Statement of Management Responsibility

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

Canada Industrial Relations Board's management is responsible for these future-oriented financial statements, including responsibility for the appropriateness of the assumptions on which these statements are prepared. These statements are based on the best information available and assumptions adopted as at February 21, 2011 and reflect the plans described in the Report on Plans and Priorities.

Ginette Brazeau, Chief Financial Officer
Ottawa, Ontario


           

Elizabeth MacPherson, Chairperson
Ottawa, Ontario


February 21, 2011
Date
            February 21, 2011
Date

Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

For the year ended March 31,
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
(in thousands of dollars)

Assets
Financial assets
Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund
Accounts receivable (Note 6)
Advances (Note 6)
Total financial assets
Non-financial assets
Tangible capital assets (Note 8)

Total

Liabilities and Equity of Canada
Liabilites
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 7)
Vacation pay and compensatory leave
Employee severance benefits (Note 9)
Total liabilities

Equity of Canada




102
37
3
142

1,561

1,704



777
531
2,075
3,382

(1,679)




17
37
3
57

1,905

1,963



742
514
2,051
3,307

(1,344)
TOTAL
1,704
1,963

Information for the year ended March 31, 2011 includes actual amounts from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.

Future-oriented Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

For the year ended March 31,
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
(in thousands of dollars)

Expenses
Adjudicative and Dispute Resolution Program
Internal Services

Total expenses

Revenues
Adjudicative and Dispute Resolution Program
Internal Services

Total Revenues



12,550
4,966

17,516


-
1

1



13,159
4,673

17,831


-
1

1
Net cost of operations
17,515
17,831

Information for the year ended March 31, 2011 includes actual amounts from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.

Future-oriented Statement of Equity of Canada (Unaudited)

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

For the year ended March 31,
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
(in thousands of dollars)

Equity of Canada, beginning of year
Net cost of operations
Net cash provided by the Government
Change in due to/from the Consolidated Revenue Fund
Services provided without charge by other government department (Note 10)


(1,344)
(17,515)
13,498
85
3,597


(959)
(17,831)
13,832
17
3,597
Equity of Canada, end of year
(1,679)
(1,344)

Information for the year ended March 31, 2011 includes actual amounts from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.

Future-oriented Statement of Cash Flow (Unaudited)

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

For the year ended March 31,
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
(in thousands of dollars)

Operating activities

Net cost of operations
Non-cash items:
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 10)
Amortization of tangible capital assets


Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and advances
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave
Decrease (increase) in future-employee benefits





17,515

(3,597)
(369)
(3,966)


-
(35)
(17)
(24)
(76)





17,831

(3,597)
(377)
(3,974)


4
86
(17)
(97)
(25)
Cash used in operating activities
13,473
13,832

Capital investing activities:

Net acquisitions of tangible capital assets




25




-

Net cash provided by Government of Canada
13,498
13,832

Information for the year ended March 31, 2011 includes actual amounts from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.

Notes to Future-oriented Financial Statements (unaudited)

CANADA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BOARD

1. Authority and Objective

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB or the Board) is an independent, representational, quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for the interpretation and application of the Canada Labour Code, Part I, Industrial Relations, and certain provisions of Part II, Occupational Health and Safety. It was established in January 1999 through amendments to Part I of the Canada Labour Code. The objective of the Board is to contribute to and to promote effective industrial relations in any work, undertaking or business that falls within the authority of the Parliament of Canada.

According to the approved Program Activity Architecture (PAA), the Statement of operations was detailed by the following Program Activities (Business Lines):

Adjudicative and Dispute Resolution Program
Through this program, the (CIRB) resolves labour relations issues by exercising its statutory powers relating to the application and interpretation of Part I (Industrial Relations), and certain provisions of Part II (Occupational Health and Safety), of the Canada Labour Code. Activities include the granting, modification and termination of bargaining rights; the investigation, mediation and adjudication of complaints alleging violation of Part I of the Code; the determination of level of services required to be maintained during a work stoppage; the exercise of ancillary remedial authority; the exercise of cease and desist powers in cases of unlawful strikes or lockouts; the settlement of the terms of a first collective agreement; the provision of administrative services to support these activities.

