The highlights presented in this section are drawn from CAS’ financial statements 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 2017–18 planned results are those reported in the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations included in the 2017–18 Departmental Plan.

Expenses: CAS’s total expenses were $108,735,899 in 2017–18 ($101,101,357 in 2016-17). The largest components of the increase of $7,634,542 (7.55%) were increases in salaries and wages, machinery and equipment and professional and special services.

• Salaries and employee benefits: Salaries and employee benefits expense was $59,335,570 in 2017–18 ($54,401,270 in 2016-17). The $4,934,300 (9.07%) variance is due to increases of $3,706,472 in salaries and wages, $618,488 in the provision for severance benefits, $405,375 in employer contribution to the health and dental insurance plans (related party transaction), and $203,965 in employer contributions to employee benefit plans. More than half (55%) of CAS’s total expenses in 2017–18 consisted of salaries and employee benefits.
• Operating: Operating expenses totalled $49,400,329 in 2017-18 ($46,700,087 in 2016-17). The $2,700,242 (5.78%) variance is mainly attributable to increases of $1,424,380 in machinery and equipment, $1,188,097 in professional and special services, $358,570 in rentals, $274,574 in the amortization of tangible capital assets, $147,440 in information technology, $77,424 in transportation and telecommunications, $26,184 in materials and supplies and $98,409 in other miscellaneous operating expenses. These increases were partly offset by decreases of $476,365 in accommodations and $418,471 in repairs and maintenance.

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. CAS earns a small amount of respendable revenue from the sale of Crown assets. CAS’s gross revenues were $2,559,619 in 2017–18 ($3,069,931 in 2016-17) and net revenues were $14,122 in 2017–18 ($7,786 in 2016-17).

Note:

Liabilities:
CAS’s net liabilities as at March 31, 2018 were $27,286,444 ($17,654,744 as at March 31, 2017). The increase of $9,631,700 (55%) is the result of the following:

• Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (52% of total liabilities): Increase of $6,410,599 mainly due to a $4,328,679 increase in external accounts payable and $1,953,366 increase in other government departments accounts payable primarily due to timing of equipment and services delivered.
• Vacation pay and compensatory leave (10% of total liabilities): Increase of $453,412 mainly due to a $319,464 increase in vacation pay.
• Deposit accounts (30% of total liabilities): Increase of $2,732,712. Because they reflect 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% of total liabilities): Increase of $34,977 due to increases in salaries following the signature of the new collective agreements.

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

Financial assets:

• Due from the CRF $19,157,373 (46% of gross assets)
• Accounts receivable and employee advances $3,826,692 (9% of gross assets)

Non-financial assets:

• Tangible capital assets $18,106,440 (43% of gross assets)
• Prepaid expenses $768,135 (2% of gross assets)

Net financial assets: This is comprised of financial assets net of accounts receivable held on behalf of the Government. Accounts receivable held on behalf of the Government consist primarily of accounts receivable from other governmental organizations. The increase of $9,476,459 is mainly due to an increase in the amount due from the CRF due to the timing of expenses and funds received, as well as a small increase in accounts receivable and advances.

Non-financial assets: The increase of $6,026,359 is mainly due to tangible capital assets related to physical and IT security, and IT infrastructure, as well as a smaller increase in prepaid expenses.

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 to benefit Canadians.