2012-2013 Financial statements

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, 2013, and all information contained in these statements rests with the management of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). These financial statements have been prepared by management using the Government's accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Management is 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 IRB's financial transactions. Financial information submitted in the preparation of the Public Accounts of Canada, and included in the IRB's Departmental Performance 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 IRB 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, 2013 was completed in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Internal Control and the results and action plans are summarized in the annex.

The Chairperson's Management Board (CMB) is the senior management body responsible for setting organizational priorities and objectives and providing overall direction to the IRB. The CMB oversees major initiatives that cut across the organization to ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach.

The Chief Financial Officer is a full member of the CMB.

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

The financial statements of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada have not been audited.

Ken Sandhu,
Interim Chairperson
Doug Lloyd,
Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada
October 2013


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited)
As at March 31 (in thousands of dollars)
20132012
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (note 4)10,9658,706
Vacation pay and compensatory leave3,9593,959
Employee future benefits (note 5)9,51810,237
Total liabilities24,44222,902
Financial assets
Due from Consolidated Revenue Fund6,6795,594
Accounts receivable and advances (note 6)5,2892,317
Total gross financial assets11,9687,911
Financial assets held on behalf of Government
Accounts receivable and advances (note 6)(73)(37)
Total financial assets held on behalf of Government(73)(37)
Total net financial assets11,8957,874
Departmental net debt12,54715,028
Non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses188249
Tangible capital assets (note 7)18,78414,606
Total non-financial assets18,97214,855
Departmental net financial position6,425(173)

Contingent liabilities (note 8)
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Ken Sandhu,
Interim Chairperson
Doug Lloyd,
Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada
October 2013


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31 (in thousands of dollars)
2013
Planned Results
2013
Actual
2012
Expenses
Refugee Protection79,29878,13478,607
Immigration Appeal19,91317,36218,492
Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews10,12512,04413,218
Refugee Appeal20,9984,2502,664
Internal Services35,21042,06837,847
Total expenses165,544153,858150,828
Revenues
Miscellaneous revenues-716
Revenues earned on behalf of Government-(7)(16)
Total revenues-00
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers165,544153,858150,828
Government funding and transfers
Net cash provided by Government-135,050146,625
Change in due from Consolidated Revenue Fund-1,085(6,509)
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9)-24,32124,488
Transfer of assets and liabilities to other government departments--(571)
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers-(6,598)(13,205)
Departmental net financial position - Beginning of year-(173)(13,378)
Departmental net financial position - End of year-6,425(173)

Segmented information (note 10)
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Statement of Change in Departmental Net Debt (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31 (in thousands of dollars)
20132012
Net cost of operations after government funding and transfers(6,598)(13,205)
Change due to tangible capital assets
Acquisition of tangible capital assets8,7026,665
Other adjustments(400)32
Amortization of tangible capital assets(4,124)(2,017)
Transfer to other government departments (note 10)-(708)
Total change due to tangible capital assets4,1783,972
Change due to prepaid expenses(61)(141)
Net decrease in departmental debt(2,481)(9,374)
Departmental net debt - Beginning of year15,02824,402
Departmental net debt - End of year12,54715,028

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


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31 (in thousands of dollars)
20132012
Operating activities
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers153,858150,828
Non-cash items:
Amortization of tangible capital assets (note 7)(4,124)(2,017)
Adjustments of tangible capital assets(400)32
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9)(24,321)(24,488)
Variations in Statement of Financial Position:
Increase in accounts receivable and advances2,9361,741
Decrease in prepaid expenses(61)(141)
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities(2,259)3,773
Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave-455
Decrease (increase) in future employee benefits7199,914
Transfer of liabilities to other government departments (note 10)-(137)
Cash used in operating activities126,348139,960
Capital investing activities
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets (note 7)8,7026,665
Cash used in capital investing activities8,7026,665
Net cash provided by Government of Canada135,050146,625

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


Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the Year Ended March 31

1. Authority and objectives

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is an independent administrative tribunal that was created on January 1, 1989, by an amendment to the Immigration Act. In 2002, the Immigration Actwas replaced by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which was amended by the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (BRRA) and by the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act (PCISA) in 2012. IRB divisions derived their mandates from these acts during the 2012–13 reporting period.

