.1 million decrease in quarterly and year to date expenditures for the Professional and special services standard object is primarily due to:
- A variation in the payment schedules related to the Space Station.
The $28.0 million decrease in quarterly and year to date expenditures for the Acquisition of machinery and equipment standard object is primarily due to:
- The budget changes and consequently the variations in the payment schedules for the RCM project.
The $5.4 million increase in quarterly and year to date expenditures for the Transfer payments standard object is primarily due to:
- The variations in the payment schedules to the European Space Agency (ESA) as well as the Class Grant Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology.
The $1.9 million increase in quarterly and year to date expenditures for the Other subsidies and payments standard object is primarily due to:
- A variation in the payment schedules for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program (PILT).
3. Risks and Uncertainties
The year-to-date expenditures for the 1st quarter of - represent 12% of authorities whereas 25% of fiscal year has passed. The level of expenditure is lower than the - fiscal year (19%) and similar to the - fiscal year (12%) 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.
The specific nature of the Canadian Space Program confronts the CSA with issues related to the advanced technologies used in space missions as well as the international aspect of some projects. For Canada, activities are often carried out in partnership with other spacefaring nations, to share the costs and leverage capabilities. The international nature and technical challenges associated with developing and implementing disruptive technologies, in collaboration with multiple partners, generate risks in the delivery of projects and therefore financial risks associated with the use of funds such as the deferral of funds and costs increase.
Risks also arise from the Canada / European Space Agency (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 on by space programs of its key partners (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ESA and other space agencies). In addition, the CSA implemented a new investment governance and monitoring framework and rigorous project management practices are in place. These initiatives allow the CSA to track and report on the progress of its commitments, assess the effectiveness of its work, and align its resources with priorities.
Furthermore, CSA manages its financial risks and uncertainties related to Phoenix by adopting risk mitigation strategies. There are a number of actions that CSA has taken to date to help stabilize the pay system, and ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time. As one of the departments whose accounts have not yet migrated to the Pay Centre, compensation services remain on site. The compensation team, which fluctuates to meet demand, monitors closely for payroll inaccuracies and communicates directly with employees to provide clarification and to take swift action to rectify issues, if needed. The team also participates actively in various working groups and other forums led by Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and/or Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). Beyond this, Finance staff regularly perform salary reconciliations to monitor and correct expense variances.
4. Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs
A significant change in personnel occurred during the first quarter. Two senior leaders exchanged their positions on : Marie-Claude Guérard became the Director General of Space Science and Technology and Jean-Claude Piedboeuf became the CSA's Chief Financial Officer.
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 Jean-Claude Piedboeuf, B. Ing., Ph.D., 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 | 170,770 | 23,496 | 23,496 | 161,269 | 24,777 | 24,777 |
| Vote 5: Capital expenditures | 112,229 | 2,692 | 2,692 | 122,420 | 30,497 | 30,497 |
| Vote 10: Grants and contributions | 56,411 | 13,340 | 13,340 | 60,966 | 7,913 | 7,913 |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 9,463 | 2,366 | 2,366 | 9,155 | 2,289 | 2,289 |
| Spending of proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets | 20 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 12 | 12 |
| Total budgetary authorities | 348,893 | 41,900 | 41,900 | 353,838 | 65,488 | 65,488 |
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 | 71,722 | 18,882 | 18,882 | 67,470 | 17,972 | 17,972 |
| Transportation and communications | 5,180 | 796 | 796 | 4,497 | 754 | 754 |
| Information | 3,199 | 561 | 561 | 3,044 | 515 | 515 |
| Professional and special services | 178,034 | 4,304 | 4,304 | 121,464 | 8,408 | 8,408 |
| Rentals | 1,841 | 285 | 285 | 2,950 | 369 | 369 |
| Repair and maintenance | 1,441 | 609 | 609 | 3,137 | 660 | 660 |
| Utilities, materials and supplies | 1,742 | 604 | 604 | 1,851 | 303 | 303 |
| Acquisition of land, buildings and works | 50 | - | - | 445 | - | - |
| Acquisition of machinery and equipment | 22,538 | 554 | 554 | 81,096 | 28,559 | 28,559 |
| Transfer payments | 56,411 | 13,352 | 13,352 | 60,966 | 7,913 | 7,913 |
| Other subsidies and payments | 6,735 | 1,953 | 1,953 | 6,918 | 35 | 35 |
| Total budgetary expenditures | 348,893 | 41,900 | 41,900 | 353,838 | 65,488 | 65,488 |
- Date modified: