Year-End Financial Statements
Fiscal Year 2019-2020

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, 2020 and all information contained in these financial statements rests with the management of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency). 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 also 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 Agency’s financial transactions. Financial information submitted in the preparation of the Public Accounts of Canada, and included in the Agency'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 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 Agency 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.

A risk-based assessment of the system of ICFR for the year ended March 31, 2020 was completed in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Financial Management and the results and action plans are summarized in the annex.

The financial statements of the Agency have not been audited.

____________________________________
David McGovern
President
October 9, 2020

____________________________________
Simon Brault
Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer
October 9, 2020

 

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)
As at March 31, 2020
(in dollars)
  2020 2019
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 4) 9,357,103 7,112,280
Vacation pay and compensatory leave 2,657,842 1,381,459
Employee future benefits (Note 6) 1,481,320 1,141,619
Total liabilities 13,496,265 9,635,358
Financial assets
Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund 8,156,517 6,411,261
Accounts receivable and advances (Note 5) 3,378,302 3,364,012
Total gross financial assets 11,534,819 9,775,273
Financial assets held on behalf of Government
Accounts receivable and advances (Note 5)
(776,402) (613,754)
Total financial assets held on behalf of Government (776,402) (613,754)
Total net financial assets 10,758,417 9,161,519
Agency net debt (2,737,849) (473,839)
Non-financial assetsTangible capital assets (Note 7) 503,320 568,911
Total non-financial assets 503,320 568,911
Agency net financial position (2,234,529) 95,072

Contractual obligations (Note 8)

Contingent liabilities (Note 9)

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

____________________________________
David McGovern
President
October 9, 2020

____________________________________
Simon Brault
Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer
October 9, 2020

 

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position (Unaudited) For the Year Ended March 31, 2020 (in dollars)
Expenses 2020 2020 2019
Planned Results
Environmental Assessment Delivery 46,054,894 40,733,935 34,305,224
Environmental Assessment Policy 22,779,774 21,957,156 8,221,336
Internal Services 11,483,221 11,589,690 11,608,268
Total expenses 80,317,889 74,280,781 54,134,828
Revenues
Environmental assessment and training services 2,000,000 2,268,489 1,935,822
Miscellaneous revenues 0 105,921 187,529
Total revenues 2,000,000 2,374,409 2,123,351
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 78,317,889 71,906,372 52,011,477
Government funding and transfers
Net cash provided by Government of Canada 74,628,419 61,382,155 43,915,659
Change in due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund - 1,745,256 2,420,304
Services provided without charge by other government departments (Note 10) 5,150,138 6,449,360 5,426,081
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers (1,460,668) 2,329,601 249,434
Agency net financial position - Beginning of year 19,117,375 95,072 344,506
Agency net financial position - End of year 20,578,043 (2,234,529) 95,072

Segmented information (Note 11)

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

 

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Statement of Change in Departmental Net Debt (Unaudited) For the year ended March 31, 2020 (in dollars)
  2020 2020 2019
Planned Results
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers (1,460,668) 2,329,601 249,434
Change due to tangible capital assets
Acquisition of tangible capital assets (Note 7) 0 0 596,242
Amortization of tangible capital assets (Note 7) 0 (65,591) (27,331)
Total change due to tangible capital assets 0 (65,591) 568,911
Net increase (decrease) in agency net debt (1,460,668) 2,264,010 818,345
Agency net debt - Beginning of year 473,839 (344,506)
Agency net debt - End of year (1,460,668) 2,737,849 473,839

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

 

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31, 2019 (in dollars)
     2020 2019

Operating activities

Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 71,906,372 52,011,477
Non-cash items:
Amortization of tangible capital assets (65,591) (27,331)
Services provided without charge by other government departments (Note 10) (6,449,360) (5,426,082)
Other transfers of assets and liabilities (to)/ from other
government departments
0 0
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and advances (148,359) 54,518
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (2,244,822) (3,039,128)
Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave (1,276,384) (392,887)
Decrease (increase) in employee future benefits (339,701) 138,849
Cash used by Operating Activities 61,382,155 43,319,417
Capital investing activities
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 0 596,242
Net cash provided by Government of Canada 61,382,155 43,915,659

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

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31, 2020

1. Authorities and objectives

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is a federal body reporting to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) came into force on August 28, 2019, expanding the Agency’s mandate and responsibilities as the single federal organization responsible for impact assessment and the Crown coordinator for Indigenous consultation on designated projects.

