Costing Formula for the Movement of Household Goods and Effects beyond the weight limit of the Core Entitlement – Outside Canada Postings

Topic

Costing Formula for the Movement of Household Goods and Effects beyond the weight limit of the Core Entitlement – Outside Canada Postings

Case Number

• 2015-301 (F&R date: 2016-10-27)

Description

In the process of investigating a grievance regarding charges for the movement of household goods and effects (HG&E) in excess of the weight entitlements for a return move from an outside Canada posting, the Committee discovered that inconsistent formulas are being applied.

The Director Military Careers Support Service (DMCSS) advised the Committee that although not codified in Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CFIRP) directive, the practice has been for the CAF to bear the higher per pound cost between shipping the HG&E from overseas or from long-term storage (LTS), to a maximum of 20,000 lbs combined unpackaged weight; while the CAF member would pay for all excess weight at the lowest per pound cost. Another formula used by Brookfield Global Relocation Service has been to charge to the CAF member the excess weight of HG&E to the applicable limits shipped from overseas and from CBI at their respective and actual cost per pound.

The costing methodology is not found in the CFIRP directive, nor could it be readily found on the Defence Wide Area Network. As the formula is not readily accessible and appears not to be universally applied, this could lead to inequitable treatment of CAF members. Furthermore, while DMCSS stated that the formula they apply is meant to favour the CAF member, the Committee is concerned that the CAF may be exercising discretion with public funds it does not seem to have.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that the appropriate costing formula be identified, duly approved by the Treasury Board, promulgated and applied to all moves so as to treat all CAF members equitably.

Final Authority Decision

The CDS notes that there are now proper scaling facilities in place in Europe, as well as caps on weight estimates for members returning from overseas, and thus he was satisfied that this situation has now been rectified, and that some of the Committee's concerns regarding weight discrepancies and costing methodologies have now been resolved.