The Board strategic outcome is to resolve immigration and refugee cases efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

Five program activities support this strategic outcome:

  • Refugee Protection
    Renders quality decisions and otherwise resolves cases in a timely manner regarding:
    • Refugee protection claims made by persons in Canada;
    • Pre-removal risk assessments (PRRA) of persons subject to a removal order.Note 1
  • Refugee Appeal
    Renders quality decisions and otherwise resolves cases in a timely manner regarding:
    • Appeals from Refugee Protection Division decisions concerning refugee protection claims.
  • Admissibility Hearings and Detention Reviews
    Renders quality decisions and otherwise resolves cases in a timely manner regarding:
    • Admissibility of foreign nationals or permanent residents who are alleged to be inadmissible to Canada pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA);
    • Detention reviews for foreign nationals or permanent residents who are detained under the IRPA.
  • Immigration Appeal
    Renders quality decisions and otherwise resolves cases in a timely manner regarding:
    • family sponsorship applications refused by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration;
    • Certain removal orders made against permanent residents, Convention refugees and other protected persons and holders of permanent resident visas;
    • Permanent residents outside of Canada who have been found not to have fulfilled their residency obligation;
    • Appeals by the Minister of Public Safety against a decision of the Immigration Division on admissibility.
  • Internal Services
    The IRB administers internal services in support of program activities and other corporate obligations. Internal services include management and oversight services, legal services, human resources management services, financial management services, information management services, information technology services, real property services, material services, acquisition services, corporate security, and travel and other administrative services.

Notes

Note 1

Activities associated with PRRA will begin in a future reporting period.

Return to note 1 referrer

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

These financial statements have been prepared using the Government'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:

  1. Parliamentary authorities

    The IRB is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to the IRB 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 Statement of Operations and the Departmental Net Financial Position and in the Statement of Financial Position are not necessarily the same as those provided through authorities from Parliament. note 3 provides a reconciliation between the bases of reporting. The planned results amounts in the Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position are the amounts reported in the future-oriented financial statements included in the 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities.

  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 appropriations to discharge its liabilities.

  4. Revenue

    Other revenues are accounted for in the period in which the underlying transaction or event that gave rise to the revenue takes place. The IRB does not charge for its services and its only revenues stem from gains on disposals of crown assets, Access to Information and Privacy fees and interest on overdue accounts receivable.

    Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge the Department's liabilities. While the Deputy Head is expected to maintain accounting control, he or she has no authority regarding the disposition of non-respendable revenues. As a result, non-respendable revenues are considered to be earned on behalf of the Government of Canada and are therefore presented in reduction of the entity's gross revenues.

  5. Expenses

    Expenses are recorded on the 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.
  6. 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 Board to the Plan. 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.
    2. Severance benefits: Employees entitled to severance benefits under labour contracts or conditions of employment earn these benefits as services necessary to earn them are rendered. 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.
  7. Accounts receivable

    Accounts receivable are stated at the lower of cost and net recoverable value. A valuation allowance is recorded for accounts receivable where recovery is considered uncertain.

  8. 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.

  9. 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. The Board does not capitalize intangibles, works of art and historical treasures that have cultural, aesthetic or historical value.

    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 classAmortization Period
    Informatics hardware4 years
    Informatics software5 years
    Machinery and Equipment10 years
    Leasehold improvementsLesser 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.

