Information notice - Change in Environment Allowance (EA) Classification Levels

Date: March 1, 2013

To: Functional Heads of Administration, Human Resources and Financial Services

CC: Chairs and Executive Directors of Northern Federal Regional Councils, Departmental Designated Coordinators for the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive (IPGHD), Committee members of the National Joint Council (NJC) IPGHD (for information)

The NJC IPGH committee has approved changes to Appendices A and G, effective March 1, 2013.

Every five years after the publication of the Census of Canada: Census of Population, and in accordance with the designation criteria contained within the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is responsible for conducting a review of the Environment Allowance classification of all locations listed in the Directive. Statistics Canada performed this review following the release of the 2011 Census of Canada population numbers.

Due to a change in points for population or access, the following three locations have increased in EA classification by one level (Section 2.11.1). As specified by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the effective date of these increases is March 1, 2013.

• Alert Bay, BC (Increase to EA 2)
• Fort Good Hope, NWT (Increase to EA 5)
• Tall Cree, AB (Increase to EA 3)

Due to a change in points for population or access, the following three locations have decreased in EA classification by one level.

• Bella Coola, BC (Decrease to EA 1)
• Pierceland, SK (Decrease to EA 2)
• Yellowknife, NWT (Decrease to EA 2)

For locations where there is a decrease in the EA level, departments shall provide a written notice to each employee affected by the change within 60 days of receiving this notification, pursuant to section 2.12 of the IPGHD. The reduction will be effective on the first day of the fourth calendar month after the month in which written notice was received and processed as per 2.12.3. An e-mail is considered an acceptable written notice.

Please distribute this notice and include the amended appendix A and G and the new rates to persons at your headquarters and regional offices who are involved in the administration of the allowances.

Public service employees or regional staff should direct any questions on this subject to their Designated Departmental Coordinator for the IPGHD who, if need be, can contact the appropriate officers at the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Edith Kehoe
Senior Director
Union Engagement and National Joint Council support
Compensation and Labour Relations Sector
Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer