Public Accounts 2016-17: Consolidated financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

To the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario

I have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Province of Ontario, which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as at March 31, 2017, and the consolidated statements of operations, change in net debt, change in accumulated deficit and cash flow for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Management’s responsibility for the consolidated financial statements

The Government of Ontario (Government) is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards, and for such internal control as the Government determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial

Auditor’s responsibility

My responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on my audit. I conducted my audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that I comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the Government, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my qualified audit opinion.

Basis for qualified opinion

Net pension asset overstated, annual deficit understated, net debt understated and accumulated deficit understated

As described in Note 16a to these consolidated financial statements, a net pension asset is recorded on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position relating to the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union Pension Plan. However, the Government does not have the unilateral legal right to use this asset because its ability to reduce future minimum contributions or withdraw any pension plan surplus is subject to agreement with the respective pension plans’ joint sponsors. Canadian public sector accounting standards require the Government to record a valuation allowance against this asset.

The Government did not record a valuation allowance for this net pension asset at March 31, 2017. The Government also retroactively restated the March 31, 2016 comparative figures to exclude the valuation allowance previously included in the prior year’s consolidated financial statements. This departure from Canadian public sector accounting standards has led me to express a qualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2017 and on the March 31, 2016 comparative figures.

The recommendations of the Government’s appointed Pension Asset Advisory Panel are not an authoritative source on the application of Canadian public sector accounting standards as implied in Note 16a to these consolidated financial statements.

Effect on consolidated statement of operations

If the Government had correctly recorded the valuation allowance against the net pension asset for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union Pension Plan, the effect on the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 would have been as follows:

Effect on consolidated statement of financial position

If the Government had correctly recorded the valuation allowance against the net pension asset for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union Pension Plan, the effect on the consolidated statement of financial position as at March 31, 2017 and 2016 would have been as follows:

Inappropriate consolidation of Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) market accounts

As described in Note 16c to these consolidated financial statements, the IESO changed its accounting policy and applied it retroactively to recognize market account assets and liabilities. The market accounts track mainly buy and sell transactions between market participants (electricity power generators and power distributors). These market accounts, as recorded on the Province of Ontario’s consolidated financial statements are not assets and liabilities of the Province of Ontario. The Government has no access or discretion to use the market account assets for their own benefit, nor does the Government have an obligation to settle the market account liabilities in the event of default by market participants. As a result, Other Assets and Other Liabilities are both overstated by $1.652 billion (2016 – $1.443 billion). There is no effect on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Qualified opinion

In my opinion, except for the effects of the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraphs, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Province of Ontario as at March 31, 2017, and the consolidated results of its operations, change in its net debt, change in its accumulated deficit and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Other matters

Use of Rate-regulated Accounting May Cause a Material Misstatement on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Province of Ontario

I draw attention to Note 16c to these consolidated financial statements, which describes the Independent Electricity System Operator’s retroactive adoption of rate-regulated accounting during the year. The recognition of rate regulated assets on the consolidated financial statements of the Province of Ontario is not permitted when applying Canadian public sector accounting standards. This departure does not have a material impact on the Province of Ontario’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2017 and my opinion is not modified in respect of this matter. However, the consolidated financial statements may become materially misstated in future periods, as a result of the legislated accounting prescribed under the Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017 (Fair Hydro Plan) and its related regulations as it is not in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Financial statement discussion and analysis

I draw attention to the Province of Ontario’s Financial Statement Discussion and Analysis that discusses the Province of Ontario’s financial results without properly reflecting the valuation allowance required in respect of the net pension asset and the recognition of market accounts, as discussed in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraphs above.

Toronto, Ontario   Bonnie Lysyk, MBA, CPA, CA, LPA
August 18, 2017   Auditor General

Province of Ontario Consolidated Statement of operations

Province of Ontario Consolidated Statement of financial position

Province of Ontario Consolidated Statement of change in net debt

Province of Ontario Consolidated Statement of change in accumulated deficit

Province of Ontario Consolidated Statement of cash flow

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

a) Basis of accounting

The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared by the Government of Ontario in accordance with the accounting standards for governments recommended by the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada).

b) Reporting entity

These financial statements report the activities of the Consolidated Revenue Fund combined with those organizations that are controlled by the Province.