The Agency provides high-quality assessments of environmental, economic, social, health and gender effects to support government decision-making in the public interest. Assessments are evidence-based and ensure that positive and negative effects and impacts on Indigenous groups and their rights are considered in order to foster sustainability.

The Agency delivers four funding programs with the objective of supporting better informed decision making through the active participation of the public and Indigenous groups; effective engagement of the public and Indigenous peoples in the development of guidance, regulations and legislation; stronger evidence-based policy and guidance for impact assessments through an enhanced and more diverse knowledge base; and increased capacity of Indigenous communities to engage in and lead consultations.

In addition, the Agency's President is the federal administrator responsible for reviewing projects of a federal nature under the environmental and social protection regimes set out in sections 22 and 23 of the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

The Agency's activities are carried out under two different programs: Impact Assessment and Internal Services.

The Agency is responsible for delivering high quality environmental and impact assessments based on science, Indigenous knowledge, and other evidence. This includes conducting assessments and supporting assessments led by review panels, ensuring they are informed by the best available evidence, and promote positive effects while minimizing adverse impacts through mitigation measures. Evidence includes economic, environmental, social, health, Indigenous knowledge, gender-based analysis plus (GBA+), and/or cumulative effects, as appropriate.

To support the delivery of these assessments and provide certainty and clarity to proponents, other jurisdictions, Indigenous peoples and the public, the Agency develops and promotes legislative and policy frameworks, tools, guidance, and best practices.

Internal Services comprises related activities and resources to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of the Agency. These include: Management and Oversight Services, Communications Services, Legal Services, Human Resources Management Services, Financial Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, the Access to Information and Privacy Office, Real Property Services, Materiel Management Services, Acquisition Services, and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services includes activities and resources that apply across an organization, not those provided specifically to a program.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

These financial statements are prepared using the Agency'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:

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

Asset Class  Sub-asset Class Amortization Period
Other equipment (inc. furniture)   Furniture and fixtures  10 years
Informatics software Server 4 years
Machinery and equipment    Video conferencing equipment  3 years

i. Contingent liabilities

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

j. Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of 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 contingent liabilities, 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 Agency receives most of its funding through annual parliamentary authorities. Items recognized in the Statement of Operations and the Departmental 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 Agency 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:

  2020 2019
(in dollars)
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 71,906,372 52,011,477
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Services provided without charge by other government departments (6,449,360) (5,426,082)
Amortization of tangible capital assets (65,591) (27,331)
Revenues not available for respending (431,335) 565,158
Refund of prior year's expenditures 102,896 88,104
Adjustments for prior year's Payables at Year End 0 10,491
Decrease (Increase) for vacation pay and compensatory leave (1,276,384) (392,887)
Decrease (Increase) for employee future benefits (339,701) 138,849
Other transfers of assets and liabilities (to)/ from other government departments 0 0
Acquisition of tangible capital assets 0 596,242
Current year authorities used 63,446,897 47,564,021

b) Authorities provided and used

  2020 2019
(in dollars)
Authorities provided
Vote 1 – Operating expenditures 53,850,300 50,597,197
Vote 5 - Grants and contributions 14,525,184 0
Statutory amounts 6,252,935 3,513,244
Less:
Lapsed: Operating (11,181,522) (6,546,420)
Current year authorities used 63,446,897 47,564,021

4. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

The following table presents details of the Agency's Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

