# 2024-174 Pay and Benefits, Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program, Pilot, Relocation

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-07-15

The grievor grieved the refusal to reimburse certain relocation benefits following an equity loss incurred when he sold his home after being posted. He claimed that real estate market conditions delayed the sale of his property and resulted in a loss relative to the original purchase price. The grievor said that this situation and the particular nature of his posting led to a misinterpretation of the relocation policies. The grievor said he had been misinformed about these procedures and had acted on the advice received from subject matter experts, which turned out to be detrimental. As redress, the grievor requested to be reimbursed for the equity loss and the standard transaction fees. 

The Director General Compensation and Benefits, acting as the Initial Authority, refused to examine the grievance as it had been filed outside of the time limit prescribed by paragraph 7.06(1) of the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces. The grievor therefore requested that his grievance be referred to the Final Authority (FA). 

The Committee determined that at the time he was posted, the grievor was not eligible for the reimbursement of relocation expenses under the Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program because he had not reached the Occupational Functional Point (OFP) corresponding to his trade. Section 8 of the Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) therefore applied to his case. The Committee explained that under CBI 208.97(2), to be eligible for Home Equity Assistance, a member must have reached the OFP. As the grievor had sold his home before obtaining all the qualifications required by his trade, the Committee found that he was not eligible for Home Equity Assistance under the CBI.  

The Committee noted that although the grievor's relocation benefits were limited during his training, he was still eligible for reimbursement of certain expenses under CBI 208.96(2). These reimbursements included real estate fees and notarial fees paid for the sale of a residence as part of an authorized move at public expense. However, the Committee found that because the grievor had been relocated a second time prior to the sale of his principal residence, at the time of the sale, this residence no longer met the definition of a “principal residence” under CBI 208.96(1)(i). The Committee recommended that the FA not grant the grievor redress.