Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures 2022-2023

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on travel, hospitality and conference expenditures for Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by a federal department or agency relate to activities that support the department’s or agency’s mandate and the government’s priorities.

Mandate

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) was created pursuant to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act and came into force on June 1, 2015. The purpose of POLAR is to:

• advance knowledge of the Canadian Arctic in order to improve economic opportunities, environmental stewardship and the quality of life of its residents and all other Canadians;
• promote the development and dissemination of knowledge of the other circumpolar regions, including the Antarctic;
• strengthen Canada's leadership on Arctic issues; and
• establish a hub for scientific research in the Canadian Arctic.

Further details on POLAR’s mandate, program activities and legislation may be found in the Departmental Plans and the Departmental Results Reports https://www.canada.ca/en/polar-knowledge/reports.html.

Significant variances compared with previous fiscal year

Total Travel, Hospitality and Conference fees

Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures have all increased compared to the previous fiscal year. This increase in spending is attributed to the return to pre-pandemic levels of regular operation travelling activities, return of in-person attendance at events, conferences, trainings and engagements.