  10. Measurement uncertainty

    The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. The most significant items where estimates are used are contingent liabilities, the liability for employee severance 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 IRB receives its funding through annual Parliamentary authorities. Items recognized in the Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Position and the Statement of 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) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to current year authorities used (in thousands of dollars)
20132012
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers153,858150,828
Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
Services provided without charge by other government departments (note 9)(24,321)(24,488)
Amortization of tangible capital assets (note 7)(4,124)(2,017)
Decrease in employee future benefits7199,810
Decrease (increase) in vacation pay and compensatory leave-422
Increase in accrued liabilities not charged to appropriation(611)(724)
Prepaid expenses previously charged to appropriation(449)(408)
Adjustments to prior's years accounts payable (PAYE)322364
Refund of prior years' expenditures7940
Other(309)46
Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities(28,694)(16,955)
Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
Acquisitions of tangible capital assets (note 7)8,7026,665
Increase in prepaid expenses388267
Temporary advance54
Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities9,0956,936
Current year authorities used134,259140,809

(b) Authorities provided and used (in thousands of dollars)
20132012
Authorities Provided:
Vote 10 - Operating expenditures138,490151,425
Statutory amounts13,86914,441
Less:
Lapsed: Operating(18,100)(25,057)
Current year authorities used134,259140,809

4. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

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

Accounts Payable and Aaccrued Liabilities
20132012
Accounts payable - Other government departments and agencies1,9512,277
Accounts payable - External parties4,0013,177
Total accounts payables5,9525,454
Accrued liabilities5,0133,252
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities10,9658,706

In Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government announced savings measures to be implemented by departments over the next three years starting in 2012-2013. As a result, the Board has recorded at March 31, 2013, an obligation for termination benefits for an amount of $812 ($524 in 2011-2012) as part of accrued liabilities to reflect the estimated workforce adjustments costs.

5. Employee future benefits

  1. 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.

    Both the employees and the IRB contribute to the cost of the Plan. The 2012-2013 expense amounts to $9.9M ($10.4M in 2011-2012), which represents approximately 1.7 times (1.8 times in 2011-2012) the contributions by employees.

    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.

  2. Severance benefits

    The IRB provides severance benefits to its employees based on eligibility, years of service and salary at termination of employment. These severance benefits are not pre-funded. Benefits will be paid from future authorities.

    As part of collective agreement negotiations with certain employee groups, and changes to conditions of employment for executives and certain non-represented employees, the accumulation of severance benefits under the employee severance pay program ceased for these employees commencing in 2012. Employees subject to these changes have been given the option to be immediately paid the full or partial value of benefits earned to date or collect the full or remaining value of benefits on termination from the public service. These changes have been reflected in the calculation of the outstanding severance benefit obligation. Information about the severance benefits, measured as at March 31, is as follows (in thousands of dollar):

Severance benefits
20132012
Accrued benefit obligation - Beginning of the year10,23720,151
Transferred to other government department, effective November 15, 2011-(104)
Subtotal10,23720,047
Expense for the year2,91428
Benefits paid during the year(3,633)(9,838)
Accrued benefit obligation - End of the year9,51810,237

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
20132012
Receivables - Other government departments and agencies5,1992,276
Receivables - External parties7337
Employee advances176
Subtotal5,2892,319
Allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables from external parties-(2)
Gross accounts receivable5,2892,317
Accounts receivable held on behalf of Government(73)(37)
Net accounts receivable5,2162,280

7. Tangible capital assets

Cost (in thousands of dollars)
Opening balanceAcquisitionsAdjustments (1)Closing Balance
Informatics Hardware2,070--2,070
Informatics Software10,130-7,69717,827
Machinery and Equipment18426310457
Leasehold Improvements3,2431,4472,1826,872
Assets under construction4,8326,992(10,289)1,535
Total20,4598,702(400)28,761

Accumulated Amortization (in thousands of dollars)
Opening balanceAmortizationAdjustments (1)Closing Balance
Informatics Hardware1,391248-1,639
Informatics Software3,7501,996-5,746
Machinery and Equipment1425-39
Leasehold Improvements6981,855-2,553
Total5,8534,124-9,977

Net book value (in thousands of dollars)
20122013
Informatics Hardware679431
Informatics Software6,38012,081
Machinery and Equipment170418
Leasehold Improvements2,5454,319
Assets under construction4,8321,535
Total14,60618,784

(1) Adjustments include assets under construction of $9,889 thousands of dollar that were transferred to the other categories upon completion of the assets.

