Quarterly Financial Report - For the quarter ended June 30, 2018

Table of Contents

Introduction

This quarterly 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 Directive on Accounting Standards, GC 4400 Departmental Quarterly Financial Report. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates and previous Quarterly Financial Reports.

A summary description of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) program activities can be found in Part II of the Main Estimates. For information on the mandate of SIRC, please visit its website at http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca.

This quarterly report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

Mandate

The Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) is an independent review body which reports to Parliament of Canada on the operations of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The Prime Minister is responsible for SIRC.

Parliament has given CSIS powers to enhance the security of Canadians. SIRC reports on whether these powers are used appropriately and in accordance with the rule of law in order to protect Canadians' rights and freedoms. To do this, SIRC examines past operations of CSIS and conducts investigations. It has absolute authority to examine all information concerning CSIS activities, no matter how sensitive and highly classified that information may be. The result of this work, edited to protect national security and personal privacy, are summarized in its Annual Report to Parliament.

SIRC’s work is designed first and foremost to inform Canadians on whether CSIS investigates threats to national security in a manner that respects Canada’s core democratic values. It also serves to provide expert advice to policymakers and lawmakers on CSIS’s performance. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (CSIS Act) continues to guide SIRC’s work in assessing CSIS’s performance against the mandate and authorities conferred upon it by Parliament.

Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting, The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the department's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the department, consistent with the 2018-19 Main Estimates. This quarterly report has been prepared using a special purpose financial reporting framework (cash basis) 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.

SIRC uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

Highlights of Fiscal Quarter and Fiscal Year to Date Results

This section highlights the significant items that contributed to the net increase or decrease in authorities available for the year and actual expenditures for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

SIRC spent approximately 20% of its authorities by the end of the first quarter, compared to 13% in the same quarter of 2017-18 (see graph 1 below).

Graph 1: Comparison of Total Authorities and Total Net Budgetary Expenditures as of Q1 2018-2019 and 2017-2018 (in millions of dollars)
2018-19 2017-18
Total Authorities 5.1 7.0
Q1 Expenditures 1.0 0.9

Significant changes to authorities

As per graph 2 below as at June 30, 2018 and Table 1, presented at the end of this document, SIRC has authorities available for use of $5.1 million in 2018-19 compared to $7.0 million as of June 30, 2017, for a net decrease of $1.9 million or 27%.

Graph 2: Variance in Authorities as at June 30, 2018 (in millions of dollars)
Vote 1 - Operating Statutory Total budgetary authorities
Fiscal year 2017-18 total available for use for the year ended 31-Mar-18 6.5 0.5 7.0
Fiscal year 2018-19 total available for use for the year ended 31-Mar-19 4.6 0.5 5.1

The authorities decrease of $1.9 million is explained by the end of funding for SIRC's relocation project. SIRC changed office space by the end of March 2018.

Significant changes to expenditures

Year-to-date expenditures recorded to the end of the first quarter increased by $82K, or 9%, from previous year at the same time. Table 1 below presents budgetary expenditures by standard object.

Budgetary expenditures by standard object
Material Variances to Expenditures by Standard Object
(in thousands of dollars)		 Fiscal year 2018-19 Expended during the quarter ended
30-June-2018		 Fiscal year 2017-18 Expended during the quarter ended
30-June-2017		 Variance $ Variance %
Personnel 693 722 (29) (4%)
Transportation and communications 47 55 (8) (15%)
Information 28 1 27 2700%
Professional and special services 103 143 (40) (28%)
Rentals 17 14 3 21%
Repair and maintenance 15 - 15 -
Utilities, materials and supplies 2 6 (4) (67%)
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 100 5 95 1900%
Other subsidies and payments 20 (4) 24 (600%)
Total gross budgetary expenditures 1,025 943 82 9%

Information

The increase of $27,000 is related to the eariler production of the SIRC Annual Report. The previous year's annual report was released in September 2017.

Professional and Special Services

The decrease relates to Case Management Project which was completed last fiscal year.

Repair and maintenance

The increase is related to SIRC's end of year relocation project, as well as minor repairs and maintenance to the new SIRC office in the new fiscal year.

Acquisition of machinery and equipment

The increase of $95,000 is mainly related to the delay of SIRC's relocation. This delay impacted the installation and configuration of computer and networking equipment; which was pushed to the new fiscal year.

Other Subsidies and payments

This increase is due to an international interchange agreement.

Risks and Uncertainties

This Departmental Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) reflects the results of the current fiscal period in relation to the 2018-19 Main Estimates (full supply for these Estimates were released in June 2018).

SIRC continues to adapt its operations to the rapid pace of change in the security intelligence environment.

SIRC is closely monitoring pay transactions to identify and address over and under payments in a timely manner and continues to apply ongoing mitigating controls which were implemented in 2016.

Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

SIRC's activities have increased in volume and complexity due to the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) expanded mandate. SIRC accessed funds through the 2018-19 Main Estimates. There have also been additional costs associated with the relocation of SIRC, as well as the IM/IT modernization project.

Approval by Senior Officials


Original signed by
_________________________
Hon. Pierre Blais, P.C.
Chair
Ottawa, Canada
Date: September 28, 2018


Original signed by
_________________________
Chantelle Bowers
A/Executive Director
A/Chief Financial Officer

Table 1: Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited) (note 2)

Table 1: Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited) (note 2)
(In thousands of dollars) Fiscal year 2018–2019 Fiscal year 2017–2018
Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2019
(note 1)		 Used during the quarter ended June 30, 2018 Year to date used at quarter end Planned expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2018
(note 1)		 Used during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 Year to date used at quarter end
Expenditures
Personnel 3,989 693 694 4,015 722 722
Transportation and communications 223 47 47 213 55 55
Information 73 28 28 47 1 1
Professional and special services 447 103 103 820 143 143
Rentals 67 17 17 100 14 14
Repair and maintenance 3 15 15 4 - -
Utilities, materials and supplies 28 2 2 26 6 6
Acquisition of land, buildings and works - - - 97 - -
Acquisition of machinery and equipment 303 100 100 1,700 5 5
Other subsidies and payments 2 20 20 - (4) (4)
Total gross budgetary expenditures 5,134 1,025 1,025 7,022 943 943
Total Authorities 5,134 1,025 1,025 7,022 943 943
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