Government business enterprises (GBEs), broader public sector (BPS) organizations (i.e., hospitals, school boards and colleges) and other government organizations controlled by the Province are included in these financial statements. Controlled organizations are consolidated if they meet one of the following criteria: i) their revenues, expenses, assets or liabilities are greater than $50 million; or ii) their outside sources of revenue, deficit or surplus are greater than $10 million. In accordance with PSAB, the Province also applies the “benefit versus cost constraint” in determining which organizations should be consolidated in the Province’s financial statements. A listing of consolidated government organizations is provided in Schedule 8. For those organizations that do not meet the PSAB benefit versus cost constraint standard, such as Children’s Aid Societies and Community Care Access Centres, government transfer payments to these organizations are included as expenses in these financial statements through the accounts of the ministries responsible for them.

Trusts administered by the Province on behalf of other parties are excluded from the reporting entity, but are disclosed in Note 15.

c) Principles of consolidation

Government business enterprises are defined as those government organizations that i) are separate legal entities with the power to contract in their own name and that can sue and be sued; ii) have the financial and operating authority to carry on a business; iii) have as their principal activity and source of revenue the selling of goods and services to individuals and non-government organizations; and iv) are able to maintain their operations and meet their obligations from revenues generated outside the government reporting entity. The activities of GBEs are recorded in the financial statements using the modified equity method, applying the basis of reporting as stipulated by Public Sector Accounting Standards for GBEs. Their combined net assets are included in the financial statements as Investment in Government Business Enterprises on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, and their net income is shown as a separate item, Income from Investment in Government Business Enterprises (GBEs), on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Less than wholly owned GBEs (e.g., Hydro One Limited) are reflected using the modified equity method based on the percentage of ownership government held during the fiscal year.

The Province is accounting for the results for Hydro One Limited and Ontario Power Generation based on their results prepared using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) basis (including IFRS14). See Note 16 for further details regarding change in accounting policy.

The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the consolidated BPS organizations (hospitals, school boards and colleges) are consolidated with those of the Province on a line-by-line basis on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Total expenses (excluding net interest expense on BPS debt) of hospitals are included in Health expenses, school boards in Education expenses and colleges in Postsecondary and Training expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Third-party revenues of BPS organizations received directly from the Government of Canada and the public, such as tuition fees, patient fees, research grants and other recoveries, are included in the consolidated revenues of the Province. The reported net debt for the Province therefore includes net debt of hospitals, school boards and colleges. Where appropriate, adjustments are made to present the accounts of these organizations on a basis consistent with the accounting policies of the Province. See Note 16 for further details regarding the change in presentation of third-party revenues and interest on debt.

Other government organizations controlled by the Province are consolidated on a line-by-line basis with the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Province based on the percentage of ownership the government held during the fiscal year. Where appropriate, adjustments are also made to present the accounts of these organizations on a basis consistent with the accounting policies of the Province, and to eliminate significant inter-organizational accounts and transactions.

d) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of financial statements requires the Province to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainty in the determination of the amounts at which an item is recognized or disclosed in the financial statements is known as measurement uncertainty.

Measurement uncertainty that is material to these financial statements exists in the valuation of pensions and other employee future benefits obligations; the value of tangible capital assets; the estimation of personal income tax, corporations tax and Harmonized Sales Tax revenue accruals; the valuation of the Canada Health Transfer; Canada Social Transfer Equalization Payment entitlements; and the estimation of liabilities for contaminated sites and other liabilities.

Net pension assets of $11.0 billion (2015–16, $9.3 billion) and other employee future benefits liability of $10.5 billion (2015–16, $10.8 billion), see Note 6, are subject to measurement uncertainty because actual results may differ significantly from the Province’s best long-term estimate of expected results (for example, the difference between actual results and actuarial assumptions regarding return on investment of pension fund assets and health care cost trend rates for retiree benefits may be significant).

The net book value of tangible capital assets of $107.3 billion (2015–16, $102.5 billion), see Note 9, is subject to uncertainty because of differences between estimated useful lives of the assets and their actual useful lives.