Internal Services
Internal Services are groups of activities and resources that are administered to support the operational needs of the Board's adjudicative and dispute resolution program and other corporate obligations of the CIRB, including Central Agency requirements. These groups are: management and oversight services; human resources services; financial and administrative services (including facilities, materiel and procurement services); information management (IM) services; information technology (IT) services.

2. Significant assumptions

The future-oriented financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the government priorities and the plans of the CIRB as described in the Report on Plans and Priorities.

The main assumptions are as follows:

  1. The department's activities will remain substantially the same as for the previous year.
  2. Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on historical experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.
  3. Estimated year end information for 2010-2011 is used as the opening position for the 2011-2012 forecasts.

These assumptions are adopted as at February 21, 2011.

3. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to accurately forecast final results for the remainder of 2010-2011 and for 2011-2012, actual results achieved for both years are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

In preparing these financial statements the CIRB has made estimates and assumptions concerning the future. These estimates and judgements may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Factors that could lead to material differences between the future-oriented financial statements and the historical financial statements include:

  1. The timing and amounts of acquisitions and disposals of equipment may affect gains/losses and amortization expense.
  2. Further changes to the operating budget through additional new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the year.
  3. Changes in standard rate used by Treasury Board to calculate employee benefits.

Once the Report on Plans and Priorities is presented, CIRB will not be updating the forecasts for any changes to appropriations or forecast financial information made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Departmental Performance Report.

4. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The future-oriented financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Treasury Board accounting policies stated below, which are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

  1. Parliamentary appropriations

    The Board is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary appropriations. The cash accounting basis is used to recognize transactions affecting parliamentary appropriations. The future-oriented financial statements are based on accrual accounting. Consequently, items presented in the Future-oriented Statement of Operations and the Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through appropriations from Parliament. Note 5 provides a reconciliation between the bases of reporting.

  2. Net Cash Provided by Government

    The Board operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the department is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the department are paid from the CRF. The net cash provided by Government is the difference between all cash receipts and all cash disbursements including transactions between departments of the Government.

  3. Change in net position in the Consolidated Revenue Fund

    Amounts due from/to the CRF are the result of timing differences at year-end between when a transaction affects authorities and when it is processed through the CRF. Amounts due from the CRF represent the net amount of cash that the Department is entitled to draw from the CRF without further appropriations to discharge its liabilities.

  4. Expenses—are recorded on the accrual basis:

    Vacation pay and compensatory leave are expensed as the benefits accrue to employees under their respective terms of employment.

    Services provided without charge by other government departments for accommodation and the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated cost.

  5. Employee future benefits
    1. Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, a multiemployer plan administered by the Government of Canada. The Board's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total obligation to the Plan for the Board. Current legislation does not require the Board to make contributions for any actuarial deficiencies of the Plan.
    2. Severance benefits: Employees are entitled to severance benefits under labour contracts or conditions of employment. These benefits are accrued as employees render the services necessary to earn them. The obligation relating to the benefits earned by employees is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole.

  6. Accounts Receivable
    Most receivables recorded by the Board are from other government departments. Recovery is considered certain and a provision has not been made.

