Quarterly Financial Report
For the quarter ended December 31, 2017

Statement outlining results, risks and significant changes in operations, personnel and programming

1. 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 Treasury Board Accounting Standard 1.3. It should be read in conjunction with the Main Estimates. This report has not been subject to an external audit or review.

1.1 Authority, Mandate and Program Activities

Status of Women Canada (SWC) is a federal government agency that promotes equality for women and their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.

SWC works to advance equality for women and to remove barriers to women's participation in society, putting particular emphasis on three priority areas:

• Increasing women's and girls' economic security and prosperity;
• ending violence against women and girls; and
• supporting the advancement and increased representation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.

SWC is also responsible for providing strategic policy advice and gender-based analysis support, administering the Women's Program and promoting commemorative events related to women and girls in Canada. The organization also plays an important role in Canada's efforts to meet its international obligations on gender equality.

Further details on SWC's mandate, raison d'être, responsibilities and program activities may be found in the organization's 2017-18 Departmental Plan and 2017-18 Main Estimates.

1.2 Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by SWC management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes the agency's spending authorities granted by Parliament and those used by the agency consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2017-18 fiscal year. This quarterly report 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 money 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 agency uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual departmental financial statements that are part of the departmental results reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament remain on an expenditure basis.

2. Highlights of fiscal quarter and fiscal year to date (YTD) results

This section highlights the significant items that contributed to the net increase or decrease in resources available for the year and actual expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 in comparison to the prior year.

2.1 Significant changes to authorities

As reflected in the Statement of Authorities, SWC received additional budgetary authorities ($5.7 million) in this fiscal year compared to the previous year. This is explained by an increase following Budget 2016 for the research and evaluation function, to expand regional presence, to increase Gender Based Analysis function and to increase capacity at Status of Women Canada. As well, the Supplementary Estimates (B) confirmed additional funds of $3.3M to establish the internal functions and capacity necessary for SWC to support a full Minister with a broad mandate and key involvement in cross-cutting and overarching Government of Canada priorities. This represents an increase of 16% compared to the previous year.

2.2 Significant changes to expenditures

The proportion of SWC’s total budgetary expenditures as of December 31, 2017, with approximately 57 percent of the authorities available for use expensed at the end of the third quarter is higher than the proportion of 53 percent last year.

For the quarter, there has been a decrease of $0.6 million, from $7.7 million to $7.1 million (Figure 1) in the budgetary expenditures compared to the same quarter last fiscal year. This 7% decrease is primarily due to a decrease of $2.4 million in transfer payments due to project payment schedules that vary from year to year, an increase of $1.3 million in personnel costs, an increase of $0.3 million in professional services, with the remaining balance (increase of $0.2 million) distributed to other operating expenditures.

Figure 1 outlines the total authorities available for use and total expenditures for the third quarter.

3. Risks and uncertainties

SWC approaches risk as an integral part of its planning process, recognizing the need for strong risk management in all of its operations, as well as at the corporate level. SWC’s corporate risk profile, review of budgetary challenges, management practices and risk mitigation strategies were all monitored on a regular basis by its senior management. SWC is undergoing transformation at a fast pace and expectations of SWC in a feminist government have increased expectations and workload. More rigorous planning processes are being developed and implemented across all business units, to ensure resources are aligned with high level priorities.

4. Significant changes in operations, personnel and programs

The agency now has a dedicated Minister for Status of Women as a result of the 2015 federal election. This has a significant impact on internal services operations and personnel in order to provide support to the Minister’s office directly when in the past, these services were provided by another department. Budget 2016 announced total investments of $23.3 million over five years, starting in 2016-17 to increase capacity at Status of Women Canada. In fiscal year 2017-18 SWC received additional budget to support the Minister of Status of Women to deliver on her mandate priorities, including providing gender-based advice and leadership in Cabinet.

This additional funding will contribute effectively to achieving the overall Government commitment to advance gender equality, including strengthening SWC capacity to address complex, long-standing socio-cultural and economic issues that contribute to gender inequality. It will also improve SWC’s ability to foster partnerships with key domestic and international stakeholders, allow the Government to engage meaningfully with and raise awareness among Canadians on gender equality issues, and better position SWC to establish and achieve targeted results. SWC will also increase its research and evaluation function, expand on regional presence and its Gender Based Analysis function. Finally, additional capacity will increase workload predictability at SWC, thus ensuring a balanced and positive work environment for SWC employees.

Approval by Senior Officials

Approved by:

Statement of Authorities (unaudited)

Departmental budgetary expenditures by Standard Object (unaudited)

Note: Totals may not add up and may not agree with details provided in other public documents due to rounding.

Date modified:

2018-02-28