# 2018-101 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program, Relocation - Reservists, Reserve Force

Case summary

F&R Date: 2019-02-05

The grievor, a Reserve Force (Res F) member, disputed the Director Compensation and Benefits Administration (DCBA) interpretation of the phrase “initial place of duty” found in the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CFIRP) Directive, Chapter 13, article 13.10 (Return move). He argued that the term “initial place of duty” was synonymous with “place of enrollment”, and not the “last place moved” as stated by the DCBA. Therefore, he sought reimbursement of his return move costs not to exceed a move to his place of enrolment.

The Initial authority (IA), the Director General Compensation and Benefits, denied the grievance, finding that the CFIRP relocation policy for Res F members is specific to each period of Class "B" or "C" employment, and that each period must be treated independently. The IA found that the phrase “initial place of duty” could not refer to the place of enrolment, and that there is no provision in policy allowing Res F members to be moved at public expense to their place of enrolment. Rather, the entitlement to a relocation begins when the new period of service commences, and it ends when the period of service ends.

The IA concluded that when the grievor completed his period of Class “B” employment, he was entitled to return to the location where he initially resided at the time he accepted the Class “B” employment, or to a third location at a cost not to exceed a move to his “initial place of duty”.

The Committee found that the policy had been interpreted and applied correctly to the grievor's case.

The Committee concluded that the grievor was properly reimbursed for his relocation costs and recommended that the Final Authority not afford redress.