Future-Oriented Financial Statements: Years Ending March 31, 2012 and 2013

Statement of Management Responsibility

Departmental 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 25, 2012 and reflect the plans described in the Report on Plans and Priorities.

In accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat's Policy on Internal Audit, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (the IRB) established a Departmental Audit Committee which includes external members. Its role is to provide the IRB Chairperson with added assurance and advice on risk management, control and governance processes.

Brian Goodman,
Chairperson
Serge Gascon,
Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada
May 2, 2012


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Future-oriented Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)
As at March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
ASSETS
Financial assets
Due from Consolidated Revenue Fund 11,780 11,353
Accounts receivable and advances (note 6) 413 384
Total financial assets 12,193 11,737
Non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses 220 238
Tangible capital assets (note 7) 15,836 16,036
Total non-financial assets 16,056 16,274
28,249 28,011
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY OF CANADA
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 8) 12,622 12,107
Vacation pay and compensatory leave 5,101 5,184
Employee future benefits (note 9) 19,611 13,088
37,334 30,379
Equity of Canada (9,085) (2,368)
28,249 28,011

Contingent liabilities (Note 10)
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Future-oriented Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
For the Year Ending March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Expenses Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Refugee Protection 86,774 79,298
Immigration Appeal 21,767 19,913
Admissibility Hearings & Detention Reviews 14,519 10,125
Refugee Appeal 1,246 20,998
Internal Services 43,179 35,210
Net cost of operations 167,485 165,544

Segmented information (Note 13)
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented financial statements.


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Future-oriented Statement of Equity (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Equity of Canada, beginning of year (13,316) (9,085)
Net cost of operations (167,485) (165,544)
Net cash provided by Government 148,025 146,161
Change in due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (323) (427)
Services provided without charge by other government departments (Note 11) 24,542 26,527
Transfer of assets to other government department (528) -
Equity of Canada, end of year (9,085) (2,368)

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


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Future-oriented Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31
(in thousands of dollars)
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Operating activities
Net cost from continuing operations 167,485 165,544
Non-cash items:
Amortization of tangible capital assets (Note 7) (1,405) (4,400)
Services provided without charge by other government departments (Note 11) (24,542) (26,527)
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
Decrease in accounts receivable and advances (188) (29)
Increase (decrease) in prepaid expenses (170) 18
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (143) 515
Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave (687) (83)
Decrease in future employee benefits 540 6,523
Cash used in operating activities 140,890 141,561
Capital investing activities
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets (Note 7) 7,135 4,600
Cash used in capital investing activities 7,135 4,600
Net cash provided by Government of Canada 148,025 146,161

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


Notes to Future-oriented Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Authority and Objectives

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (the IRB) is an independent administrative tribunal that was created on January 1, 1989, by an amendment to the Immigration Act. In 2002, the Immigration Act was replaced by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which will be amended by the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (BRRA). On February 16, 2012, the Government introduced Bill C-31, Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act (PCISA), which proposes to amend, among other legislation, the BRRA once it receives Royal Assent. As currently legislated, the IRB's mandate under the IRPA will expand as provisions of the BRRA come into force in 2012-13 and in 2013-14.

As an independent tribunal, the IRB's Division mandates are:

Refugee Protection Division (RPD):

  • Decides claims for refugee protection
  • Decides applications for vacation of refugee protection
  • Decides applications for cessation of refugee protection
  • Decides pre-removal risk assessments (PRRA)Note 1

Refugee Appeal Division (RAD):Note 2

  • Hears appeals from decisions of the RPD allowing or rejecting claims for refugee protection
  • Hears appeals from decisions of the RPD rejecting applications by the Minister for a determination that refugee protection has ceased
  • Hears appeals from decisions of the RPD rejecting applications by the Minister to vacate a decision to allow a claim for refugee protection

Immigration Division (ID):

  • Conducts admissibility hearings for foreign nationals or permanent residents who seek entry into Canada, or who are already in Canada and are alleged to be inadmissible
  • Conducts detention reviews for foreign nationals or permanent residents who are detained for immigration reasons

