# 2021-148 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program, Class B Reserve Service, Vocational Rehabilitation Program

Case summary

F&R Date: 2022-03-16

The grievor contested the lack of a policy provision providing for an extension of the one-year time limit for his return move at public expense following his medical release from the Reserve Force (Res F). He argued that medically released Res F members who had served on a full-time basis should receive benefits identical to their Regular Force (Reg F) counterparts, who have three years from their release to complete a move to their Intended Place of Residence (IPR) at public expense. He sought an extension of the time limit for his return move at public expense in alignment with relocation benefits available to medically released Reg F members.

The Initial Authority (IA) noted that the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Policy (CFIRP) Directive provides for a return move at public expense for Res F members who are relocated for service reasons. The IA further noted that the return move must be completed within one year of the termination of full-time service and that there is no mechanism to extend the time limit once full-time service has ended. Finally, the IA noted that Chapter 14 of the CFIRP Directive, governing IPR moves, is not applicable to Res F members. The IA found that the grievor was not entitled to an extension of the time limit to complete his return move at public expense and denied redress.

The Committee found that the CFIRP Directive did not allow for the extension of the time limit for the grievor's completion of his return move at public expense. The Committee noted that the CFIRP Directive grants discretion to redress authorities to approve a benefit, where the relevant circumstances were different from but similar to circumstances established in the relocation policy. However, the Committee found that the grievor's circumstances were not different from the circumstances established.

The Committee further noted that under the CFIRP Directive, the Treasury Board Secretariat may approve reimbursement of expenses directly related to the relocation of a member under circumstances that are exceptional or are not clearly provided for under the relocation policy. However, the Committee found that the grievor's circumstances were clearly provided for in the relocation policy and that he had failed to demonstrate that they were exceptional. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that the Final Authority deny redress.