The highlights presented in this section are drawn from CAS’s financial statements (unaudited) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, and are prepared on an accrual basis. These financial statements have been prepared using Government of Canada accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Note:
The 2020–21 planned results are those reported in the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2020–21 Departmental Plan.

Expenses: CAS’s total expenses were $132,648,308 in 2020–21 ($125,225,550 in 2019–20). The largest components of the increase of $7,422,758 (5.93%) were mainly increases in salaries and wages, transportation and telecommunication, and materials and supplies. This increase in expenditures was the result of an increase in funding for the following initiatives: $5,500,849 in off-cycle funding received for Restarting the Court System and Supporting Access to Justice (COVID-19) and $4,948,583 in compensation for collective bargaining and payments for Phoenix damages. The increase also includes: $2,310,604 in new funding for the delivery of justice through the CAS; $800,000 in program integrity funding; $430,776 for CRMS; $1,260,483 in contributions to employee benefit plans. The above increases are partially offset by funding decreases of $943,010 to enhance the integrity of Canada’s Borders and Asylum System, $1,112,544 in the operating budget carry-forward, $880,000 to implement a new comprehensive Intellectual Property Strategy, and other adjustments for increases and reductions for the residual balance.

• Salaries and employee benefits: Salaries and employee benefits expense was $79,496,213 in 2020–21 ($70,552,919 in 2019–20). The $8,943,294 (12.68%) variance is due to increases of $7,589,076 in salaries and wages, $1,260,484 in employer contributions to employee benefit plans, $175,951 in the provision for severance benefits and $269,685 in employer contribution to the health and dental insurance plans (related party transaction). More than half (59.93%) of CAS's total expenses in 2020– 21 consisted of salaries and employee benefits.
• Operating: Operating expenses totaled $53,152,095 in 2020–21 ($54,672,631 in 2019–20). The $1,520,536 (2.78%) variance is mainly attributable to decreases of 2,380,385 in professional and special services, $1,163,221 in transportation and telecommunications, $366,453 in repairs and maintenance and $250,985 in machinery and equipment. These decreases were partly offset by increases of $1,362,743 in materials and supplies, $586,738 in the amortization of tangible capital assets, $500,552 in rentals, $87,175 in accommodation, $18,940 in printing and publishing and $13,360 in other miscellaneous operating expenses.

Revenues: The majority of CAS’s revenues are earned on behalf of Government. Such revenues are non-respendable, meaning that they cannot be used by CAS, and are deposited directly into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). CAS earns a small amount of respendable revenue from the sale of Crown assets. CAS’s gross revenues were $1,927,736 in 2020–21 ($2,804,651 in 2019–20) and net revenues were $5,334 in 2020–21 ($3,376 in 2019-20).

Note:

Liabilities: CAS’s net liabilities as at March 31, 2021, were $24,540,516 ($21,967,990 as at March 31, 2020). The increase of $2,572,526 (12%) is the result of the following:

• Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (47.32% of total liabilities): Increase of $679,904 includes increase of $872,987 in accounts payable to external parties and $871,708 payable to other government departments and agencies. Increase offset by a decrease of $1,065,791 in accrued liabilities related to salaries and wages.
• Vacation pay and compensatory leave (19.40% of total liabilities): Increase of $1,395,195 mainly due to $1,405,501 increase in vacation pay.
• Deposit accounts (24.75% of total liabilities): Increase of $563,106 in deposit accounts reflects many separate decisions of the Courts. Deposits cannot be projected and the balance in the deposit accounts can vary significantly from year to year.
• Employee future benefits (8.53% of total liabilities): Decrease of $65,680 due to an increase in full time employee.

Assets: The composition of financial and non-financial assets is as follows:

Financial assets:

• Due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (36.15% of gross assets)

Non-financial assets:

• Tangible capital assets (57.75% of gross assets)
• Inventory (2.10% of gross assets)
• Prepaid expenses (2.69% of gross assets)

Net financial assets: This is comprised of financial assets net of accounts receivable held on behalf of Government. Accounts receivable held on behalf of the Government of Canada consist primarily of accounts receivable from other governmental organizations. The increase of $1,617,974 is mainly due to an increase in the amount due from the CRF.

Non-financial assets: The increase of $5,868,112 is mainly due to an increase of $4,699,348 in tangible capital assets related to physical security enhancement projects, facilities renovation design, informatics, $716,568 in prepaid expenses and $452,196 in inventory.

Departmental net debt: This provides a measure of the future authorities required to pay for past transactions and events.

Departmental net financial position: This represents the net resources (financial and non-financial) that will be used to provide future services to the Courts and thereby benefit Canadians.