# 2023-165 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-06-17

The grievor challenged the 45-day meal entitlement limit under Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive (CAFRD) Article 12.2.01 for relocations outside Canada, arguing he should receive entitlements for the full period he and his family were separated from their Household Goods & Effects (HG&E), which were due to circumstances beyond his control. He sought additional meal allowances (at 65% of the daily meal allowance rate) for the extra days and requests a review of the applicable CAFRD provisions.

The Initial Authority (IA), the Director General Compensation and Benefits, denied the grievance, finding that the grievor was treated in accordance with applicable policies and regulations. The IA noted that the Canadian Armed Forces have no authority to extend benefits beyond the prescribed framework approved by the Treasury Board (TB).

The Committee found that the grievor was aggrieved, assessing the 45-day meal entitlement limit to be arbitrary and fundamentally unfair, as it fails to reflect current overseas shipping delays beyond a CAF member's control. The grievor incurred legitimate extraordinary meal expenses due to delayed HG&E delivery. In a prior case reviewed by the Committee, the Final Authority (FA) acknowledged the systemic recommendation made by the Committee to review TB policy to address the policy gap and realign policy entitlements. The FA tasked Director Compensation and Benefits Administration (DCBA) with raising the issue with the TB Secretariat. The Committee recommended the FA follow up with DCBA on this engagement and seeks retroactive policy changes to address similar cases fairly.