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Future-oriented Financial Statements

Future-oriented Statement of Management Responsibility

Responsibility for the compilation, content, and presentation of the accompanying future-oriented financial statements rests with Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) management. This future-oriented information has been prepared by management in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. The future-oriented financial information is submitted for Part III of Estimates (Report on Plans and Priorities) and will be used in the TSB's Departmental Performance Report to compare with actual results.

Management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of the information contained in future-oriented financial information and for the process of developing assumptions. Assumptions and estimates are based on information available and known to management at the time of development, reflect current business and economic conditions, and assume a continuation of current governmental priorities and consistency in TSB's mandate and strategic outcome. Much of the future-oriented financial information is based on these assumptions, best estimates, and judgment and gives due consideration to materiality. An important limitation to note for the 2012-13 results is that they do not factor in the effect of potential reductions in TSB funding arising from Budget 2012 as this amount is not yet known.

At the time of preparation of this future-oriented information, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. However, as with all such assumptions, there is a measure of uncertainty surrounding them. This uncertainty increases as the forecast horizon extends.

The actual results achieved for the fiscal year covered in the accompanying future-oriented information will vary from the information presented and the variations may be material.

The original version was signed by
Wendy A. Tadros
Chair

The original version was signed by
Chantal Lemyre, CGA
Chief Financial Officer

Gatineau, Canada

March 15, 2012


Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)

Assets
As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Financial assets    
Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund 1,802 1,764
Accounts receivable and advances (note 6) 48 98
Total financial assets 1,850 1,862
 
Non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses 91 86
Inventory 86 130
Tangible capital assets (note 7) 4,922 4,853
Total non-financial assets 5,099 5,069
TOTAL Assets 6,949 6,931
Liabilities and Equity of Canada
As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 8) 1,748 1,848
Vacation pay and compensatory leave 1,014 990
Employee future benefits  (note 9) 3,053 3,287
TOTAL Liabilities 5,815 6,125
 
Equity of Canada 1,134 806
TOTAL Liabilities and Equity of Canada 6,949 6,931

Contingent liabilities (note 10)
Contractual obligations (note 11)

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

The original version was signed by
Wendy A. Tadros
Chair

The original version was signed by
Chantal Lemyre, CGA
Chief Financial Officer

Gatineau, Canada

March 15, 2012

Future-oriented Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Expenses
Air investigations 15,988 16,296
Marine investigations 5,089 5,190
Rail investigations 5,373 5,482
Pipeline investigations 540 549
Internal services 7,810 7,839
TOTAL Expenses 34,800 35,356
As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Revenues
Air investigations 7 9
Marine investigations 1 4
Rail investigations 7 3
Pipeline investigations - -
Internal services 11 18
TOTAL Revenues 26 34
 
Net Cost of Operations 34,774 35,322

Segmented information (note 13)

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

Future-oriented Statement of Equity of Canada (Unaudited)

As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Equity of Canada, beginning of the year 806 (60)
Net cost of operations (34,774) (35,322)
Net cash provided by the Government of Canada 31,245 32,439
Change in Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund 38 (81)
Services received without charge (note 12) 3,819 3,830
Equity of Canada, end of the year 1,134 806

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

Future-oriented Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Operating activities
 
Net cost of operations 34,774 35,322
 
Non–cash items: Services received without charge (note 12) (3,819) (3,830)
Non-cash items: Amortization of tangible capital assets (891) (938)
Non-cash items: Net loss on disposal and write-off of tangible capital assets (15) (17)
 
Variations in Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position:
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and advances (50) 70
Increase in prepaid expenses 5 7
Increase (decrease) in inventory (44) 17
Decrease in liabilities 310 930
Cash used for operating activities 30,270 31,561
As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Capital investing activities
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 998 906
Proceeds from the disposal of tangible capital assets (23) (28)
Cash used for capital investing activities 975 878
 
Net cash provided by the Government of Canada 31,245 32,439

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

Notes to the Future–oriented Financial Statements

1. Authority and Objectives

The Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board (CTAISB) was established in 1990 under the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and is a departmental corporation named in Schedule II to the Financial Administration Act. In its day–to–day activities the CTAISB is also known by the name Transportation Safety Board of Canada, or simply the TSB. The objective of the TSB is to advance transportation safety. It seeks to identify safety deficiencies in transportation occurrences and to make recommendations designed to eliminate or reduce any such safety deficiencies. In addition to investigations, including where necessary public inquiries into selected occurrences, the TSB may conduct studies into more general matters pertaining to transportation safety. The TSB has the exclusive authority to make findings as to causes and contributing factors when it investigates a transportation occurrence. The TSB's operating expenditures are funded by a budgetary lapsing authority whereas contributions to employee benefit plans are funded by statutory authorities.

