# 2025-207 Pay and Benefits, Education Reimbursement Policies

Case summary

F&R Date: 2026-06-02

The grievor contended that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) unfairly denied them Self-Development Program (SDP) - Education Expense Reimbursement (EER) (SDPEER) funding during a funding pause for fiscal year 2024/2025, as outlined in Canadian Forces General Message (CANFORGEN) 163/24 -  CAF Self Development Program – Changes to EER Program for Regular Force and Ill and Injured Members. This lack of funding impacted the grievor's intended completion of a graduate program that would improve their competitiveness at promotion boards. As redress, the grievor sought SDPEER funding retroactively.

The Commander Canadian Defence Academy, acting as the Initial Authority (IA), denied the grievance, finding that CANFORGEN 163/24 direction on the funding pause was clear and applied to all Regular Force CAF members. CANFORGEN 061/25 then indicated that no funding was available for courses prior to 1 September 2025, after which it would resume. The IA also referred to the CAF Military Personnel Instructions (CAFMPI) 01/21, CAF SDP, which indicates that SDPEER funding requests must be approved before the start of the course, with no retroactive approvals.

The Committee found that the grievor was clearly informed of the funding pause announced in CANFORGEN 163/24, which was equitably applied to Regular Force members across the CAF. The Committee determined that the funding pause was in accordance with CAFMPI 01/21, which clearly establishes that funding for approved SDPs is not guaranteed and is based on CAF priorities and financial limitations. The policy also prohibits retroactive approval for reimbursement of courses. The Committee concluded that the grievor was treated in accordance with policy and was not aggrieved.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority deny the grievance.