# 2018-103 Careers, Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instruction

Case summary

F&R Date: 2019-07-31

The grievor had to travel on temporary duty (TD) to take a course lasting approximately 10 weeks. The distance between his residence and TD location was 858 km. The grievor obtained authorization from his unit to use his personal motor vehicle. The grievor claims that the clerk told him that his accommodations costs during travel would be reimbursed, while the unit refused to reimburse these costs. Additionally, the unit limited reimbursement at the kilometric rate to 500 km. The grievor was of the opinion that the Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instructions (CFTDTI) does not set out such a limit when a member is authorized to use his personal motor vehicle, only that reimbursement is limited to the equivalent cost for commercial travel.

The Director General Compensation and Benefits (DGCB), acting as initial authority (IA), denied the redress. The IA was of the view that the grievor could not claim accommodations costs because it had been his decision to use his personal motor vehicle. Furthermore, given the distance between his residence and TD location, the grievor had to take a day of leave to use his personal motor vehicle for travel. Finally, the IA found that the instructions are clear and that a member cannot claim reimbursement for more than 500 km.

The Committee found that when a member has to travel on TD, the approving authority must determine the most economical and practical mode of transportation, taking a number of factors into account. In the grievor's case, the Committee found that the use of his personal motor vehicle was the most appropriate mode in the circumstances. The itinerary using commercial modes set out in the cost comparison table prepared by the unit was impracticable and did not take into account the many connections that the grievor would have had to make. The approving authority should have determined that the personal motor vehicle was the most economical and practical mode. The Committee recommended the grievor be reimbursed at the kilometric rate for the entire distance, for meals and accommodations costs.

The Committee also found that even with the decision that commercial modes were the most economical and practical option, the CFTDTI in no way limits reimbursement to 500 km. Reimbursement is allowed up to the comparable cost of the trip by commercial modes. The Committee noted that Canadian Forces General Message 098/19 announced the cancellation of this rule that unfortunately continues to be applied by units and supported by the DGCB.

FA decision summary

The Final Authority (FA), the Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority, expressed agreement with the Committee's recommendation to uphold the grievance. The FA endorsed the Committee's findings, stating that in certain situations the personal vehicle represents “the most economical and practical method” of transport within the meaning of the CFTDTI. The FA also noted that the directive limited the distance to be covered to 500 km per day and that the grievor was therefore also entitled to reimbursement of the accommodations, meal and incidental expenses incurred during the grievor's temporary duty travel.