Future-Oriented Condensed Statement of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2021

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Statement of management responsibility

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 December 31, 2019 and reflect the plans described in the Office's 2020-21 Departmental Plan.

The future-oriented financial information has been prepared by management in accordance with Treasury Board accounting policies which are consistent with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Management is responsible for the information contained in the future-oriented financial information and for the process of developing assumptions. Assumptions and estimates are based upon 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 with the mandate and strategic objectives of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Much of the future-oriented financial information is based on the assumptions, best estimates, and judgment and gives due consideration to materiality. At the time of preparation of these statements, 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 years covered in the accompanying future-oriented financial information will vary from the information presented and the variations may be material.

Gatineau, Canada

February 3, 2020

Future oriented statement of operations (unaudited)

For the year ended March 31
(in thousands of dollars)

Future oriented statement of operations (unaudited)	2019-20 Forecasted Results	2020-21 Planned Results
Expenses
Protection of Privacy Rights	24,218	24,576
Internal Services	9,665	9,445
Total Expenses	33,883	34,021
Revenues
Internal Support Services	194	200
Total Revenues	194	200
NET COST OF OPERATIONS BEFORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND TRANSFERS	33,689	33,821
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these future-oriented statements.

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Notes to the future-oriented statement of operations (unaudited)

1. Methodology and Significant Assumptions

The future-oriented statement of operations has been prepared on the basis of the government priorities and the plans described in the Office’s 2020-21 Departmental Plan.

The information in the estimated results for fiscal year 2019-20 is based on actual results as at December 31, 2019 and on forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year. Forecasts have been made for the planned results for the fiscal year 2020-21.

The main assumptions are as follows:

1. The Office’s activities will remain substantially the same as the previous year.
2. Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on historical experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.

These assumptions are adopted as at December 31, 2019.

2. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to accurately forecast final results for the remainder of 2019-20 and for 2020-21, actual results achieved for both years are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

In preparing this future-oriented statement of operations, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 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 statement of operations and the historical statement of operations include:

1. The timing and amounts of acquisitions and disposals of property and equipment may affect gains/losses and amortization expense.
2. Implementation of new collective agreements.
3. Further changes to the operating budget through additional new initiatives such as the implementation of Budget 2019 measure: Protecting the privacy of Canadians or technical adjustments later in the year.

Once the Departmental Plan is presented, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will not be updating the forecasts for any changes in financial resources made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Office Results Report.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The future-oriented statement of operations has been prepared using Government’s accounting policies that came into effect for the 2019-20 fiscal year 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:

Expenses

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses for the Office operations are recorded when goods are received or services are rendered including services provided without charges for accommodation, employee contributions to health and dental insurance plans and workers’ compensation which are recorded as expenses at their estimated cost. Vacation pay and compensatory leave as well as severance benefits are accrued and expenses are recorded as the benefits are earned by employees under their respective terms of employment.

Transfer payments are recorded as expenses when the recipient has met the eligibility criteria or fulfilled the terms of a contractual transfer agreement or, in the case of transactions which do not form part of an existing program, when the Government announces a decision to make a non-recurring transfer, provided the enabling legislation or authorization for payment receives parliamentary approval prior to the completion of the financial statement. Transfer payments that become repayable as a result of conditions specified in the contribution agreement that have come into being are recorded as a reduction to transfer payment expense and as a receivable.

Expenses also include provisions to reflect changes in the value of assets, including provision for bad debt on accounts receivable, provision for advances or liabilities, including contingent liabilities to the extent the future event is likely to occur and a reasonable estimate can be made.

Expenses also include amortization of tangible capital assets which are capitalized at their acquisition cost. Amortization of tangible capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset.

Revenues

Revenues from Internal Support Services are recognized in the accounts based on the services provided in the year.

4. Parliamentary authorities

The Office is financed by the Government of Canada through parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the Office do not parallel financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles since authorities are primarily based on cash flow requirements. Items recognized in the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations in one year may be funded through parliamentary authorities in prior, current, or future years. Accordingly, the Office has different net cost 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 requested authorities

(in thousands of dollars)	2019-20 Forecasted Results	2020-21 Planned Results
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers	33,689	33,821
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities
Amortization of tangible capital assets	(643)	(671)
Services provided without charge by other government departments	(3,327)	(3,489)
Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave	(11)	(211)
Decrease in employee future benefits	69	62
Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities	(3,912)	(4,309)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets	171	150
Total items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities	171	150
REQUESTED AUTHORITIES	29,948	29,662

(b) Authorities requested

(in thousands of dollars)	2019-20 Forecasted Results	2020-21 Planned Results
Authorities requested
Vote 5 - Operating expenditures	26,529	26,565
Statutory amounts	3,419	3,097
REQUESTED AUTHORITIES	29,948	29,662