2018-19 Financial Statements

Statement of Management Responsibility Including Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2019 and all information contained in these financial statements rests with the management of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (Commission). These financial statements have been prepared by management using the Government of Canada's accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of the information in these financial statements. Some of the information in the financial statements is based on management's best estimates and judgment, and gives due consideration to materiality. To fulfill its accounting and reporting responsibilities, management maintains a set of accounts that provides a centralized record of the Commission’s financial transactions. Financial information submitted in the preparation of the Public Accounts of Canada, and included in the Commission's Departmental Results Report, is consistent with these financial statements.

Management is also responsible for maintaining an effective system of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) designed to provide reasonable assurance that financial information is reliable, that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are properly authorized and recorded in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and other applicable legislation, regulations, authorities, directives and policies.

Management seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of data in its financial statements through careful selection, training and development of qualified staff; through organizational arrangements that provide appropriate divisions of responsibility; through communication programs aimed at ensuring that regulations, policies, standards, and managerial authorities are understood throughout the Commission and through conducting an annual risk-based assessment of the effectiveness of the system of ICFR.

The system of ICFR is designed to mitigate risks to a reasonable level based on an ongoing process to identify key risks, to assess effectiveness of associated key controls, and to make any necessary adjustments.

The Commission is subject to periodic Core Control Audits performed by the Office of the Comptroller General of Canada (OCG) and uses the results of such audits to comply with the Treasury Board Policy on Financial Management. A Core Control Audit was performed in 2011-12 by the OCG. The Audit Report and related Management Action Plan are posted on the Commission's web site.

The Commission has undertaken a risk-based assessment of the system of ICFR in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Financial Management, and the results of the assessment conducted by an independent firm for the year ended March 31, 2019 and action plan are summarized in the annex.

The financial statements of the Commission have not been audited.

_______________________________________
Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E.
Chief Commissioner
_______________________________________
Natalie Dagenais
Chief Financial Officer

Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)

As at March 31

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Liabilities
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (note 4) 3,887,090 3,504,373
Vacation Pay and Compensatory Leave 1,254,800 1,188,900
Employee Future Benefits (note 5) 805,200 862,400
Total Liabilities 5,947,090 5,555,673
Financial Assets
Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund 3,491,670 3,099,042
Accounts Receivable and Advances (note 6) 773,084 827,775
Total Financial Assets 4,264,754 3,926,817
Net Debt 1,682,336 1,628,856
Non-Financial Assets
Prepaid Expenses 42,670 61,186
Tangible Capital Assets (note 7) 1,668,228 1,836,905
Total Non-Financial Assets 1,710,898 1,898,091
Net Financial Position 28,562 269,235

Contractual obligations (note 8)

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

_______________________________________
Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E.
Chief Commissioner
_______________________________________
Natalie Dagenais
Chief Financial Officer

 

Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position (Unaudited)

For the year ended March 31

(in dollars) Planned Results 2019 2019 2018
Expenses
Engagement and Advocacy 5,615,892 4,544,590 5,368,875
Human Rights Complaints 11,034,573 12,038,965 10,773,033
Employment Equity Audits 1,439,215 1,418,672 1,373,516
Internal Services 10,659,696 10,458,533 11,052,501
Total expenses 28,749,376 28,460,760 28,567,925
Revenues
Internal Support Services 2,300,000 1,725,013 2,035,984
Miscellaneous revenues - 13,610 310
Revenues earned on behalf of Government - (13,517) (310)
Total revenues 2,300,000 1,725,106 2,035,984
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 26,449,376 26,735,654 26,531,941
Government funding and transfers
Net cash provided by Government   22,089,112 22,015,518
Change in due from Consolidated Revenue Fund   392,628 676,865
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9)   3,994,639 4,098,491
Transfers of assets from other government departments   18,602 -
Net cost (revenue) of operations after government funding and transfers   240,673 (258,933)
Net Financial Position - Beginning of Year   269,235 10,302
Net Financial Position - End of Year   28,562 269,235

Segmented information (note 11)