8. Contingent liabilities

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

  1. Claims and litigation

    Claims have been made against the IRB 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.

9. Related party transactions

The IRB is related as a result of common ownership to all government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The IRB enters into transactions with these entities in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms. During the year, the IRB received common services which were obtained without charge from other government departments as disclosed below.

  1. Common services provided without charge by other government departments

    During the year, the IRB received 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 Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position as follows (in thousands of dollars):

    Common services provided without charge by other government departments
    20132012
    Accommodation16,51616,461
    Employer's contribution to the health and dental insurance plans7,8058,027
    Total24,32124,488

    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 Works and Government Services Canada and audit services provided by the Office of the Auditor General are not included in the IRB's Statement of Operations and Departmental Net Financial Position.

  2. Other transactions with related parties (in thousands of dollars)
    Other transactions with related parties
    20132012
    Expenses - Other Government departments and agencies23,36524,481

10. Segmented information

Presentation by segment is based on the IRB's program alignment 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 (in thousands of dollars):

Segmented program alignment architecture
Refugee ProtectionImmigration AppealAdmissibility Hearings & Detention ReviewsRefugee AppealInternal Services2013
Total
2012
Operating Expenses
Salaries and employee benefits59,06812,1308,13396627,697107,994105,470
Accommodation8,9041,8461,3052984,16316,51616,461
Rentals175222411,2401,462417
Professional and special services3,8362,9642,0062,9384,11915,86318,522
Amortization2,64724320-1,1334,1242,017
Transportation and telecommunications1,629310132251,0553,1513,968
Repair and maintenance439224-3027671,174
Acquisition of equipment975754181,6662,7201,530
Utilities, materials and supplies20929414374657737
Information24235-316566167
Other1025--338365
Total operating expenses78,13417,36212,0444,25042,068153,858150,828
Revenues
Miscellaneous revenues1---6716
Revenues earned on behalf of Government(1)---(6)(7)(16)
Total revenues0---000
Net cost of operations78,13417,36212,0444,25042,068153,858150,828

Annex to the statement of management responsibility including internal control over financial reporting (unaudited)
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Fiscal Year 2012-2013

1. Introduction

This document provides summary information on the measures taken by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (the IRB) to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR). In particular, it provides summary information on the internal control assessments conducted by the IRB for the year ended March 31, 2013, including information on internal control management, assessment results and related action plans.

Detailed information on the department’s authority, mandate and program activities can be found in the 2012-13 Departmental Performance Report and the 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities.

2. Departmental system of internal control over financial reporting

2.1 Internal control management

The Immigration and Refugee Board has a well-established governance and accountability structure to support departmental assessment efforts and oversight of its system of internal control. A departmental internal control management framework, approved by the Chairperson, is in place and includes:

  • Organizational accountability structures as they relate to internal control management to support sound financial management, including roles and responsibilities of senior managers in their areas of responsibility for control management;
  • Values and Ethics Office, which provides educational and awareness programs;
  • Ongoing communication and training on statutory requirements, and policies and procedures for sound financial management and control;
  • An annually updated Corporate Risk Profile;
  • Financial management policies as well as documentation of its main business processes and related key risk and control points to support the management and oversight of its system of ICFR;
  • A risk-based internal audit plan;
  • Periodic monitoring of and updates on internal control management, as well as the provision of related assessment results and action plans to the Chairperson and departmental senior management and, as applicable, the Departmental Audit Committee;
  • Regularly updated delegated authorities matrix; and
  • Secure financial and contracting information technology (IT) processing systems to achieve enhanced security, data integrity, and efficiency and effectiveness of transactions.
Key positions, roles and responsibilities

The following are the IRB's key positions and committees with responsibilities for maintaining and reviewing the effectiveness of its system of ICFR.

Chairperson- The IRB's Deputy Head, as Accounting Officer, assumes overall responsibility and leadership for the measures taken to maintain an effective system of internal control. In this role, the Chairperson chairs the Management Board (CMB) and is a member of the Departmental Audit Committee.

