Note: Public Service employees must contact their Designated Departmental Commuting Assistance Coordinator (DDCAC) with their questions.
Communiqués Other related documents
Principles
The following principles were developed jointly by the bargaining agent representatives and the employer representatives to the National Joint Council. These principles are the cornerstone that shall guide the parties in establishing fair and reasonable commuting assistance practices across the public service.
Trust – foster an environment that allows employees, bargaining agents and management to work together to develop mutually acceptable solutions.
Flexibility – create an environment where management decisions respect the duty to accommodate, best respond to employees' needs and interests, and consider operational requirements in the determination of commuting assistance arrangements.
Respect – create a sensitive and supportive environment and recognize employees in a professional manner while supporting employees, their families, their health and safety in the context of this directive.
Transparency – ensure consistent, fair and equitable application of this directive and its practices.
General
Collective agreement
This directive is deemed to be part of collective agreements between the parties represented on the National Joint Council and employees are to be afforded ready access to this directive.
Grievance procedure
In cases of alleged misinterpretation or misapplication arising out of this directive, the grievance procedure, for all represented employees within the meaning of the Public Service Labour Relations Act will be in accordance with section 15 of the National Joint Council By‑Laws. For unrepresented employees, the departmental or agency grievance procedure applies.
Effective date
This directive is effective on June 1, 2010.
Purpose
Commuting assistance is provided to help defray excessive costs incurred in employees' daily travel to and from the regularly assigned worksite on the days when they are required by management to report for work and so report and to facilitate the recruitment and retention of staff delivering government programs at these remote worksites.
Normally, employees are expected to report for work at their own expense since they are free to choose where they will live. However, for some worksites, there are no reasonably close suitable residential communities. Consequently, some employees may be subject to higher transportation costs.
The Canadian Human Rights Act and the Treasury Board Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service, as amended from time to time, apply to this directive. Decisions and practices flowing from this directive shall be inclusive and barrier free. For instance, it is the employer's duty to ensure that the employee with a disability(ies) is fully accommodated to the point of undue hardship.
Application
This directive applies to all employees at a worksite where commuting assistance has been authorized, and does not apply:
(a) to additional kilometres driven for personal reasons (e.g. the transportation of children to school or day-care);
(b) to those employees who normally take public transportation to and from the worksite and who are unable to do so because of an interruption in service caused by a work stoppage of the public transportation employees;
(c) to transportation to and from a place of work other than the regularly assigned worksite or between the worksite and another place of work;
(d) where adequate public transportation operates between a worksite and a suitable residential community, irrespective of the distance criteria; or
(e) to employees who, when they are assigned to the worksite, decline without compelling reason, in the opinion of the deputy head, a written offer of Crown‑owned or Crown-controlled living accommodation either at or within 16 kilometres from the worksite using the most direct, safe and practical route and choose to reside elsewhere.
Allowances authorized under the Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive shall not be construed to include commuting assistance. The criteria outlined in this directive will be used to determine whether commuting assistance will be authorized at isolated posts.
Definitions
In this directive,
adequate public transportation (transports en commun adéquats) – means public transportation serving the worksite,
(a) whose schedule enables employees to report for work at their assigned times and to depart for home within a reasonable time after the end of their scheduled work period;
(b) that has the capacity to carry the employees; and
(c) that is available to employees at reasonable cost.
commuting assistance (aide au transport quotidien) – means the assistance provided to an employee under this directive.
department (ministère) – means a department or other portion of the public service,
(a) listed in Schedules I and IV to the Financial Administration Act; or
(b) listed in Schedule V to the Financial Administration Act and which is a member of the National Joint Council of the Public Service of Canada.
deputy head (administrateur général) – means the deputy minister or other chief executive officer of a department or agency and includes any employee of the department or agency who has been authorized to act on behalf of the deputy head or chief executive officer for the purposes of this directive.
employee (fonctionnaire) – means a person
(a) employed in the public service;
(b) whose salary is paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund; and
(c) includes a member of the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
majority of the employees (majorité des fonctionnaires) – means 50 per cent or more of the employees at a worksite, excluding those occupying Crown-owned or Crown-leased accommodation that is located at the worksite.
Public service (fonction publique) – for the purposes of this directive, "public service" shall include the same parties and persons outlined in section 1 of the National Joint Council By‑Laws.
suitable residential community (quartier résidentiel convenable) (refer to Appendix C for guidance) – means a location where,
(a) taking the vacancy rate into account, excluding vacant lots, the majority of employees could reside;
(b) adequate utilities and educational and commercial facilities are available; and
(c) road routes to the worksite are the most direct, safe and practical.
worksite (lieu de travail) – means the location at or from which employees ordinarily perform the duties of their positions and, in the case of employees whose duties are of an itinerant nature, the actual building to which they return to prepare and/or submit reports, etc., and where other administrative matters pertaining to their employment are conducted.
Implementation
1 Criteria
1.1 The deputy head will authorize commuting assistance only when:
(a) adequate public transportation is not available between a suitable residential community and the worksite; and
(b) no suitable residential community is located within a road distance of 16 kilometres from the worksite using the most direct, safe and practical route.
