# 2024-188 Pay and Benefits, Allowances and Benefits, Canadian Forces Housing Differential, Post Living Differential, Provisional Post Living Differential

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-02-13

The grievor contended that the decision to deny her request to receive the Provisional Post Living Differential (PPLD) allowance was unfair. The grievor argued that the PPLD policy has created an environment of inequality and unfairness, contrary to the Pay Equity Act.

The Director General Compensation and Benefits, as the Initial Authority (IA), denied the grievance. The IA explained that the grievor was not eligible to receive PPLD as she was not in receipt of Post Living Differential (PLD) at her new location on 30 June 2023.

The Committee highlighted that Compensation and Benefits Instructions for the Canadian Forces (CBI) article 205.4535(4) (Entitlement) limits entitlement to PPLD to Regular or Reserve Force members who were entitled to either PLD or Transitional Post Living Differential on 30 June 2023. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have no authority or discretion to pay the grievor PLD or PPLD except as authorized by the Treasury Board (TB) in the CBI.

The Committee found that the PPLD was never intended to apply to members, such as the grievor, who were posted into a former PLD area during Active Posting Season (APS) 2023. The PPLD bridging program was implemented to lessen the impact of the transition on those already receiving PLD before 30 June 2023 (Canadian Forces General Message 120/23) and who would see a reduction or elimination of the PLD at their current location while their financial commitments did not change.

The Committee also found that the transition to Canadian Forces Housing Differential was well communicated within the CAF. Furthermore, as soon as the potential negative effect on some members was realized, the CAF took quick action and negotiated with the Treasury Board Secretariat to establish the PPLD transitional allowance to assist CAF members affected in APS 2023.

The Committee also concurred with the IA in her assessment that the Pay Equity Act provision cited by the grievor is not pertinent to this issue.

Consequently, the Committee found that the grievor was not entitled to receive PPLD because she was not in receipt of PLD at her new location on 30 June 2023. As such, the grievor was treated fairly and in accordance with the policies of the CAF and the TB.

The Committee recommended that the final authority not afford the grievor redress.