Personal income tax revenue estimate of $30.7 billion (2015–16, $31.1 billion), may be subject to subsequent revisions based on information available in the future related to past year tax return processing. Corporations tax revenues of $14.9 billion (2015–16, $11.4 billion), and Harmonized Sales Tax revenues of $24.8 billion (2015–16, $23.5 billion) are also subject to uncertainty for similar reasons.

The estimation of the Canada Health Transfer of $13.9 billion (2015–16, $13.1 billion) and Canada Social Transfer of $5.1 billion (2015–16, $5.0 billion), and Equalization Payments entitlements of $2.3 billion (2015–16, $2.4 billion), see Schedule 1, are subject to uncertainty because of variances between the estimated and actual Ontario share of the Canada-wide personal income and corporations tax base and population.

There is measurement uncertainty surrounding the estimation of liabilities for contaminated sites of $1.8 billion as at March 31, 2017 (2015–16, $1.8 billion), see Note 7. The Province may be responsible for cleanup costs that cannot be reasonably estimated due to several factors, including: insufficient information related to the nature and extent of contamination, timing of costs well into the future (e.g., unknown impacts of future technological advancements), the challenges of remote locations and unique contaminations.

The Province’s investment in Ontario Power Generation (OPG) includes asset retirement obligations for fixed asset removal and nuclear waste management, discounted for the time value of money. These obligations are estimated based on the expected amount and timing of future cash expenditures based on plans for fixed asset removal and nuclear waste management. Such estimates are subject to uncertainty in the nature and extent of cost estimates, the timing of costs being incurred, changes in the discount rate applied to the cash flow estimates, and other unanticipated changes in fixed asset removal and nuclear waste management techniques.

Estimates are based on the best information available at the time of preparation of the financial statements and are reviewed annually to reflect new information as it becomes available. By their very nature, estimates are subject to measurement uncertainty. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from the Province’s estimates.

e) Significant accounting policies

Revenue

Tax revenues are recognized in the period in which the taxable event occurs and when they are authorized by legislation, or the ability to assess and collect the tax has been provided through legislative convention. Reported tax revenues include estimated revenues for the current period, adjustments between the estimated revenues of previous years and actual amounts, and revenues from reassessments relating to prior years. Reported amounts do not include estimates of unreported taxes or the impact of future reassessments.

Personal income tax revenue for the period is accrued based on an estimate of current year tax assessments (plus late-arriving assessments/reassessments for prior years) prorated from the federal Department of Finance’s Tax Sharing Statements and an estimate for the following tax year based on the First Estimate of Payments.

The Harmonized Sales Tax component of sales tax revenue is collected by the Government of Canada under a Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement and is remitted to the Province net of credits. The remittances are based on the federal Department of Finance’s best estimates, which are subject to periodic updates. The Province recognizes Harmonized Sales Tax revenues based on these federal estimates.

Accrued corporate income tax revenue for the period is based on estimated corporate taxpayers’ taxable income for the year. The estimate is based on an Ontario Ministry of Finance economic model projection, which leverages the historical relationship between aggregate taxable income and corporate profits.

PSAB 3510 distinguishes between tax concessions (relief of taxes paid), which are accounted for as revenue offsets, and transfers made through the tax system (financial benefits independent of taxes paid), which are reported as expenses.

Refundable personal and corporate income tax credits constitute transfers made through the tax system that are reclassified as expenses to conform to the PSAB standard. To ensure that the reclassification is fiscally neutral, a corresponding increase is made to personal income tax revenue and corporations tax revenue. Non-refundable personal and corporate income tax credits constitute tax concessions (relief of taxes paid), which are accounted for as revenue offsets by crediting the related tax revenue.

Transfers from the Government of Canada are recognized as revenues in the period during which the transfer is authorized by the federal government and all eligibility criteria are met, except if the stipulations related to federal government funding creates an obligation that meets the definition of a liability. Once a liability is recognized, the transfer is recorded in revenue as the obligations related to these stipulations are met.

Other revenues are recognized in the fiscal year that the events giving rise to the revenues occur and they are earned. Amounts received prior to the end of the year that will be earned in a subsequent fiscal year are deferred and reported as liabilities (see “Liabilities”).

Expense

Expenses are recognized in the fiscal year that the events giving rise to the expenses occur and resources are consumed.

Transfer payments are recognized in the year that the transfer is authorized and all eligibility criteria have been met by the recipient. Any transfers paid in advance are deemed to have met all eligibility criteria.

Interest on debt includes: i) interest on outstanding debt (including BPS debt) net of interest income on investments and loans; ii) amortization of foreign exchange gains or losses; iii) amortization of debt discounts, premiums and commissions; iv) amortization of deferred hedging gains and losses; and v) debt servicing costs and other costs.

Employee future benefits, such as pensions, other retirement benefits and entitlements upon termination, are recognized as expenses over the years in which the benefits are earned by employees. These expenses are the government’s share of the current year’s cost of benefits earned in the period, interest on the net benefits’ liability or asset, amortization of actuarial gains or losses, gain/loss on plan amendments and other adjustments. A valuation allowance is recorded to write down the Province’s share of net pension assets when the government assesses it is not entitled to fully benefit from the net pension asset.

Other employee future benefits are recognized in the period in which the event that obligates the government occurs or in the period in which the benefits are earned by employees.

The costs of buildings, transportation infrastructure, vehicles, aircraft, leased capital assets, machinery, equipment and information technology infrastructure and systems owned by the Province and its consolidated organizations are amortized and recognized as expenses over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis.

Liabilities

Liabilities are recorded to the extent that they represent present obligations of the government to outside parties as a result of events and transactions occurring prior to the end of the fiscal year. The settlement of liabilities will result in the sacrifice of economic benefits in the future.

Liabilities include obligations to make transfer payments to organizations and individuals, present obligations for environmental costs, probable losses on loan guarantees issued by the government and contingencies when it is likely that a loss will be realized and the amount can be reasonably determined.

Liabilities also include obligations to GBEs.

Deferred revenue represents unspent externally restricted receipts from the Federal Government or other third parties. Deferred revenues are recorded into revenue in the period in which the amounts received are used for the purposes specified or all external restrictions are satisfied. Deferred capital contributions represent the unamortized amount of contributions received from the federal government and other third parties to construct or acquire tangible capital assets. These contributions are recognized as deferred capital contributions and recorded into revenue over the useful life of the tangible capital assets based on the relevant stipulations of the contributions taken together with the actions and communications of the Province.

Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) refers to the Province using private-sector partners to procure and finance infrastructure assets. Assets procured via AFP are recognized as tangible capital assets and the related obligations are recognized as other long-term financing liabilities in these financial statements as the assets are constructed.

Debt

Debt consists of treasury bills, commercial paper, medium- and long-term notes, savings bonds, debentures and loans.

Debt denominated in foreign currencies that has been hedged is recorded at the Canadian dollar equivalent using the rates of exchange established by the terms of the hedge agreements. Other foreign currency-denominated debt is translated to Canadian dollars at year-end rates of exchange and any exchange gains or losses are amortized over the remaining term to maturity.

Derivatives are financial contracts, the value of which is derived from underlying instruments. The Province uses derivatives for the purpose of managing risk associated with interest cost. The Province does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. Gains or losses arising from derivative transactions are deferred and amortized over the remaining life of the related debt issue.

Pensions and other employee future benefits

The liabilities (net assets) for pensions and other employee future benefits are calculated on an actuarial basis using the government’s best estimates of future inflation rates, investment returns, employee salary levels and other underlying assumptions, and, where applicable, the government’s borrowing rate. When actual plan experience of pensions, other retirement benefits and termination pay differs from that expected, or when assumptions are revised, actuarial gains and losses arise. These gains and losses are amortized over the expected average remaining service life of plan members for each respective plan.

Liabilities (net assets) for selected employee future benefits (such as pensions, other retirement benefits and termination pay) represent the government’s share of the actuarial present values of benefits attributed to services rendered by employees and former employees, less its share of the market-related value of plan assets. The market-related values are determined in a rational and systematic manner so as to recognize market value asset gains and losses over a period of up to five years. In addition, the liability includes the Province’s share of the unamortized balance of actuarial gains or losses.