The TSB has four key program activities, which are the conduct of safety investigations in the following four transportation sectors:

Within each program, personnel conduct independent safety investigations into selected transportation occurrences. They identify causes and contributing factors, assess risks to the system, formulate recommendations to improve safety, publish investigation reports, communicate safety information to stakeholders, undertake outreach activities with key change agents, as well as assess and follow up on responses to recommendations. These activities are carried out by highly qualified investigators who are experts in the transportation operational sectors. They also work closely with personnel who are responsible for executing specialized work in the following fields: engineering and technical, macro-analysis, human performance and communications.

The Internal Services program activity also contributes to the achievement of TSB's strategic outcome. This program activity includes the functions and resources required to support the needs of the program activities of the four transportation modes and to meet the department's corporate obligations in areas such as human resources, finance, administration, information management and information technology.

2. Methodology and Significant Assumptions

The future-oriented financial statements have been prepared on the basis of government policies, priorities and the external environment as at March 15, 2012. The statements have been prepared according to the requirements of Treasury Board Accounting Policies which are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. They have been prepared on the assumption that the resources provided will enable TSB to deliver the expected results specified in the Report on Plans and Priorities. The forecasting of future information was compiled on the basis of historical costs and trends.

3. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to accurately forecast final results for 2011–12 and 2012–13, actual results achieved are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material. Once the Report on Plans and Priorities is presented, TSB 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 Treasury Board accounting policies in effect for the 2011-12 fiscal year. These accounting policies stated below, 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:

(a) Parliamentary authorities

The TSB is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Authorities provided to the TSB do not parallel financial reporting according to Canadian generally accepted accounting principles since authorities are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the Future–oriented Statement of Operations and the Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through authorities from Parliament. Note 5 provides a high–level reconciliation between the two bases of reporting.

(b) Net Cash Provided by the Government of Canada

The TSB operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the TSB is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the TSB 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 federal 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 appropriations and when it is processed through the CRF. Amount due from the CRF represents the net amount of cash that the TSB is entitled to draw from the CRF, without further appropriations, in order to discharge its liabilities.

(d) Revenues

Revenues are accounted for in the period in which the underlying transaction or event occurred that gave rise to the revenue takes place.

(e) Expenses

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis:

(f) Employee future benefits

(g) Accounts receivable and advances

Accounts receivables and advances are stated at the lower of cost and net recoverable value.

(h)  Inventories

Inventories consist of parts, material and supplies held for future program delivery and not intended for resale. They are valued at cost using the average cost method. If they no longer have service potential, they are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

(i) Tangible capital assets

All tangible capital assets having an initial cost of $2,000 or more are recorded at their acquisition cost. In addition, acquisitions of all general-purpose furniture and informatics hardware are recorded as tangible capital assets.

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

Tangible Capital
Asset Class
Amortization Period
Building 40 years
Furniture 10 years
Office equipment and tools 5 years
Laboratory equipment 15 years
Informatics hardware 4 years
Informatics software (purchased) 7 years
Informatics software (in house developed) 10 years
Motor vehicles 7 years
Other vehicles 15 years
Leasehold improvements Lesser of the remaining term of the lease or useful life of the improvement
Betterments Over the useful life of the asset to which the improvement was made or the useful life of the betterment if significantly shorter.;

(j) Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities which may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded. If the likelihood is not determinable or an amount cannot be reasonably estimated, the contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

(k) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of these future-oriented financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the future-oriented financial statements. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable.  Actual results could significantly differ from those estimated.

5. Parliamentary Authorities

The TSB receives its funding through annual Parliamentary authorities.  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 TSB 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:

(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Operating expenditures - Vote 10 26,479 26,730
Transfer from TB – Vote 15 – Compensation adjustments 222 433
Transfer from TB – Vote 25 – Operating Budget Carry Forward 925 1,318
Transfer from TB – Vote 30 – Paylist requirements - 1,104
Statutory contributions to employee benefit plans 3,619 3,779
Forecasted authorities available 31,245 33,364

Authorities presented reflect current forecasts of statutory items, approved initiatives included and expected to be included in Estimates documents and, when reasonable estimates can be made, estimates of amounts to be allocated from Treasury Board Central votes.

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

(in thousands of dollars)
Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Net cost of operations 34,774 35,322
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Add (Less):
Services received without charge (3,819) (3,830)
Amortization of tangible capital assets (891) (938)
Net loss on disposal and write–off of tangible capital assets (15) (17)
Employee severance benefits 234 921
Vacation pay and compensatory leave (24) 17
Miscellaneous revenues 26 34
  30,285 31,509
 
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
Add (Less):
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 998 906
Increase (decrease) in prepaid expenses 5 7
Increase (decrease) in inventory (44) 17
  31,245 32,439
Forecasted current year lapse   925
Forecasted authorities available 31,245 33,364

6. Accounts Receivable and Advances

The following table presents details of accounts receivable and advances:

(in thousands of dollars) Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Receivables from other Federal Government departments and agencies 25 77
Receivables from external parties 13 11
Employee advances 10 10
TOTAL 48 98

