# 2016-046 - Remission

Remission

Case Summary

F&R Date: 2016–04–28

The grievor was posted for mandatory occupation training with a prohibition on the move of his household goods and effects (HG&E). He was required to live on base and pay for single quarters (SQ). The grievor is contesting that he had to pay for SQ while maintaining a principal residence elsewhere.

The initial authority (IA) denied the grievance finding that there is no policy direction to allow for the provisions of free quarters to single military members in receipt of a posting with a prohibited move of HG&E.

The Committee's position is that no CAF member should be expected to pay for accommodations in two different places when there is no choice but to attend required occupational training in a different location. This position has been supported by the final authority in a recent grievance and is in accordance with the Department of National Defense (DND) Living Accommodation Instruction. This instruction provides for quarters without charge to CAF members living out who are required to temporarily occupy DND quarters for training reasons.

The Committee recommended to the final authority that charges for SQ paid by the grievor for the period he was attending training be remitted.

FA decision summary

The Final Authority (FA) agreed with the Committee that CAF members should not be expected to pay for two accommodations while participating in obligatory occupational training in another location, while also being prohibited from moving their HG&E. The current policy, Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 208.84, provides for the HG&E to be placed in storage but has no provisions permitting a member to maintain their residence and receive free quarters. The FA commented that while historically this might have made sense, CAF demographics had changed significantly, with members more likely to own a home. He found that it did not make sense to order single home-owning members to move their belongings into storage and absorb the costs of selling their home. The FA noted that the issue was being actively addressed by the Director General Compensation and Benefits (DCGB). In the interim, Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces (QR&O) 208.52 provided him with the authority to remit the grievor's SQ charges. 

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