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IPGH – Cyclical Review 2025

May 1, 2025

The National Joint Council (NJC) is pleased to announce that the consultations led by the Isolated Posts and Government Housing (IPGH) Committee have resulted in a new version of the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive (IPGHD). The Committee is composed of representatives from the Federal Public Service Bargaining Agents, the Treasury Board Secretariat and departments/agencies.

The provisions of the IPGHD form part of the collective agreements of the participating parties under the By-Laws of the National Joint Council.

The Executive Committee wishes to thank all members of the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Committee for their effort and commitment in this important review.

Implementation Date

The new version of the IPGHD is effective on June 1st, 2025.

Information

The full text of the IPGHD is available on the NJC website: Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive

Highlights of the changes are presented below.

Questions and Answers are available in the "Communiqués" section of the NJC website: IPGH Cyclical Review 2025 - Q & A

It is important to note that many changes were made throughout the IPGHD to provide greater clarity, to simplify language and to ensure consistency. An overview of the changes are available below.

Enquiries

Employees should address any questions to their Designated Departmental Coordinators (https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/s76/en) or their bargaining agent.

Highlights of Changes

The following is an overview of the changes made to the IPGHD during this cyclical review.

Changes Throughout the IPGHD

  • Term for “normal place of residence” has been changed to “point of origin”.
  • Reference to the Canadian Armed Forces was corrected.
  • Typographical errors have been corrected.
  • References have been revised and updated.

Changes by Section

General

Grievance Procedure

  • Reference to the FPSLREB was updated in the Grievance Procedure section.

Application

  • Reference to the Canadian Armed Forces was deleted to reflect authorities.

Purpose and Scope

  • Outdated wording was replaced with wording which is more respectful of northern communities.

Responsibility

  • Reference to the Treasury Board’s Occupational Health Evaluations Standard was updated to reflect the current applicable directive. Wording was revised to reflect current procedures.
  • Wording was added to the Departments section to reflect the designation of a designated departmental coordinator.
  • Wording was added to the Employee section to reflect that employees should familiarize themselves with the directive.

Allowances

  • Wording relating to the Shelter Cost Differential (SCD) was adjusted to reflect the methodology which came into effect August 1st, 2023.

Definitions

  • The definition for “Benchmark Model” was deleted as it no longer forms part of the SCD methodology.
  • A new definition was added for “Relocation at end of Employment” which reflects the current application.

Reports

  • The Reports section was moved up within this part for ease of reference.

Part I – Administration of Allowances

  • The reference in subsections 1.8.1 and 1.8.2 was corrected to section 1.15 – Meals or Rations.
  • Wording in section 1.10 – Shelter Cost Differential was adjusted and wording added to reflect the revised SCD methodology, which came into effect August 1st, 2023.

Part II – Designation and Payments

  • Wording was added to subsection 2.1.2 to reflect the current effective date of eligibility for benefits.
  • Wording was revised to reflect that the effective date of a location being added to Appendix A shall be agreed upon by the NJC IPGH Committee.

Part III – Expenses and Leave

  • A new provision was added providing an accountable advance option to employees approved for travel under Non-Elective Medical and Dental Treatment, Compassionate Travel and Expenses, or Bereavement Travel and Expenses. These provisions have been renumbered accordingly.
  • The reference at section 3.6 VTA Qualification Period - Note has been corrected to 3.8 - Recovery of Vacation Travel Assistance.

Part IV – Relocation to an Isolated Post

  • An introduction was added in this Part to clarify that an employee authorized to relocate under the NJC Relocation Directive or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Relocation Directive to or from an isolated post headquarters will be governed by the applicable relocation directive and subject to the restrictions and provisions of this Part.
  • Wording in this Part has been adjusted to recognize the RCMP Relocatiokln Directive, as applicable.
  • Language was added to section 4.2 – Medical Clearances to reflect the current intent and application of this section, and to reflect that employees hired at the isolated post headquarters do not require a medical exam. Wording has been updated to current terminology used by Health Canada. Wording has been added to indicate the current practice that the department shall authorize payment for medical examinations under this Part.
  • Section 4.4 – Furnished Accommodation was revised to remove the outdated reference in the NJC Relocation Directive.

Part V – Relocation Upon End of Employment

  • The wording of subsection 5.1.3 has been revised from “transferred out of isolation” to “relocated out of the isolated post”, as the employee is not in “isolation”.
  • A new subsection 5.1.4 has been added to clarify that the benefits of Part V do not apply to employees who were not relocated to the isolated post.

Part VI – Government Housing

  • Subsection 6.4.4 has been revised to clarify the intent of this provision.
  • Subsection 6.7.5 has been revised to remove the inaccurate adjustment percentage.

Appendices

Appendices A & G – Classification of Isolated Posts and Special Locations

  • Location names have been reviewed and updated.

Appendices B, C, D, K-1, K-2 – Classification of Isolated Posts

  • The calculation of the hourly rate for 37.5 hours per week was added.

Appendix H – Classification of Isolated Posts

  • Section 4 – Shelter Cost Differential (SCD) allowance was adjusted, and wording added to reflect the revised SCD methodology, which came into effect August 1st, 2023.

Appendix I – Meals or Rations

  • The rates for meals and rations have been combined as there is only one rate, which applies to both.

Appendices K-1 and K-2 – Shelter Cost Differential

  • Tables were previously adjusted to reflect the revised SCD methodology, effective August 1st, 2023.

Appendix L – Occupancy Agreement for Government-Owned Accommodations

  • Wording has been revised to reflect the requirement for departments and occupants to sign an occupancy agreement.
  • Wording has been added to reinforce that non-payment of rent and termination of employment are grounds for notice to terminate the occupancy agreement.

Appendix O – Examples

  • SCD-related examples have been updated to reflect the revised methodology, effective August 1st, 2023.