Assets

Assets are resources controlled by the government from which it has reasonable expectation of deriving future benefit. Assets are recognized in the year the transaction or event gives rise to the government’s control of the benefit.

Financial assets

Financial assets are resources that can be used to discharge existing liabilities or finance future operations. They include cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable, loans receivable, net pension assets, advances and investments in GBEs.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash or other short-term, liquid, low-risk instruments that are readily convertible to cash, typically within three months or less.

Investments include temporary investments and portfolio investments. Temporary investments are recorded at the lower of cost or market value. Portfolio investments are recorded at the lower of cost or their estimated net realizable value.

Accounts receivables are recorded at cost. A valuation allowance is recorded when collection of the receivable is considered doubtful.

Loans receivable are initially recorded at cost. A valuation allowance is recorded when collection of the loan receivable, or any part thereof, is considered doubtful.

Loans receivable include loans to GBEs and loans under the student loans program and advanced manufacturing investment program. Loans receivable with significant concessionary terms are considered in part to be grants and are recorded on the date of issuance at face value discounted by the amount of the grant portion. The grant portion is recognized as an expense at the date of issuance of the loan or when the concession is provided. The amount of the loan discount is amortized to revenue over the term of the loan.

Investment in GBEs represents the net assets of GBEs recorded on the modified equity basis as described under Principles of Consolidation.

Tangible capital assets and non-financial assets

Tangible capital assets are recorded at historical cost less accumulated amortization. Historical cost includes the costs directly related to the acquisition, design, construction, development, improvement or betterment of tangible capital assets. Cost includes overheads directly attributable to construction and development, as well as interest related to financing during construction. Tangible capital assets, except land, are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets on a straight-line basis.

Maintenance and repair costs are recognized as an expense when incurred. Betterments or improvements that significantly increase or prolong the service life or capacity of a tangible capital asset are capitalized.

Non-financial assets also include prepaid expenses and inventory of supplies.

2. Debt

The Province borrows in both domestic and international markets. Debt of $333.1 billion, as at March 31, 2017 (2015–16, $327.4 billion), is composed mainly of bonds and debentures issued in the short- and long-term domestic- and international-public capital markets and non-public debt held by certain federal and provincial public sector pension funds. Debt presented in this note comprises Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes of $312.7 billion (2015–16, $303.1 billion) and Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation (OEFC) Debt of $20.4 billion (2015–16, $24.4 billion). The following table presents the maturity schedule of the Province’s outstanding debt, by currency of repayment, expressed in Canadian dollars, and reflects the effects of related derivative contracts. See Note 4 for debt of BPS organizations that are controlled and consolidated on a line-by-line basis.

Fair value of debt outstanding approximates the amounts at which debt instruments could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. In valuing the Province’s debt, fair value is estimated using discounted cash flows and other valuation techniques and is compared to public market quotations where available. These estimates are affected by the assumptions made concerning discount rates and the amount and timing of future cash flows.

The estimated fair value of debt as at March 31, 2017, was $373.3 billion (2015–16, $375.6 billion). This is higher than the book value of $333.1 billion (2015–16, $327.4 billion) because current interest rates are generally lower than the interest rates at which some of the debt was issued. The fair value of debt does not reflect the effect of related derivative contracts.

School Board Trust debt

A School Board Trust was created in June 2003 to permanently refinance debt incurred by 55 school boards. The Trust issued 30-year sinking fund debentures amounting to $891 million, and provided $882 million of the proceeds to the 55 school boards in exchange for the irrevocable right to receive future transfer payments from the Province related to this debt. An annual transfer payment is made by the Ministry of Education to the Trust’s sinking fund under the School Board Operating Grant program to retire the debt over 30 years. This debt, recorded net of the sinking fund of $239 million (2015–16, $217 million), is reflected in the Province’s debt.

3. Risk management and derivative financial instruments

The Province employs various risk management strategies and operates within strict risk exposure limits to ensure that exposure to financial risk is managed in a prudent and cost-effective manner. A variety of strategies are used, including the use of derivative financial instruments (“derivatives”).

Derivatives are financial contracts, the value of which is derived from underlying instruments. The Province uses derivatives to hedge interest rate risk and currency risk.