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

 

Statement of Change in Net Debt (Unaudited)

For the year ended March 31

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Net Cost (revenue) of operations after government funding and transfers 240,673 (258,933)
Change due to tangible capital assets
Acquisition of tangible capital assets (note 7) 385,430 642,382
Amortization of tangible capital assets (note 7) (496,681) (369,301)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible capital assets - -
Loss on write-off of tangible capital assets (note 7) (57,426) (24,367)
Total change due to tangible capital assets (168,677) 248,714
Change due to prepaid expenses (18,516) 4,423
Net increase (decrease) in net debt 53,480 (5,796)
Net debt - Beginning of year 1,628,856 1,634,652
Net debt - End of year 1,682,336 1,628,856

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

Statement of Cash Flow (Unaudited)

For the year ended March 31

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Operating activities
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 26,735,654 26,531,941
Non-cash items:
Amortization of tangible capital assets (note 7) (496,681) (369,301)
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9) (3,994,639) (4,098,491)
Loss on write-off of tangible capital assets (note 7) (57,426) (24,367)
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
(Decrease) increase in accounts receivable and advances (54,691) 52,632
(Decrease) increase in prepaid expenses (18,516) 4,423
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (382,717) (476,101)
Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave (65,900) (225,700)
Decrease (increase) in employee future benefits 57,200 (21,900)
Transfer of assets from other government departments (18,602) -
Cash used in operating activities 21,703,682 21,373,136
Capital investing activities
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets (note 7) 385,430 642,382
Cash used in capital activities 385,430 642,382
Net cash provided by Government of Canada 22,089,112 22,015,518

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

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)

For the year ended March 31

1. Authority and objectives

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (Commission) was established in 1977 under Schedule I.1 of the Financial Administration Act in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA).

The Commission leads the administration of the CHRA and ensures compliance with the Employment Equity Act (EEA). The CHRA provides for both the protection and promotion of human rights while the EEA promotes equality in the workplace. Both laws apply the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination to federal government departments and agencies, Crown corporations, and federally regulated private sector organizations.

The Commission exists to help ensure that everyone in Canada is treated fairly, no matter who they are.

Engagement and Advocacy

Provide a national credible voice for equality in Canada - my Canada includes everyone; promote broadly human rights in Canada by raising public awareness of human rights issues; and engage civil society, governments, employers and the public in dialogue and action to affect human rights change.

Human Rights Complaints

Provide people in Canada with a mechanism to file human rights complaints and remedies to victims of discrimination; reduce instances of systemic discrimination; and represent the public interest in legal cases to advance human rights in Canada.

Employment Equity Audits

Ensure employer's compliance with employment equity statutory requirements; encourage employers to identify barriers to employment and implement best practices to eliminate gaps in the representation of women, visible minority groups, Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.

Internal Services

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal services refers to the activities and resources that apply across an organization, and not those provided to a specific program. The groups of activities are Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Other Administrative Services.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

These financial statements have been prepared using the Government's accounting policies stated below, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

a) Parliamentary authorities

The Commission is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the Commission do not parallel financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles since authorities are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position and in the Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through authorities from Parliament. Note 3 provides a reconciliation between the bases of reporting. The planned results amounts in the “Expenses” and “Revenues” sections of the Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position are the amounts reported in the Future-oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2018-19 Departmental Plan. Planned results are not presented in the “Government funding and transfers” section of the Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position and in the Statement of Change in Net Debt because these amounts were not included in the 2018-19 Departmental Plan.

b) Net Cash Provided by Government

The Commission operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the Commission is deposited to the CRF, and all cash disbursements made by the Commission 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.

c) Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund

Amounts due from 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 Commission is entitled to draw from the CRF without further authorities to discharge its liabilities.

d) Revenues

  • Revenues from Internal Support Services are accounted for in the period in which the underlying transaction or event that gave rise to the revenue takes place.
  • Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge the Commission's liabilities. While the Chief Commissioner is expected to maintain accounting control, she has no authority regarding the disposition of non-respendable revenues. As a result, non-respendable revenues are considered to be earned on behalf of the Government of Canada and are therefore presented in reduction of the Commission's gross revenues.