Executive Director- The IRB's Executive Director supports the Chairperson in the management of the operations of the IRB. In this role, the Executive Director chairs the Human Resources Management Committee.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)- The IRB's Director General of Corporate Planning and Services is also the CFO. As CFO, he reports directly to the Chairperson and provides leadership for the coordination, coherence and focus on the design and maintenance of an effective and integrated system of ICFR, including its annual assessment. The CFO chairs the Planning and Budgeting Committee.

Deputy Chairpersons, Senior General Counsel and Director Generals - The IRB's senior departmental managers in charge of program delivery are responsible for maintaining and reviewing the effectiveness of the system of ICFR falling within their mandate.

Chief Audit Executive (CAE)- The IRB's CAE reports directly to the Chairperson and provides assurance through periodic internal audits, which are instrumental to the maintenance of an effective system of ICFR.

Departmental Audit Committee (DAC)- The DAC is an advisory committee that provides objective views on the IRB's financial statements, risk management, control and governance frameworks; it comprises three members external to government. As such, it reviews the IRB's Corporate Risk Profile, its internal audit reports, and its system of internal control, including the assessment and action plans relating to the system of ICFR.

Chairperson's Management Board (CMB)- The CMB is the senior management body setting organizational priorities and objectives, and providing overall direction for the IRB. The Committee oversees major initiatives that cut across the organization to ensure a comprehensive/integrated approach. Final recommendations of CMB members are presented to the Chairperson, who takes final decisions. The CMB is also an information-sharing forum on organizational-wide issues.

Core Business Committee (CBC)- The CBC is the forum for discussion and providing advice to the Chairperson on strategic plans, priorities, and policies concerning the IRB's core business function—adjudicative decision-making in the four Divisions and operational support. The role of the Committee is to provide leadership and direction to ensure that the IRB is executing its strategic priorities with respect to operational issues in order to optimize divisional and operational performance.

Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC)- The PBC is the senior level committee dedicated to financial governance. It meets regularly to plan resource allocations and reallocations, track progress against plans, and make recommendations to the Chairperson regarding financial resource allocations.

Human Resources Management Committee (HRMC)- The HRMC is the senior level committee addressing human resources management.

The Information Management (IM) and Information Technology (IT) Committee - The IM/IT is responsible for the management of IRB's information assets. The Committee is chaired by the Director General, Corporate Planning and Services, with committee members drawn from all branches and divisions.

Contract Review Committee- The contract review committee is chaired by the CFO and is responsible for the governance regarding the contractual activities of the IRB.

2.2 Service arrangements relevant to financial statements

The Immigration and Refugee Board relies on other organizations for the processing of certain transactions that are recorded in its financial statements as follows:

Common Arrangements
  • Public Works and Government Services Canada centrally administers the payments of salaries and the procurement of certain goods and services, and provides accommodation services;
  • The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provides the Immigration and Refugee Board with information used to calculate various accruals and allowances, such as the accrued severance liability;
  • Shared Services Canada provides information technology infrastructure services to the Immigration and Refugee Board in the areas of data centre and network services. The scope and responsibilities are addresses in the interdepartmental arrangements between Shared Services Canada and the Board.
Specific arrangements
  • Public Works and Government Services Canada processes a portion of the Board’s pay transactions at the new Public Service Pay Centre. All of the Board’s pay transactions are scheduled to be transferred to the Pay Centre by 2015.
  • The Treasury Board Secretariat provides the Board with a Peoplesoft human resources management system application.

3. Departmental assessment results during fiscal year 2012-13

During 2012-13 the Board updated its control documentation and completed operating effectiveness testing in key control areas. Operational effectiveness testing was conducted for pay transactions, the most material expenditure of the Board. The testing conducted covered transactions processed by the Board’s internal pay service, and the adoption of an external service provider model will require changes to the testing approach in future years.