Hedges are created primarily through swaps, which are legal contracts under which the Province agrees with another party to exchange cash flows based on one or more notional amounts using stipulated reference interest rates for a specified period. Swaps allow the Province to offset its existing obligations and thereby effectively convert them into obligations with more cost-effective characteristics. Other derivative instruments used by the Province include forward foreign exchange contracts, forward rate agreements, futures and options.

Foreign currency risk

Foreign exchange or currency risk is the risk that foreign currency debt principal and interest payments and foreign currency transactions will vary in Canadian dollar terms due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. To manage currency risk, the Province uses derivative contracts including forward foreign exchange contracts, futures, options and swaps to convert foreign currency cash flows into Canadian dollar cash flows. Most of the derivative contracts hedge the underlying debt by matching all the critical terms to achieve effectiveness. The term of forward foreign exchange contracts used for hedging is usually shorter than the term of the underlying debt, however hedge effectiveness is maintained by continuously rolling the forward foreign exchange contract over the remaining term of the underlying debt, or until replaced with a long-term derivative contract.

The current market risk policy allows the amount of unhedged foreign currency debt principal net of foreign currency holdings to reach a maximum of 5 per cent of Total Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes and OEFC. At March 31, 2017, the respective unhedged levels were 0.2 and nil per cent (2015–16, 0.3 and nil per cent). As of March 31, 2017, unhedged debt was limited to debt issued in Japanese yen and Swiss francs. A one-Japanese yen appreciation of the Japanese currency, relative to the Canadian dollar, would result in unhedged debt denominated in Japanese yen increasing by $2.9 million (2015–16, $5.0 million) and a corresponding increase in interest on debt of $1.0 million (2015–16, $1.3 million). A one-Swiss rappen appreciation of the Swiss currency, relative to the Canadian dollar, would result in unhedged debt denominated in Swiss francs increasing by $7.1 million (2015–16, $7.4 million) and a corresponding increase in interest on debt of $2.5 million (2015–16, $2.1 million). Total foreign exchange losses recognized in the Statement of Operations for 2016–17 were $23.2 million (2015–16, losses of $5.1 million).

Interest rate risk

Interest on debt expense may also vary as a result of changes in interest rates. In respect of Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes and OEFC debt, the risk is measured as interest rate resetting risk, which is the floating rate exposure plus fixed rate debt maturing within the next 12-month period net of liquid reserves as a percentage of Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes and OEFC debt, respectively.

The current market risk policy limits net interest rate resetting risk for Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes and OEFC debt to a maximum of 35 per cent. At March 31, 2017, the net interest rate resetting risk for Debt Issued for Provincial Purposes and OEFC debt was 11.2 per cent and -3.1 per cent, respectively (2015–16, 10.9 per cent and 7.6 per cent). Based on net floating rate exposure at March 31, 2017, plus planned refinancing of maturing fixed rate debt to March 31, 2018, a one per cent (100 basis point) increase in interest rates would result in an increase in interest on debt of approximately $300 million (2015–16, $350 million).

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Province will not be able to meet its current short-term financial obligations. To reduce liquidity risk, the Province maintains liquid reserves: that is, cash and temporary investments (note 8), adjusted for collateral (note 13), at levels that are expected to meet future cash requirements and give the Province flexibility in the timing of issuing debt. Pledged assets are considered encumbered for liquidity purposes while collateral held that can be sold or repledged is a source of liquidity. In addition, the Province has short-term note programs as alternative sources of liquidity.

Credit risk

The use of derivatives introduces credit risk, which is the risk of a counterparty defaulting on contractual derivative obligations in which the Province has an unrealized gain. The table below presents the credit risk associated with the derivative financial instrument portfolio, measured through the replacement value of derivative contracts, as at March 31, 2017.

The Province manages its credit risk exposure from derivatives by, among other things, dealing only with high-credit-quality counterparties and regularly monitoring compliance to credit limits. In addition, the Province enters into contractual agreements (“master agreements”) that provide for termination netting and, if applicable, payment netting with most of its counterparties. Gross Credit Risk Exposure represents the loss that the Province would incur if every counterparty to which the Province had credit risk exposure were to default at the same time, and the contracted netting provisions were not exercised or could not be enforced. Net Credit Risk Exposure is the loss including the mitigating impact of these netting provisions. Net Credit Risk Exposure (Net of Collateral) is the potential loss to the Province further mitigated by the collateral received from counterparties.