e) Expenses

Expenses are recorded on the accrual basis:

  • Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned by employees under their respective terms of employment.
  • Services provided without charge by other government departments for accommodation, employer's contributions to the health and dental insurance plans and workers' compensation are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated carrying value.

f) Employee future benefits

  • Pension benefits: Eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (Plan), a multiemployer pension plan administered by the Government of Canada. The Commission’s contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the Commission's total obligation to the Plan. The Commission’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.
  • Severance benefits: The accumulation of severance benefits for voluntary departures ceased for applicable employee groups. The remaining obligation for employees who did not withdraw benefits is calculated using information derived from the results of the actuarially determined liability for employee severance benefits for the Government as a whole.

g) Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are initially recorded at cost. When necessary, an allowance for valuation is recorded to reduce the carrying value of accounts receivable to amounts that approximate their net recoverable value.

h) Tangible capital assets

All tangible capital assets having an initial cost of $5,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. The Commission does not capitalize intangibles, works of art and historical treasures that have cultural, aesthetic or historical value, assets located on First Nations reserves and museum collections.

Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

Asset Class Amortization Period
Informatics hardware 3 to 5 years
Informatics software 3 to 5 years
Other equipment 3 to 15 years
Leasehold improvements Over the remaining term of lease

Assets under construction are recorded in the applicable capital asset class in the year that they become available for use and are not amortized until they become available for use.

i) Related party transactions

Related party transactions, other than inter-entity transactions, are recorded at the exchange amount.

Inter-entity transactions are transactions between commonly controlled entities. Inter-entity transactions, other than restructuring transactions, are recorded on a gross basis and are measured at the carrying amount, except for the following:

  1. Services provided on a recovery basis are recognized as revenues and expenses on a gross basis and measured at the exchange amount.
  2. Certain services received on a without charge basis are recorded for departmental financial statement purposes at the carrying amount.

j) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes at March 31. The estimates are based on facts and circumstances, historical experience, general economic conditions and reflect the Government's best estimate of the related amount at the end of the reporting period. The most significant items where estimates are used are the liability for employee future benefits and the useful life of tangible capital assets. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated. Management’s estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, they are recorded in the financial statements in the year they become known.

3. Parliamentary authorities

The Commission receives its funding through annual parliamentary authorities. Items recognized in the Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position and the Statement of Financial Position in one year may be funded through parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the Commission 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) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to current year authorities used

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Net cost of operations before government funding 26,735,654 26,531,941
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9) (3,994,639) (4,098,491)
Amortization of tangible capital assets (note 7) (496,681) (369,301)
Loss on write-off of tangible capital assets (note 7) (57,426) (24,367)
Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave (65,900) (225,700)
Decrease (increase) in employee future benefits 57,200 (21,900)
Refund of prior years' expenditures 4,224 6,498
Refunds of program expenditures 71,035 131,596
Proceeds from disposal of surplus Crown assets 93 -
Adjustments to prior year's accounts payable 20,285 85,959
  (4,461,809) (4,515,706)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
Acquisition of tangible capital assets (note 7) 385,430 642,382
(Decrease) increase in employee advances (note 6) (7,828) 15,656
Employee overpayments 79,915 228,599
(Decrease) increase in prepaid expenses (18,516) 4,423
  439,001 891,060
Current year authorities used 22,712,846 22,907,295

 

b) Authorities provided and used

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Authorities provided:
Vote 1 - Program expenditures 21,098,744 20,853,034
Proceeds from the disposal of surplus Crown assets 92 105
Statutory amounts - Contributions to employee benefits plan 2,436,536 2,412,483
Less:
Authorites available for future years  (92) 207
Lapsed Authorities (822,434) (358,534)
Current year authorities used 22,712,846 22,907,295

 

4. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Accounts payable - Other government departments and agencies 463,409 427,643
Accounts payable - External parties 1,299,083 1,270,941
Total accounts payable 1,762,492 1,698,584
Accrued salaries 2,124,598 1,805,789
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities 3,887,090 3,504,373

 

5. Employee future benefits

a) Pension benefits

The Commission's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (the "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 Commission contribute to the cost of the Plan. Due to the amendment of the Public Service Superannuation Act following the implementation of provisions related to Economic Action Plan 2012, employee contributors have been divided into two groups - Group 1 relates to existing plan members as of December 31, 2012 and Group 2 relates to members joining the Plan as of January 1, 2013. Each group has a distinct contribution rate.

