Annual Report on Travel, Hospitality and Conference Expenditures Indigenous Services - For the period ending March 31, 2025
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 Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, except for information withheld under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act.
Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures incurred by ISC relate to activities that support the department's mandate and the government's priorities.
ISC's travel, hospitality, and conference expenditures support the department's mandate by enabling the delivery of programs and services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities through activities that:
- Enhance access to high-quality, culturally safe services that are responsive to the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities;
- Empower Indigenous peoples to lead and manage the design and delivery of programs, fostering community-driven solutions and self-determination; and
- Strengthen socio-economic outcomes, community well-being, and safety, contributing to sustainable improvements in quality of life and resilience.
| Expenditure category | Expenditure for year ended March 31, 2025 ($ thousands) | Expenditure for year ended March 31, 2024 ($ thousands) | Variance ($ thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | |||
Operational activities |
$628,146 | $528,279 | $99,867 |
Key stakeholders |
$1,964 | $2,927 | $(963) |
Internal governance |
$188 | $371 | $(183) |
Training |
$896 | $1,816 | $(920) |
Other |
$2,931 | $3,042 | $(111) |
| A. Total Travel | $634,125 | $536,435 | $97,690 |
| B. Hospitality | $187 | $185 | $2 |
| C. Conference fees | $498 | $518 | $(20) |
| Total [A+B+C] | $634,810 | $537,138 | $97,672 |
| International travel by minister and minister's staff (included in travel) | $41 | $10 | $31 |
Significant variances compared with previous fiscal year
The $99.9 million increase in travel expenditures for operational activities is mainly due to an increase in non-public servant travel expenditures under the Supplementary Health Benefit program and for Jordan's Principle for recipients travelling to access services outside their communities combined with inflationary pressures on airfare and accommodations costs.
Travel expenditures across all other sub-categories show a decrease of approximately $2.2 million.
Minister and Minister’s Staff
In 2024-25, the Minister travelled internationally once to Finland (Helsinki) to meet with officials from the Government of Finland to exchange knowledge on mutual priorities regarding Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Finland including participation in trade, global economy, and other economic pursuits.