  2020 2019
(in dollars)
Accounts payable- Other government departments and agencies 2,011,982 1,051,638
Accounts payable - External parties 3,661,560 3,340,795
Total accounts payable 5,673,542 4,392,433
Accrued liabilities 3,683,561 2,719,847
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities 9,357,103 7,112,280

5. Accounts receivable and advances

The following table presents details of the Agency's accounts receivable and advances balances:

  2020 2019
(in dollars)
Receivables - Other government departments and agencies 432,460 88,494
Receivables - External parties 3,797,342 4,143,937
Employee advances 47,163 30,244
Sub-Total 4,276,965 4,262,675
Allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables from external parties (898,663) (898,663)
Gross accounts receivable 3,378,302 3,364,012
Accounts receivable held on behalf of Government (776,402) (613,754)
Total accounts receivable and advances 2,601,900 2,750,258

6. Employee future benefits

a) Pension benefits

The Agency's employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (the "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.

Both the employees and the Agency 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 2019–2020 expense amounts to $4,332,034 ($2,450,136 in 2018–2019). For Group 1 members, the expense represents approximately 1.01 times (1.01 times in 2018–2019) the employee contributions, and for Group 2 members, approximately 1.00 (1.00 times in 2018-2019) the employee contributions.

The Agency'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

Severance benefits provided to the Agency’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, 2020, all settlements for immediate cash out were completed. 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:

2019 2020
(in dollars)
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year 1,141,619 1,280,468
Expense (Adjustment) for the year 351,233 (36,103)
Benefits paid during the year (11,531) (102,746)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year 1,481,320 1,141,619

7. 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:

Asset Class

Amortization Period

Other equipment (including furniture) 10 years
Informatics software 4 years
Machinery and equipment 3 years

Assets under construction are recorded in the applicable asset class in the year they are put into service and are not amortized until they are put into service.

Capital Asset Class Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Book Value
Opening Balance Acquisitions Closing Balance Opening Balance Amortization Closing Balance 2020 2019
 

(in dollars)

Machinery and Equipment 196,772 0 196,772 27,331 65,591 92,922 103,850 169,441
Other equipment (including furniture) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Informatics software 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Assets under construction 399,470 0 399,470 0 0 0 399,470 399,470
Total 596,242 0 596,242 27,331 65,591 92,922 503,320 568,911

8. Contractual obligations

The nature of the Agency’s activities may result in some large multi-year contracts and obligations whereby the Agency will be obligated to make future payments in order to carry out its transfer payment programs or when the services/goods are received. Significant contractual obligations that can be reasonably estimated are summarized as follows:

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 and subsequent Total
(in dollars)
Transfer payments 11,457,266 5,481,722 1,812,600 - - 18,751,588
Professional services 3,024,133 172,821 55,030 - - 3,251,984
Operating leases - - - - -  
Total 14,481,399 5,654,543 1,867,630 0 - 22,003,572

9. Contingent liabilities

a) Transfer payments

The Agency expects to meet all near-term liabilities relating to transfer payments. However, a change in economic conditions could result in the resumption of several environmental assessments currently on hold as well as new assessments which could increase the demand for transfer payments. The Agency would request support from the Government of Canada through Central agencies to cover any potential funding shortfall.

b) Claims and litigation

Claims have been made against the Agency in the normal course of operations. These claims include items with pleading amounts and other for which no amount is specified. While the total amount claimed in these actions is significant, their outcomes are not determinable.

