k) Measurement uncertainty

Preparing financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. At the time of preparation of these statements, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant items where estimates are used are in determining the expected useful life of capital assets and in determining employee severance benefits.

a) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to parliamentary appropriations used:

4. Capital assets

5. Accrued employee severance benefits

The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada provides severance benefits to its employees based on years of service and final salary. The benefit plan is not pre-funded and thus has no assets, resulting in a plan deficit equal to the accrued benefit obligation. Benefits will be paid from future appropriations. Information about the plan, measured as at the balance sheet date, is as follows:

The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada and all eligible employees contribute to the Public Service Pension Plan. This pension plan provides benefits based on years of service and average earnings at retirement. The benefits are fully indexed to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. The Office’s and employees’ contributions to the Public Service Pension Plan for the year were as follows: