# 2022-036 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program

Case summary

F&R Date: 2023-05-18

The grievor challenged the refusal to grant him the real estate incentive associated with the purchase of his new home, as provided for in the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CFIRP) Directive. According to the grievor, the decision to refuse to reimburse the real estate incentive did not take into account the exceptional situation brought about by the pandemic. As the grievor was not allowed to travel while taking a trade course because of the health measures in place, he was unable to finalize the purchase of his residence as planned and to live in it prior to receiving the posting instructions for a new location. As redress, the grievor asked to be granted the real estate incentive. 

The Initial Authority, in this case the Director General Compensation and Benefits, referred to section 8.2.14 of the CFIRP Directive, which sets out the eligibility requirements for a reimbursement of the real estate incentive, one of which is that the member must have occupied the residence immediately prior to receiving the official posting instructions. As the grievor was not living in his residence when he received the posting instructions, he did not meet the conditions required for reimbursement of the real estate incentive.  

The Committee found that the conditions under which the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) can authorize the reimbursement of relocation expenses are established by the Treasury Board, and that the CAF does not have the authority to deviate from them. In addition, the Committee determined that the grievor had not met the occupancy requirements prior to receiving the posting instructions. Since the grievor had made a personal choice regarding the purchase of a new home, and the decision was not related to a relocation during a posting, the Committee found that the exceptional situation caused by the pandemic did not need to be taken into consideration in this situation.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority (FA) not grant redress. 

FA decision summary

The Director of the Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, acting as the FA, came to the same conclusion as the Committee, finding that the grievor's situation had been caused by his personal choice to sell and to buy a property before his relocation was authorized by the CAF. The FA did not grant any redress.