# 2012-135 Pay and Benefits, Integrated Relocation Program (CF IRP), Intended Place of Residence (IPR)

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2013–01–25

The grievor elected an early Intended Place of Residence (IPR) move in 2008, based on reaching his compulsory retirement age (CRA) in 2012. The grievor then sought reimbursement for expenses related to a move in 2006 as part of his IPR benefit. He was reimbursed all expenses with the exception of interest on a bridge financing loan. The Brookfield relocation consultant advised the grievor that the bridge financing interest claim needed to be submitted to the Director Compensation and Benefits Administration, Relocation Adjudication Section (DCBA RAS) due the purchase agreement not indicating a need for bridge financing.

The bridge financing claim was subsequently denied by DCBA RAS and the grievor submitted his complaint seeking reimbursement of same. In their decision, DCBA RAS referred to the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CF IRP) article 14.01.04, and stated that the policy did not contemplate reimbursing a member for a move six years in advance of a known release date. DCBA RAS also concluded that the grievor had no entitlement to any compensation for the move in 2006 and indicated that all benefits paid should be recovered.

The Board determined, based on CF IRP chapter 14.5.04, that the grievor was entitled to elect an early IPR move as he was within five years of CRA. However, the issue before the Board was whether the grievor was entitled to compensation for expenses associated with his home purchase given that it occurred six years prior to CRA. In that regard, the Board noted that the policy does not specify how many years "prior" to CRA one may claim such reimbursement.

The Board observed that the policy does limit the election period for early IPR to five years prior to CRA, thus the Board believed that the intent of Treasury Board was also to limit the reimbursement of relocation expenses to five years prior to CRA as well. The Board noted that this interpretation fits with the overall scheme of the policy, which contemplates, but for a few exceptions, that an IPR move will be the last move that a Canadian Forces member makes at Crown expense. Further, this interpretation was seen to be in alignment with several other CF IRP benefits which stipulate limitations to the timeframe within which expenses may be reimbursed.

Ultimately, the Board agreed with DCBA RAS position and recommended that the grievance be denied and that the IPR related expenses previously reimbursed be recovered.

CDS Decision Summary

CDS Decision Date: 2013–04–19

The CDS disagreed with the Board's recommendation that the grievance be denied. The CDS was satisfied that the grievor was entitled to be reimbursed the IPR expenses he incurred in May 2006. The CDS also found that the grievor was entitled to the reimbursement of his bridge financing cost for a maximum of 14 days from his core benefits and the rest from his custom benefits, if funds remain in these envelops. The CDS disagreed with the Board's reasoning that a member must have purchased a replacement residence within five years of reaching CRA as per the intent of CF IRP 2008. Since there was no such specification in CF IRP 2008, the CDS quoted the previous policy, the CF IRP 2006, which stated that once a member exercices some or all of his release relocation benefit prior to his early IPR election, the member may be authorized the reimbursement of these expenses regardless of when they were incurred.