Unaudited Future-Oriented Statement of Operations
For the year ending March 31, 2022

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations.

Notes to the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations (unaudited)

1. Authority and objectives

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) was established in 1977 by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Act, and is a departmental corporation named in Schedule II to the Financial Administration Act. SSHRC’s purpose is to promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities. SSHRC delivers its objectives under three Core Responsibilities, which are described in the Departmental Plan.

SSHRC’s grants, scholarships and operating expenditures are funded by annual, voted budgetary authorities. Employee benefits are funded by statutory authorities.

2. Methodology and significant assumptions

The Future-Oriented Statement of Operations has been prepared on the basis of government priorities and departmental plans as described in the Departmental Plan.

The information in the forecast results for fiscal year 2020-21 is based on actual results as at November 30, 2020, and on forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year. Forecasts have been made for the planned results for fiscal year 2021-22.

The main assumptions underlying the forecasts are as follows:

• SSHRC’s activities will remain substantially the same as in the previous year, with the exception of the emergency measures enacted by SSHRC during fiscal 2020-21, as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, and that are not expected to reoccur during 2021-22;
• Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on past experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.

These assumptions are made as at November 30, 2020.

3. Variations and changes to the forecast financial information

Although every attempt has been made to forecast final results for the remainder of 2020-21 and for 2021-22, actual results achieved for both years are likely to differ from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

In preparing this Future-Oriented Statement of Operations, SSHRC has made estimates and assumptions about the future. These estimates and assumptions may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions are based on past experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and are continually evaluated.

Factors that could lead to material differences between the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and the historical statement of operations include:

• the timing and the amount of acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, which may affect gains, losses and amortization expense;
• the implementation of new collective agreements;
• economic conditions, which may affect both the amount of revenue earned and the collectability of accounts receivable;
• other changes to the operating budget, such as new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the fiscal year; and
• the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on SSHRC’s financial results in future periods.

After the Departmental Plan is tabled in Parliament, SSHRC will not be updating the forecasts for any changes in financial resources made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Departmental Results Report.

4. Summary of significant accounting policies

The Future-Oriented Statement of Operations has been prepared using the Government of Canada’s accounting policies in effect for fiscal year 2020-21, and is 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. a) Expenses

   Grants and scholarships (transfer payments) are recognized as an expense in the year in which the entitlement of the recipient has been established, the transfer is authorized, and all eligibility criteria have been met.

   Operating expenses are recorded when goods are received or services are rendered, on an accrual basis. Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned under the respective collective agreements. Services provided without charge by other government departments and agencies for accommodation and the employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated cost.

   Expenses also include provisions to reflect changes in the value of assets, including provisions for bad debt on accounts receivable and amortization of tangible capital assets, which is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

   Asset class	Amortization period
   Computer hardware	3 years
   Computer purchased and developed software	5 years
   Machinery and equipment	5 years
   Other equipment (including furniture)	7 years
   Motor vehicles	7 years
   Leasehold improvements	Lesser of the remaining term of lease or useful life of the improvement

2. b) Revenues

   Revenues are recognized in the period in which the related transactions or the event that gives rise to the revenues occurred. Respendable revenues are revenues provided under a revolving fund or a net-voting authority and are netted against the costs of operations.

   Funds received from external parties for specified purposes are recorded upon receipt as deferred revenue. These revenues are recognized in the period in which the related expenses are incurred.

   Deferred revenue consists of amounts received in advance of the delivery of goods and rendering of services that will be recognized as revenue in a subsequent fiscal year as it is earned.

   Other revenues are recognized in the period the event giving rise to the revenues occurred. Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge the department’s liabilities. Although the deputy head is expected to maintain accounting control, it has no authority over 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 as a reduction of the department’s gross revenues.

5. Parliamentary authorities

SSHRC is financed by the Government of Canada through parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to SSHRC differs from financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles because authorities are based mainly 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, SSHRC 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)

  	Forecast results 2020-21	Planned results 2021-22
  Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers	1,443,045	1,010,431
  Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities:
  Revenues	95	95
  Amortization of tangible capital assets	(185)	(175)
  Services provided without charge by other government departments	(6,736)	(6,603)
  Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave	(129)	(19)
  Decrease in employee future benefits	(12)	(17)
  Refund of previous years' expenditures	1,645	1,645
  Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities	(5,322)	(5,074)
  Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities:
  Acquisitions of tangible capital assets	93	93
  Decrease in prepaid expenses	(118)	-
  Total items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities	(25)	93
  Requested authorities	1,437,698	1,005,450

• b) Authorities requested
  (in thousands of dollars)

  	Forecast results 2020-21	Planned results 2021-22
  Authorities requested:
  Vote 5—Grants and scholarships	1,041,683	967,689
  Vote 1—Operating expenditures	36,715	33,994
  Statutory amounts:
  Contributions to the employee benefit plan	3,735	3,672
  Payments related to Public Health Event of National Concern Payments Act	357,211	-
  Spending of revenues pursuant to subsection 4(2) of the SSHRC Act	95	95
  	1,439,439	1,005,450
  Less:
  Lapsed: Operating	(1,741)	-
  Total authorities requested	1,437,698	1,005,450

Date modified:

2021-02-25