# 2021-107 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program, Pet Care/Transportation Expenses, Relocation Benefits

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-05-21

The grievor argued that he should be reimbursed from the Custom benefit rather than the Personalized benefit for the expenses he incurred for shipping his pets upon his posting back to Canada. As redress, the grievor requested that the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CFIRP) Directive be reversed with retroactive effect or his pet shipment expenses be reimbursed from the Custom funding envelope. 

The Initial Authority (IA) referred to article 9.2.05 of the CFIRP Directive, effective 19 April 2018, which outlined that the funding available for the shipment of a Canadian Armed Forces member's pets was only reimbursable from the Personalized benefit. The IA noted that effective 1 April 2021, the new Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive (CAFRD) provided for reimbursement of pet expenses from the Custom benefit, but it did not apply retroactively. The IA denied the grievance and did not afford redress. 

The Committee found that there was no entitlement to reimbursement for pet transportation expenses from the Custom envelope under the CFIRP Directive. The Committee also found that the CAFRD did not apply retroactively to the grievor's circumstances. 

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority not afford the grievor redress.  

FA decision summary

The Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, acting as FA, agreed with the Committee that the grievor had been treated according to policy and did not grant redress.