Annual Update to the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive

Appendices A, B, C, I, K-1, K-2 and LCD Survey Results for Alberta Region

Date: July 26, 2012

To: Functional Heads of Administration, Human Resources, and Financial Services

CC: Chairs and Executive Directors of Northern Federal Regional Councils, Departmental Designated Coordinators for the IPGHD and Committee members of the NJC IPGHD (for information)

Please distribute this notice and the amended appendices of the National Joint Council (NJC) Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive (IPGHD) to employees at your headquarters and regional offices who are involved in the administration of the allowances.

The purpose of this notice is to provide you with the approved updates to the NJC IPGHD. The changes in Appendices B, C, I, K1 and K2 are effective August 1, 2012 and will be administered in accordance with section 2.9.2 of the IPGHD.

These changes were arrived at following consultations within the NJC IPGH Committee and are in accordance with the approved methodologies. The NJC IPGHD has been amended to reflect these changes:

1. The Environment Allowance rates, Appendix B, have been increased effective August 1, 2012.
2. The Living Cost Differential rates, Appendix C, have been adjusted effective August 1, 2012.
3. The Shelter Cost Differential rates, Appendices K-1 and K-2, have been adjusted effective August 1, 2012.
4. The Meals or Rations rates, Appendix I, have been adjusted effective August 1, 2012.
5. As a result of a survey conducted by Statistics Canada in September 2011, the living cost differential (LCD) levels, Appendix A, of a number of locations in Alberta have been revised. These changes are effective July 1, 2012 for Isolated Posts that had a classification increase in the LCD level as per 2.11.2 of the NJC IPGHD.

Please note that for the ten (10) locations for which the LCD decreased, notification must be provided to employees.  The effective date of the change will be the first day of the fourth calendar month after the month in which written notification was received by the employee as per 2.12.4 a) of the NJC IPGHD. An email message is acceptable to provide such notification.

A total of seventeen (17) isolated posts were involved in this review and the results can be summarized as follows:

Details regarding the methodology can be found in the Guide to National Joint Council Rates and Allowances.

No pay action should be taken to implement the revisions to Appendices B, C, I and K of the IPGHD until further instructions are received from the applicable pay office of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Any retroactive payments resulting from the above changes are to be administered in the same manner as retroactive increases to employees' pay.