Derivative portfolio notional value

The table below presents a maturity schedule of the Province’s derivatives, by type, outstanding as at March 31, 2017, based on the notional amounts of the contracts. Notional amounts represent the volume of outstanding derivative contracts and are not indicative of credit risk, market risk or actual cash flows.

4. Other long-term financing

Other long-term financing comprises the total debt of the BPS organizations and obligations under AFP arrangements.

Other Long-Term Financing of $13.7 billion, as at March 31, 2017 (2015–16, $14.1 billion), includes BPS debt of $5.0 billion (2015–16, $5.0 billion), BPS AFP obligations of $5.6 billion (2015–16, $5.4 billion) and direct provincial AFP obligations of $3.1 billion (2015–16, $3.7 billion).

5. Deferred revenue and capital contributions

In 2010–11, the Province renewed its long-standing business partnership with Teranet Inc. by extending Teranet’s exclusive licences to provide electronic land registration and writs services in Ontario for an additional 50 years. The Province received approximately a $1.0 billion upfront payment for the transaction, which is amortized into revenue over the life of the contract.

The Province provides a two-year vehicle licence plate renewal option and multi-year driver licence renewals (two years for seniors and five years for all others). Amounts received under these multi-year renewals are recognized as revenue over the periods covered by the licences.

Deferred capital contributions represent the unamortized portion of tangible capital assets or liabilities to construct or acquire tangible capital assets from specific-purpose funding received from the Government of Canada, municipalities or third parties. Deferred capital contributions are recorded in revenue over the estimated useful life of the underlying tangible capital asset when the tangible capital asset is placed in service.

6. Pensions and other employee future benefits

Pensions and other employee future benefits liability (asset)

Pensions and other employee future benefits expense

Pensions

The Province sponsors several pension plans. It is the sole sponsor of the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) and a joint sponsor of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Pension Plan (OPSEUPP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP). These three plans are contributory defined benefit plans that provide Ontario government employees and elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators with a guaranteed amount of retirement income. Benefits are based primarily on the best five-year average salary of members and their length of service, and are indexed to changes in the Consumer Price Index to provide protection against inflation. Plan members normally contribute 7 to 11 per cent of their salaries to these plans. The Province matches these contributions. The obligations for benefits and plan fund assets for OTPP and OPSEUPP exclude those employers not consolidated by the Province.

The Province changed its accounting for the net assets of jointly sponsored pension plans as described in Note 16.

The Province is also responsible for sponsoring the Public Service Supplementary Benefits Plan and the Ontario Teachers’ Retirement Compensation Arrangement. Expenses and liabilities of these plans are included in the Pensions Expense and Pensions Liability reported in the above tables.

In addition to the Provincially sponsored plans, pension benefits for employees in the hospital and colleges sectors are provided by the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan (CAATPP) respectively, and are included in these financial statements.

HOOPP is a multi-employer pension plan covering employees of Ontario’s health care community. CAATPP is a multi-employer pension plan covering employees of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, the Ontario College Application Services and the Ontario College Library Services. Both of these plans are accounted for as multi-employer defined benefit plans that provide eligible members with a retirement income based on a formula that takes into account a member’s earnings history and length of service in the plan. The plans are financed by contributions from participating members and employers, and by investment earnings.

The obligation for benefits and plan fund assets of the above plans is based on actuarial accounting valuations that are performed annually. Funding of these plans is based on statutory actuarial funding valuations undertaken at least once every three years.

The Province records a percentage of the net obligation of HOOPP and net asset of CAATPP, based on the ratio of employer to employee contributions and excludes those employers not consolidated by the Province.

The Province does not have control or joint control over the decisions regarding contribution levels or benefit changes for either the HOOPP or CAATPP multi-employer plans, as the Province is not a member of the committees responsible for these decisions. Therefore, a valuation allowance will be recorded to write down the net asset position in these plans, if any, until the net pension assets are used to reduce future contributions.