7. Tangible Capital Assets

(in thousands of dollars) Cost   Accumulated Amortization   Net Book Value
Capital Asset Class Opening balance Acquisitions Disposals and write-offs Closing balance   Opening balance Amortization Disposals and write-offs Closing balance   2013 2012
Building 2,142 249 0 2,391   2,072 77 0 2,149   242 70
Furniture 899 47 140 806   390 100 144 346   460 509
Office equipment and tools 77 26 62 41   33 5 20 18   23 44
Laboratory equipment 2,485 60 167 2,378   1,634 93 167 1,560   818 851
Informatics hardware 1,914 215 473 1,656   1,445 264 473 1,236   420 469
Informatics software (purchased) 684 49 30 703   570 43 30 583   120 114
Informatics software (in-house developed) 3,400 251 0 3,651   1,262 229 0 1,491   2,160 2,138
Motor vehicles 639 89 75 653   328 39 75 292   361 311
Other vehicles 102 0 0 102   62 7 0 69   33 40
Leasehold improvements 606 12 0 618   576 30 0 606   12 30
Betterments 851 0 0 851   574 4 0 578   273 277
TOTAL 13,799 998 947 13,850   8,946 891 909 8,928   4,922 4,853

8. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

The following table presents details of accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

(in thousands of dollars) Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Accounts payable to other government departments and agencies 426 362
Accounts payable to external parties 753 858
  1,179 1,220
Accrued liabilities 569 628
TOTAL 1,748 1,848

9. Employee Benefits

(a) Pension benefits

The TSB'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/Quebec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to inflation.

Both the employees and the TSB contribute to the cost of the Plan.  The 2012-13 TSB forecasted expense amounts to $2,592,587 ($2,655,184 forecasted in 2011-12). 

The TSB'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 TSB 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, measured as at March 31, is as follows:

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
(in thousands of dollars) Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year 3,287 4,208
Expense for the year 201 201
Expected benefit payments during the year (435) (1,122)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year 3,053 3,287

In the 2011 Budget, the Government of Canada announced its intention to revise its employee benefits package to eliminate severance benefits payable upon voluntary separation or retirement of an employee. Collective agreements reflecting this change in employee benefits have been signed with certain bargaining agents. As a result, these employees have been provided the option to be paid in full or a portion of their severance entitlement beginning in fiscal year 2011-12 or to defer payment to a future year. The estimated payout and reduction to the TSB's employee severance liability from this government-wide event has resulted in a significant reduction to the TSB's estimated accrued benefit obligation.

10. Contingent Liabilities

In the normal course of its operations, the TSB becomes involved in legal actions. Some of these potential liabilities may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded on the TSB's financial statements.  The TSB does not anticipate any contingent liabilities for 2011-12 or 2012-13.

11. Contractual Obligations

The nature of the TSB's activities can result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the TSB will be obligated to make future payments when the services/goods are received.

Contractual obligations as at March 31, 2012 represent a total of $444,347, broken down as follows:

Contractual Obligations
(in thousands of dollars) 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Acquisition of goods and services 431 13 - - -

12. Related Party Transactions

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

Services received without charge:

During the year, the TSB received without charge from other departments: accommodation, administration of workers' compensation, the employer's contribution to health and dental insurance plans, and external audit services.

These services without charge have been recognized in the TSB's Future-oriented Statement of Operations as follows with a corresponding amount in the Equity of Canada:

Services received without charge
(in thousands of dollars) Planned
Results
2013
Estimated
Results
2012
Accommodation 1,925 1,940
Employer's contribution to health and dental insurance plans 1,777 1,769
External audit services 94 99
Administration of workers' compensation 23 22
TOTAL 3,819 3,830

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 TSB's Future-oriented Statement of Operations given that a reasonable amount for those types of services cannot be determined.

13. Segmented Information

Presentation by segment is based on the TSB's program activity architecture. 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 main program activities, by major object of expenses and by major type of revenues.  

The segment results for the period are as follows:

For the year ending March 31

(in thousands of dollars)
  2013 2012
Operating expenses Air Marine Rail Pipeline Internal
services
Total Total
Salaries and wages 9,909 3,207 3,345 331 3,766 20,558 20,755
Employee benefits 2,488 856 804 104 933 5,185 5,621
Professional and special services 1,131 193 367 30 1,130 2,851 2,832
Transportation
and communications
664 311 308 26 600 1,909 2,004
Accommodation 793 319 288 21 504 1,925 1,940
Amortization 294 84 90 9 414 891 938
Repairs and maintenance 290 22 50 7 146 515 547
Utilities, materials, supplies and equipment 219 35 57 4 85 400 368
Information 118 46 40 7 23 234 158
Rentals 79 16 23 1 198 317 176
Net loss on disposal and write–off of tangible capital assets 3 0 1 0 11 15 17
TOTAL Expenses 15,988 5,089 5,373 540 7,810 34,800 35,356
Miscellaneous revenues 7 1 7 0 11 26 34
TOTAL Revenues 7 1 7 0 11 26 34
 
Net cost of operations 15,981 5,088 5,366 540 7,799 34,774 35,322