Immigration Appeal Division (IAD):

  • Hears appeals of family sponsorship applications refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
  • Hears appeals from certain removal orders made against permanent residents, Convention refugees and other protected persons, and holders of permanent resident visas
  • Hears appeals by permanent residents against whom a CIC officer outside Canada has decided that they have not fulfilled their residency obligation
  • Hears appeals by the Minister of Public Safety of ID decisions at admissibility hearings

2. Methodology and Significant Assumptions

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

The main assumptions are as follows:

  1. Expenses of the program activities not affected by the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (BRRA) and the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act (PCISA), including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on historical experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.
  2. Expenses of the program activities affected by the BRRA and the PCISA, reflect transitional and new spending to prepare for and implement the reform to Canada's refugee determination system which is expected to come into force in 2012-13 and in 2013-14.
  3. Estimated year end information for 2011-12 is used as the opening position for the 2012-13 planned results.

These assumptions are adopted as at February 25, 2012.

3. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to forecast final results for the year 2011-12 and 2012-13, actual results achieved for both years are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

In preparing these future-oriented financial statements the IRB has made estimates and assumptions concerning the future. These estimates and assumptions may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions 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 coming into force date of the new legislation.
  2. The timing and amounts of acquisitions and disposals of equipment or, accommodation fit up required to prepare for the reform to Canada's refugee determination system, may affect gains/losses and amortization expense.
  3. Implementation of new collective agreements.
  4. Further changes to the operating budget through additional new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the year.

Once the Report on Plans and Priorities is presented, the IRB 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 statements have been prepared in accordance with the 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:

  1. Parliamentary authorities – The IRB is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the department 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 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 reconciliation between the bases of reporting.
  2. Net Cash Provided by Government – The IRB operates within the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), which is administered by the Receiver General for Canada. All cash received by the IRB is deposited to the CRF and all cash disbursements made by the IRB 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. Due from the CRF – 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 IRB is entitled to draw from the CRF without further parliamentary expenditure authorities to discharge its liabilities.
  4. Expenses – Expenses are recorded on an 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 and employer contributions 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 pension plan administered by the Government. The IRB's contributions to the Plan are charged to expenses in the year incurred and represent the total obligation of the IRB to the Plan. Current legislation does not require the IRB 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 - Accounts receivable are stated at the lower of cost and net recoverable value; a valuation allowance is recorded for receivables where recovery is considered uncertain.
  7. 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 future-oriented financial statements.
  8. Tangible capital assets – All tangible capital assets and leasehold improvements having an initial cost of $10,000 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:

    Amortization of tangible capital assets
    Asset class Amortization Period
    Informatics hardware 4 years
    Informatics software 5 years
    Machinery and Equipment 10 years
    Leasehold improvements Lesser of the remaining term of the lease or useful life of the improvement

    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.

  9. 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 IRB receives its funding through expenditure authorities provided by Parliament. Items recognized in the Future-oriented Statements of Operations and Financial Position in one year may be funded through Parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, the IRB 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)
Estimated 2012 Planned
2013
Authorities requested:
Vote 10 - Operating expenditures 132,068 129,190
Statutory amounts 16,459 16,467
Forecast authorities available 148,527 145,657

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 at year-end from Treasury Board central votes.

(b) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to requested authorities (in thousands of dollars):
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Net cost of operations 167,485 165,544
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Services provided without charge by other government departments (Note 11) (24,542) (26,527)
Amortization of tangible capital assets (Note 7) (1,405) (4,400)
Decrease in employee future benefits (Note 9) 541 6,523
Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave (687) (83)
(26,093) (24,487)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets 7,135 4,600
7,135 4,600
Forecast authorities available 148,527 145,657

6. Accounts Receivable and Advances

The following table presents details of the IRB's accounts receivable and advances balances (in thousands of dollars):

Accounts Receivable and Advances Balances
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Receivables from other government departments and agencies 348 319
Receivables from external parties 62 62
Employee advances 3 3
413 384