10. Related party transactions

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

The Agency also obtains selected financial services, materiel management, informatics, and compensation and benefits services under a shared services agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

a) Common services provided without charge by other government departments

During the year, the Agency received services without charge from certain common service organizations, related to accommodation, legal services, the employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans. These services without charge have been recorded at the carrying value in the Agency’s Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position as follows:

  2020 2019
  (in dollars)
Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans 3,506,962 2,398,580
Accommodation 2,200,997 2,322,601
Legal services 741,401 704,901
Total 6,449,360 5,426,082

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 and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General are not included in the Agency's Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position.

b) Other transactions with other government departments and agencies

  2020 2019

(in dollars)

Accounts receivable 432,460 88,494
Accounts payable 2,011,982 1,051,638
Expenses 8,043,286 6,422,468
Revenues 0 48,254

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

11. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on the Department's core responsibility. 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 core responsibilities, by major object of expense and by major type of revenue. The segment results for the period are as follows:

  2020 2019
Environmental
Assessment
Delivery
Environmental
Assessment
Policy
Internal
Services
Total Total
(in dollars)
Transfer payments
Aboriginal Groups 6,491,763 0 0 6,491,763 4,694,564
Non-profit organizations 601,169 0 0 601,169 149,427
Other levels of government 295,500 0 0 295,500 245,500
Total transfer payments 7,388,431 0 0 7,388,431 5,089,492
Operating Expenses
Salaries and employee benefits 27,324,992 16,875,640 5,439,172 49,639,805 33,946,461
Professional and special services 3,080,579 3,222,546 4,061,399 10,364,524 6,616,943
Accommodation 822,675 1,548,883 437,723 2,809,281 2,905,112
Travel and relocation 1,397,178 225,830 132,442 1,755,450 1,139,406
Information 533,630 41,310 123,579 698,520 321,339
Furniture and equipment 40,514 14,489 927,831 982,834 1,593,082
Telecommunications 72,904 20 239,067 311,991 190,875
Utilities, materials and supplies 52,784 26,548 130,575 209,907 484,771
Postage 16,191 0 27,235 43,426 30,027
Repairs and maintenance 1,225 399 7,034 8,657 119,542
Amortization 0 0 65,591 65,591 27,331
Other 2,832 1,490 (1,958) 2,365 1,670,447
Total operating expenses 33,345,504 21,957,156 11,589,690 66,892,350 49,045,337
Total expenses 40,733,935 21,957,156 11,589,690 74,280,781 54,134,828
Revenues
Environmental assessment and training services

2,264,674

0

3,815

2,268,489

1,935,822

Miscellaneous revenues

26,673

68,649

10,600

105,921

187,529

Total revenues

2,291,347

68,649

14,414

2,374,409

2,123,351

Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 38,442,588 21,888,507 11,575,276 71,906,371 52,011,477

12. Adjustments to prior year’s results

In 2019-2020, the Agency conducted a review of its reporting methods related to assets. The review noted that salary overpayments should be classified as "assets held on behalf of the Government". The change has been applied and comparative information for 2018­2019 has been restated. The following table presents the effects of the prior year restated financial results.

Statement of Financial Position

(in dollars)

2019
As previously stated

Effect of the
adjustment

2019
Restated

Due from the Consolidated Revenue fund 7,025,015 (613,754) 6,411,261
Financial assets held on behalf of the Government - (613,754) (613,754)
Total net financial assets 10,389,027 (1,227,508) 9,161,519
Agency net financial assets 753,669 (1,227,508) (473,839)
Agency net financial position 1,322,580 (1,227,508) 95,072
Statement of Operations and Departmental Financial Position
Net cash provided by government 44,529,413 (613,754) 43,915,659
Change in due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund 3,034,058 (613,754) 2,420,304
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers (978,074) 1,227,508 249,434
Agency net financial position - End of year 1,322,580 (1,227,508) 95,072
Statement of Changes in Departmental Net Debt
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers (978,074) 1,227,508 249,434
Net increase (decrease) in Agency net debt (409,163) 1,227,508 818,345
Agency net debt - End of year (753,669) 1,227,508 473,839
Statement of Cash Flows
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and advances 668,272 (613,754) 54,518
Cash used by Operating Activities 43,933,171 (613,754) 43,319,417
Net cash provided by Government of Canada 44,529,413 (613,754) 43,915,659

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