3.1 Design effectiveness testing of key controls

During 2012-13, the Board identified a weakness in the design effectiveness of an element of its operating expenses process. To correct the issue, the vendor configuration function was uniformly centralized to the head office accounting office.

3.2 Operating effectiveness of key controls

In 2012-13 the Board conducted operating effectiveness testing of key controls over the pay processes. The pay process is transitioning from pay calculations performed, authorized and processed within the department to pay calculations processed entirely by a service provider external to the department.

The evaluation of the effectiveness of controls revealed certain weaknesses in the pay verification process for transactions performed within the department. Further testing consisting in analytical reviews was performed to provide assurance that no material impact could result from these weaknesses in the current year financial statements. This issue will no longer be a risk factor in the future because the processing of pay for the IRB will be entirely performed by an external service provider effective in 2013-14. Operating effectiveness testing of pay transaction verification performed by the external service provider will be scheduled in 2013-14.

3.3 Ongoing monitoring of key controls

In 2012-2013, the Board began to update its monitoring process of key internal controls with a focus on controls and account balances that may have a material impact on financial information and where the control environment is evolving.

4. Departmental action plan

4.1 Progress during fiscal year 2012-13

During 2012-13, the Board continued to make significant progress in assessing and improving its key controls. The following table summarizes the department’s progress based on the plans identified in the previous fiscal year’s annex.

Progress Status
Element in previous year’s action planStatus
Entity level controls: documentation, design effectiveness and operating effectivenessThe documentation of entity level controls was updated and testing of design effectiveness completed
Pay and benefits: documentationThe documentation of pay and benefits controls was updated in light of the changing environment. In addition, design effectiveness and operating effectiveness testing of a portion of the processes were conducted.
Operating expenses: documentationThe documentation of controls over operating expenses for the material categories of expenses was completed. In addition, design effectiveness testing of a portion of the processes was conducted.
Capital assets: documentationThe documentation of capital assets controls was updated in light of the evolving environment. In addition, design effectiveness testing of a portion of the process was conducted.

4.2 Status and action plan for the next fiscal year and subsequent years

Building on progress to date, the Board is positioned to complete the full assessment of its system of internal control over financial reporting in 2015-16. At that time, the department will complete the gradual implementation of an ongoing rotational monitoring plan to reassess control performance on a risk basis across all control areas. The frequency and extent of testing will be adapted to the materiality and risk level of the transaction cycle or account balance, and will take into account changes in processes and environment. The status and action plan for the completion of the identified control areas for the next fiscal year and for subsequent years are shown in the following table. Once initial documentation and design effectiveness testing has taken place, the annual process includes updating the documentation and testing the design effectiveness of processes where change occurred.

The Board will be updating its financial system and may adopt a service provider model to comply with the Federal government’s new financial system standard starting in fiscal 2014-15. This model was adopted for the Board’s human resources system in fiscal 2012-13. This approach will have an impact on the schedule and content of the action plan over future years.

Entity Level Controls
DocumentationDesign EffectivenessOperating Effectiveness
2013-2014
Entity Level Controlsyesyesyes
General IT Level Controls
Free Balance/SAPyes
PBHC/SFTyes
Peoplesoftyesyes
Network and Serversyes
Business Process Level Controls
Pay and benefitsyesyesyes
Operating expensesyesyesyes
Capital Assetsyesyes
Financial closeyesyes
2014-2015
Entity Level Controlsyesyesyes
General IT Level Controls
Free Balanceyesyes
PBHCyesyesyes
Peoplesoftyesyes
Network and Serversyesyes
Business Process Level Controls
Pay and benefitsyesyesyes
Operating expensesyesyesyes
Capital Assetsyesyes
Financial closeyesyesyes
2015-2016
Entity Level Controlsyes
General IT Level Controls
Free Balanceyesyesyes
PBHCyesyesyes
Peoplesoftyesyesyes
Network and Serversyesyesyes
Business Process Level Controls
Pay and benefitsyesyesyes
Operating expensesyesyesyes
Capital Assetsyesyesyes
Financial closeyesyesyes