  7. Tangible capital assets
    All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $7,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

Asset class
Leasehold improvements
Informatics hardware
Informatics software
Furniture and equipment
Machinery and equipment
 
Amortization Period
Lesser of the remaining term of the lease or useful life of the improvement
3 years
3–10 years
10 years
5 years

5. Parliamentary Appropriations

The CIRB receives most of its funding through expenditure authorities provided by Parliament. Items recognized in the statement of operations and the statement of financial position in one year may be funded through Parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the CIRB has different net results of operations for the year on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. The differences are reconciled in the following tables:

(a) Authorities requested:

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Authorities requested
Vote 10—Operating expenditures
Transfer from Treasury Board—Vote 15
Transfer from Treasury Board—Vote 25
Transfer from Treasury Board—Vote 30
Statutory contributions to employee benefit plans
Forecast authorities available

11,422
-
101
252
1,605
13,380

11,490
(13)
372
327
1,568
13,745

Forecast authorities requested for the year ending March 31, 2012 are the planned spending amounts presented in the 2011-2012 Report on Plans and Priorities. Estimated authorities requested for the year ending March 31, 2011 include amounts presented in the 2010-2011 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B), planned for presentation in Supplementary Estimates (C) and estimates of amounts to be allocated at year-end from Treasury Board central votes.

(b) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to requested authorities:

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Net cost of operations

Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:

Services provided without charge by othe governement departments
Amortization of tangible capital assets
Employee severance benefits
Vacation pay and compensatory leave
Revenue not available for spending
Refunds/reversals of previous year's expenditures

Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:

Acquisitions of tangible capital assets

Forecast current year lapse

Forecast authorities available
17,515



(3,597)
(369)
(220)
(17)
1
42
(4,161)


25

-

13,380
17,831



(3,597)
(377)
(293)
(17)
1
97
(4,186)


-

101

13,745

6. Accounts receivable and advances

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Receivables from other government departments and agencies
Receivables from external parties
Employee advances

26
11
3
40
26
11
3
40

7. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Accounts payable to other government departments and agencies
Accounts payable to external parties

Accrued liabilities

182
267
449
328
777
182
267
449
293
742

8. Tangible Capital Assets

Cost
Opening
Balance
Acquisitions
Adjustments/
Disposals
Closing Balance
(in dollars)

Leasehold improvements
Informatics hardware
Informatics software
Furniture and equipment
Machinery and equipment


892
493
2,781
372
36


-
-
25
-
-


-
-
-
-
-


892
493
2,807
372
36

 

4,574
25
-
4,599
Accumulated
Amortization
Opening
Balance
Amortization
expense
Adjustments/
Disposals
Closing Balance
(in dollars)

Leasehold improvements
Informatics hardware
Informatics software
Furniture and equipment
Machinery and equipment


398
493
1,557
188
34


67
-
275
25
2


-
-
-
-
-


465
493
1,832
213
36
 
2,669
369
-
3,038
Net Book Value
1,905
 
-
1,561

9. Employee Benefits

(a) Pension benefits:
The Board's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored and administered by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum period of 35 years at a rate of 2 percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and the department contribute to the cost of the Plan. The forecast expenses are $1,101 in 2010-2011 and $1,127 in 2011-2012, representing approximately 1.9 times the contributions of employees.

The Board's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

(b) Severance benefits:
The Board provides severance benefits to its employees based on eligibility, years of service and final salary. These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid from future appropriations. Information about the severance benefits, estimated as at the date of these statements, is as follows:

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year
Expense for the year
Expected benefits payments during the year
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year
2,051
220
(196)
2,075
1,954
293
(196)
2,051

10. Related Party Transactions

The Board is related as a result of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The Board enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. Also, during the year, the Board received services which were obtained without charge from other Government departments as presented in part (a).

(a) Services provided without charge:
During the year the Board received without charge from other departments accommodation and the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans. These services without charge have been recognized in the Board's Statement of Operations as follows:

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Accommodation
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans

2,804
792
3,597
2,804
792
3,597

The Government has structured some of its administrative activities for efficiency and cost-effectiveness purposes so that one department performs these on behalf of all without charge. The costs of these services, which include payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada, are not included as an expense in the Board's Statement of Operations.

(b) Payables and receivables outstanding at year-end with related parties:

 
Forecast
2012
Estimated
results
2011
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Accounts receivable with other government departments and agencies
Accounts payable to other government departments and agencies
37
(182)
37
(182)