7. Tangible Capital Assets (in thousands of dollars)

Tangible Capital Assets
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Opening balance 10,634 15,836
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 7,135 4,600
Current year amortization (1,405) (4,400)
Transfer to other government department (528) -
Net Book Value 15,836 16,036

8. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

The following table presents details of the IRB's accounts payable and accrued liabilities (in thousands of dollars):

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Accounts payable to other government departments and agencies 2,511 2,607
Accounts payable to external parties 4,869 4,450
7,380 7,057
Accrued liabilities 5,242 5,050
12,622 12,107

9. Employee Benefits

(a) Pension benefits

The IRB's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored and administered by the Government. 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.

The IRB'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 IRB 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 authorities. Information about the severance benefits, estimated as at the date of these statements, is as follows (in thousands of dollars):

Severance Benefits
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of the year 20,151 19,611
Expense for the year (540) (6,523)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of the year 19,611 13,088

10. Contingent Liabilities

Contingent liabilities arise in the normal course of operations and their ultimate disposition is unknown.

(a) Claims and litigation

Claims have been made against the IRB in the normal course of operations. As at the date of the preparation of these future-oriented financial statements, legal proceedings for claims totalling approximately $200,000 are pending.

11. Related Party Transactions

The IRB is related as a result of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies, and Crown Corporations. The IRB 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 IRB receives services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to accommodation and the employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans. These services provided without charge have been recorded in the IRB's Future-oriented Statement of Operations as follows (in thousands of dollars):

Common Services Provided Without Charge by Other Government Departments
Estimated Results
2012
Planned Results
2013
Accommodation 15,199 17,175
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans 9,343 9,352
Total 24,542 26,527

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, which include payroll and cheque issuance services provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General, are not included in the IRB's Future-oriented Statement of Operations.

(b) Other transactions with related parties (in thousands of dollars)
Other Transactions with Related Parties
Estimated
Results
2012
Planned
Results
2013
Expenses - Other Government departments and agencies 20,624 21,081

12. Transfer to Other Government Departments

Effective November 15, 2011, the IRB transferred responsibility for the provision of e-mail, data centre and network services to Shared Services Canada (SSC) in accordance with section 31.1 of the Financial Administration Act and Order-in-Council P.C. 2011-1297, including the stewardship responsibility for the assets and liabilities related to those services. Accordingly, the IRB transferred the following assets to SSC on November 15, 2011:

Tangible capital assets (net book value) = $ 528

13. Segmented Information

Presentation by segment is based on the IRB'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 4. The following table presents the forecasted expenses incurred and forecasted 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 (in thousands of dollars):

Segmented Program Activity Architecture
Operating expenses 2012 2013
Total RP IA AHDR RA IS Total
Salaries and employee benefits 117,970 53,110 11.629 6,370 16,851 24,632 112,592
Accommodation 15,199 8,072 1,718 1,031 2,576 3,779 17,176
Rentals 742 431 29 154 100 116 830
Professional and special services 23,461 10,715 6,017 1,761 1,171 2,596 22,260
Amortization 1,405 2,823 25 254 - 1,298 4,400
Transportation and telecommunications 4,986 2,183 308 211 200 829 3,731
Repair and maintenance 117 938 22 151 - 779 1,890
Acquisition of equipment 2,394 220 98 132 - 960 1,410
Utilities, materials and supplies 830 544 41 24 100 215 924
Information 99 62 4 3 - 6 75
Other 282 200 22 34 - - 256
Net cost from continuing operations 167,485 79,298 19,913 10,125 20,998 35,210 165,544

Table Legend:

RP: Refugee Protection
IA: Immigration Appeal
AHDR: Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
RA: Refugee Appeal
IS: Internal Services

Notes

Note 1

When transferred from CIC on June 29, 2013, or on any earlier day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council (GIC), or as will be amended by the PCISA once it receives Royal Assent.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

When relevant sections of the BRRA come into force on June 29, 2012, or as will be amended by the PCISA once it receives Royal Assent.

Return to note 2 referrer