# 2013-004 Pay and Benefits, Compassionate Travel Assistance (CTA)

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2013–03–15

The grievor requested Compassionate Travel Assistance to provide post-operative assistance to his spouse. At the time of the request, the grievor was on Imposed Restriction status and reported that no other family members lived near his home and therefore he was needed by his spouse.

The grievor argued that because he had been granted compassionate leave, and had provided two doctor's letters indicating that his spouse required his assistance for up to seven days post-surgery, he should be granted Compassionate Travel Assistance.

The grievor sought reimbursement of the cost of airline tickets from his duty area to the location of his spouse and return, as well as travel to and from the airports.

The Board referred to Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) article 209.51, as the policy governing Compassionate Travel Assistance. The grievor based his request on CBI 209.51(4) which describes exceptional non-life threatening circumstances for compassionate travel leave. The Board determined that recovery from knee surgery is not a situation contemplated by CBI 209.51(4) and that the spouse's situation did not require her transfer to a higher level of care facility nor would it be of an enduring nature.

With respect to the grievor's argument that because he was granted compassionate leave he should also receive Compassionate Travel Assistance, the Board determined that one does not automatically trigger entitlement to the other.

The Board recommended that the Chief of the Defence Staff deny the grievance.

CDS Decision Summary

CDS Decision Date: 2013–07–11

The CDS agreed with the Board's findings and recommendation that the grievance be denied.