Quarterly Financial Report For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2016

Mandate and programs

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) supports the Acting Commissioner of Official Languages in fulfilling her mandate, which consists of taking all actions and measures within her authority to ensure recognition of the status of each of the official languages and compliance with the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act in the administration of the affairs of federal institutions, including any of their activities relating to the advancement of English and French in Canadian society.

Further information about OCOL’s programs can be found in the 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities and in the Main Estimates.

Basis of presentation

This quarterly report has been prepared by management using an expenditure basis of accounting. The accompanying Statement of Authorities includes OCOL’s spending authorities granted by Parliament and used by OCOL, consistent with the Main Estimates for the 2016-17 fiscal year. This quarterly report has also 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 moneys 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.

OCOL uses the full accrual method of accounting to prepare and present its annual financial statements, which are part of the organization's performance reporting process. However, the spending authorities voted by Parliament are prepared on an expenditure basis.

Significant changes to authorities

As of December 31, 2016, total authorities available for the fiscal year increased by $677,000 compared to the previous fiscal year, mainly due to the increase in the operation budget carry forward amount.

Significant changes to budgetary expenditures

OCOL has used 66% of its authorities as of December 31, 2016, of which 82 % represents personnel costs.

Expenditures in this quarter rose by $585,000, or 13 %, compared to the same quarter of the prior year. The increase is due mainly to the following factors:

• Increase of $369,000 in personnel costs as a result of an increase in severance payments, determinate and casual employee salary.
• Increase of $96,000 in acquisition of machinery and equipment mainly due an increase in computer equipment purchase.
• Increase of $94,000 in professional and special service costs as a result of increase in payments for informatics support contracts and training consultants.

Project Management Capability

The organization rarely implements projects of the size and complexity of the Integrated Enterprise Management Solution (IEMS). To manage results, the organization must develop and optimize its capacity to manage projects.

OCOL is developing an investment planning process to assess business cases for projects, including costs, benefits and options.

OCOL is developing a governance structure to manage and monitor the large projects approved through the investment plan.

Level of Resources

The current level of resources may not allow the organization to fully deliver its mandate and adequately meet the expectations of parliamentarians, federal institutions and the public.

OCOL is working on a long-term financial strategy to assess the resource requirements and ensure they are aligned with priorities.

OCOL will review and enhance the budgeting and forecasting processes for the organization.

Significant Changes in Relation to Operations, Personnel and Programs

There have been no significant changes in relation to operations, personnel and programs during the current quarter.