The 2018-19 expense amounts to $1,688,032 ($1,642,660 in 2017-18). For Group 1 members, the expense represents approximately 1.01 times (1.01 times in 2017-18) the employee contributions and, for Group 2 members, approximately 1 time (1 time in 2017-18) the employee contributions.

The Commission's responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Government of Canada, as the Plan's sponsor.

b) Severance benefits

Severance benefits provided to the Commission's employees were previously based on an employee's eligibility, years of service and salary at termination of employment. However, since 2011 the accumulation of severance benefits for voluntary departures progressively ceased for substantially all employees. Employees subject to these changes were given the option to be paid the full or partial value of benefits earned to date or collect the full or remaining value of benefits upon departure from the public service. By March 31, 2019, substantially all settlements for immediate cash out were completed and the remaining obligation will be disbursed upon departure from the public service. Severance benefits are unfunded and, consequently, the outstanding obligation will be paid from future authorities.

The changes in the obligations during the year were as follows:

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year 862,400 840,500
Expense for the year 102,146 151,975
Benefits paid during the year (159,346) (130,075)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year 805,200 862,400

 

6. Accounts receivable and advances

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Accounts receivable - Other government departments and agencies 395,420 405,331
Accounts receivable - External parties 360,185 397,137
Employee advances 14,979 22,807
Employee advances - Petty cash 2,500 2,500
Total accounts receivable and advances 773,084 827,775

 

7. Tangible capital assets

Cost
Asset class

(in dollars)
Opening Balance Acquisitions Transfers, Disposals and Write-Offs Closing Balance
Informatics hardware 804,598 125,290 (196,119) 733,769
Informatics software 1,827,279 38,897 - 1,866,176
Other equipment 726,001 6,799 - 732,800
Leasehold improvements 1,113,815 142,533 - 1,256,348
Assets under construction - 71,911 - 71,911
  4,471,693 385,430 (196,119) 4,661,004

 

Accumulated amortization
Asset class
(in dollars)
Opening Balance Amortization Transfers, Disposals and Write-Offs Closing Balance
Informatics hardware 271,858 165,452 (138,693) 298,617
Informatics software 1,360,799 135,386 - 1,496,185
Other equipment 433,696 55,406 - 489,102
Leasehold improvements 568,435 140,437 - 708,872
  2,634,788 496,681 (138,693) 2,992,776

 

Net book value
Asset class

(in dollars)
2019 2018
Informatics hardware 435,152 532,740
Informatics software 369,991 466,480
Other equipment 243,698 292,305
Leasehold improvements 547,476 545,380
Assets under construction 71,911 -
  1,668,228 1,836,905

8. Contractual obligations

The nature of the Commission's activities can result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the Commission will be obligated to make future payments when the goods or services are received. Significant contractual obligations that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:

(in dollars) Related Parties Acquisitions of goods and services Operating leases Total
2020 331,876 391,835 23,849 747,560
2021 72,174 32,977 19,226 124,377
2022 7,156 27,477 16,654 51,287
2023 - 27,477 782 28,259
2024 and thereafter - 27,477 782 28,259
Total 411,206 507,243 61,293 979,742

9. Related party transactions

The Commission is related as a result of common ownership to all Government departments, agencies and Crown corporations. Related parties also include individuals who are members of key management personnel or close family members of those individuals, and entities controlled by, or under shared control of, a member of key management personnel or a close family member of that individual. The Commission has defined its key management personnel as the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, and Executive Director.

