Treasury Board Approval of Pay Rate and Methodology

Topic

Treasury Board Approval of Pay Rate and Methodology

Case Number

• 2019-090 (F&R date: 2019-09-03)

Description

During the review of a file concerning pay for reservists employed on short-term Class “C” service, the Committee noted that a Senior Analyst at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) had indicated that the Canadian Armed Forces had never received authority to issue Class “C” pay using the Reserve Pay System; nor had any Class “C” daily rate of pay been approved.

While the Committee was of the view that article 203.06 of the Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces contained Treasury Board approval of the methodology to compute daily rates of pay for reservists, it was concerned with the statement made by the TBS analyst.

Recommendation

The Committee recommend that the Chief of the Defence Staff direct the Chief of Military Personnel to work with the TBS to resolve these two issues.

Final Authority Decision

The CDS disagreed with the Committee’s recommendation that the grievance be upheld. He found that he does not have the authority to provide pay for Reserve Force service on the 31st day of the month. The CDS stated that he agrees in principle with the Committee, but notes TB staff’s interpretation that "the 31st cannot legally exist". Stating that he has "strong reservations about TB’s interpretation", he finds that he is bound by it. He granted a day of special leave to the grievor, in lieu of compensation for the unpaid day of reserve service.

In response to the Committee’s systemic recommendations, the CDS directed Commander Military Personnel Command to engage with TB in order to eliminate this systemic issue, identified in 2010 by his predecessor. In the meantime, he also directed all L1s to grant a leave day to members who are affected.