# 2015-208 Pay and Benefits, Home Equity Assistance Program (HEAP), Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) Depressed Market Decisions

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2015–10–19

The grievor, due to his posting, was forced to sell his house and after 9 months on the market, it sold at a loss of $22,500.00. He was reimbursed $15,000.00 as per the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CF IRP) Directive but, believing that his home was in a depressed market area, he sought entitlement to 100% of his loss through the Home Equity Assistance (HEA) program.

The Initial Authority denied the grievance explaining that Treasury Board made the determination that the grievor's home was not in a depressed market area and therefore he had received the maximum amount of HEA he was entitled to in accordance with CF IRP Directive.

The Committee reviewed the Real Estate Board reports for area in which the grievor's home was situated and found that, although housing prices had fluctuated, the drop in prices did not meet the 20% threshold required by the CF IRP Directive to find that the home was in a depressed market area. Consequently, the Committee found that the grievor was not entitled to 100% of his losses as requested and recommended the grievance be denied.

CDS Decision Summary

CDS Decision Date: 2016–06–02

The FA agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation that the grievance be denied. The FA agreed with the Committee's systemic recommendation that CAF personnel receive the complete analysis done by TB when depressed market adjudications are conducted by TB, and he asked that the DGCB explore this possibility with TB.