The Commission enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms.

a) Common services provided without charge by other government departments

During the year, the Commission received services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to accommodation, the employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans and worker's compensation coverage. These services provided without charge have been recorded in the Commission’s Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position as follows:

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Accommodation 2,470,976 2,469,084
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans 1,516,258 1,622,118
Workers' compensation 7,405 7,289
  3,994,639 4,098,491

The Government has centralized some of its administrative activities for efficiency, cost-effectiveness purposes and economic delivery of programs to the public. As a result, the Government uses central agencies and common service organizations so that one department performs services for all other departments and agencies without charge. The costs of these services, such as the payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Services and Procurement Canada are not included in the Commission's Statement of Operations and Net Financial Position.

b) Other transactions with other government departments and agencies

In addition, the Commission provides Internal Support Services to some other government departments and agencies related to the provision of finance, human resources, acquisition, administration and information technology services. The value of those agreements is $1,725,013 in 2018-19 ($2,035,984 in 2017-18). Contractual obligations with related parties, as shown in note 8 above, amount to a total of $411,206 over the next five years.

(in dollars) 2019 2018
Accounts receivables 395,420 405,331
Accounts payable 463,409 427,643
Expenses - Other government departments and agencies 1,885,365 2,543,882
Revenues - Other government departments and agencies 1,725,013 2,035,984

Expenses and revenues disclosed in b) exclude common services provided without charge, which are already disclosed in a).

 

10. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on the Commission's core responsibilities. The presentation by segment is based on the same accounting policies as described in the Summary of significant accounting policies in note 2. The following table presents the expenses incurred and revenues generated for the core responsibilities, by major object of expense and by major type of revenue. The segment results for the period are as follows:

(in dollars) Engagement and Advocacy Human Rights Complaints Employment Equity Audits Internal Services 2019 2018
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits 3,585,751 9,575,616 1,213,890 7,443,152 21,818,409 21,908,434
Accommodation 406,514 1,087,250 136,414 840,798 2,470,976 2,469,084
Professional and special services 200,327 734,929 10,880 789,346 1,735,482 1,618,873
Amortization of tangible capital asset 3,180 22,759 - 470,742 496,681 369,301
Travel and relocation 209,465 222,759 26,435 23,329 481,988 479,440
Equipment expenses 23,543 75,897 8,161 345,220 452,821 683,894
Rentals 27,322 109,452 10,113 186,850 333,737 329,599
Communication 29,607 137,915 10,572 103,636 281,730 229,993
Information services 7,575 30,212 545 106,897 145,229 132,555
Utilities, materials and supplies 5,780 42,176 1,662 66,581 116,199 132,759
Loss on write-off of tangible capital assests - - - 57,426 57,426 24,367
Claims against the Crown 45,226 - - 400 45,626 140,000
Repair and maintenance 300 - - 24,156 24,456 49,626
Total operating expenses 4,544,590 12,038,965 1,418,672 10,458,533 28,460,760 28,567,925
Revenues
Internal Support Services - - - 1,725,013 1,725,013 2,035,984
Miscellaneous revenues 13,449 - - 161 13,610 310
Revenues earned on behalf of Government (13,449) - - (68) (13,517) (310)
Total Revenues - - - 1,725,106 1,725,106 2,035,984
Net cost of operations before government funding 4,544,590 12,038,965 1,418,672 8,733,427 26,735,654 26,531,941

 

11. Subsequent event

On 12 June 2019, an agreement between the Government of Canada and 15 public service unions was signed to compensate current and former government employees for damages associated with the Phoenix payroll system. The provisions of this agreement will also be extended to excluded employees from the 15 public service unions, as well as unrepresented government employees and executives. Compensation for fiscal years 2016-17 to 2018-19 includes up to 4 days of leave credits. Those credits are expected to be added to employees’ leave banks in 2019-20. The Commission estimates these additional leave credits at approximately $238,575.

12. Comparative information

Certain comparitive figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.