1.2 A community will be deemed to be a suitable residential community:
(a) upon the mutual consent of the deputy head and the affected bargaining agents, or
(b) if the majority of the employees reside within 16 kilometres of the worksite using the most direct, safe and practical route.
2 Authorization
2.1 Following consultation with the affected bargaining agents, an authorization shall:
(a) designate a suitable residential community;
(b) specify the type of commuting assistance to be provided; and
(c) be limited to the most practical and economical type of commuting assistance.
2.2 Where practical and reasonable, the same type of commuting assistance shall be authorized for employees of all departments at a worksite.
2.3 A deputy head shall consider energy conservation when choosing the type of commuting assistance.
2.4 Where there are a large number of employees at a worksite or where there are a number of suitable residential communities adjacent to the worksite, more than one suitable residential community may be designated.
2.5 A deputy head shall review an authorization referred to in this section at least once each fiscal year and, subject to section 5, may continue, modify or revoke it.
3 More than one Department
3.1 When more than one department has employees at a worksite, the deputy heads shall determine collectively, following consultation with the affected bargaining agents:
(a) how this directive will be applied and implemented; and
(b) what type of commuting assistance will be authorized.
3.2 Where the deputy heads are unable to reach a consensus, the matter may be referred to the National Joint Council for a recommendation. The Treasury Board Secretariat, on the recommendation of the National Joint Council, shall resolve the matter.
3.3 Subject to subsection 3.2, the authorization that is given by the deputy head of each department shall conform to the decision.
3.4 While departments may seek to establish cost sharing arrangements, each department shall be responsible for the cost of providing commuting assistance for their employees.
4 Types of Assistance
Commuting assistance will be provided by the use of Crown-owned vehicles, charter services, taxi pools, subsidized regular commercial transportation fares, or the use of privately-owned vehicles.
4.1 Employer provided
4.1.1 When a deputy head determines that the most practical and economical type of commuting assistance is to provide a government owned or chartered vehicle service, the deputy head shall direct that employees using the service pay a contribution towards the cost of the service.
4.1.2 When the vehicle service provides transportation only to and from the public transportation stop that is closest to the worksite, the deputy head shall not direct that employees pay a contribution.
4.1.3 When a vehicle service is provided between the designated suitable residential community and the worksite, the employee contribution for each one-way trip shall be $1.75 if no local public transportation system exists or an amount equal to the regular fare of the local public transportation system, whichever is less.
4.1.4 The rate of contribution will be reviewed at each cyclical review, taking into account a methodology approved by the parties.
4.1.5 When the rates are changed, each employee and affected bargaining agent shall be given written notice of the change. Such change shall be effective on the first day of the third month following employees' receipt of the written notice, or the effective date of the change, whichever is later.
4.1.6 The vehicle service may be permitted to stop along its normal direct route to pick up other employees. These passengers shall contribute the same amount as others.
4.1.7 When possible and practicable, the contribution may be collected through payroll deduction.
4.2 Private motor vehicle
4.2.1 When a deputy head determines that the use of private motor vehicles is the most practical and economical type of commuting assistance, the rate of commuting assistance shall be the rate as prescribed in Appendix A.
4.2.2 The amount of commuting assistance to which employees are entitled for each working day they report to work shall be calculated by multiplying the rate:
(a) for an employee who resides in a designated suitable residential community, by the shortest return road distance between the worksite and the geographical centre of that designated suitable residential community, using the most direct, safe and practical route, less 32 kilometres; or
(b) for an employee who does not reside in a designated suitable residential community, by the lesser of:
- the shortest return road distance between the worksite and the employee's residence, using the most direct, safe and practical route, less 32 kilometres; and
- the shortest return road distance between the worksite and the geographical centre of the farthest designated suitable residential community, using the most direct, safe and practical route, less 32 kilometres.
5 Consultation on changes
5.1 The affected bargaining agents shall be consulted concerning:
(a) any proposed change to the type of commuting assistance;
(b) any modification to or revocation of commuting assistance; and
(c) the effective date of any modification to or revocation of commuting assistance authorized under this directive.
5.2 When commuting assistance is modified or revoked, each employee and affected bargaining agent shall be given written notice of the change. Such change shall be effective on the first day of the third month following employees' receipt of the written notice, or the effective date of the change, whichever is later.
6 Exceptions
6.1 Where deputy heads are of the opinion that they are not permitted by this directive to authorize commuting assistance, either they or the affected bargaining agents may submit the matter to the National Joint Council. The Treasury Board Secretariat may, on the recommendation of the National Joint Council, make a determination.
6.2 The documentation submitted to the National Joint Council shall include a statement:
(a) to the effect that consultations have taken place; and
(b) identifying the abnormal circumstances supporting a recommendation that commuting assistance be authorized, even though such circumstances clearly lie outside these guidelines.
6.3 Examples of such circumstances are:
(a) difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees that are directly attributable to the lack of commuting assistance;
(b) the practice of private employers in the area of the worksite;
(c) excessive commuting costs;
(d) significant alterations to transportation patterns;
(e) major changes to operational requirements of the employer; and
(f) excessive time spent on public transit.
7 Reporting
7.1 Each deputy head shall maintain records that may be examined by the Treasury Board Secretariat or form the basis of reports when requested.
7.2 The records shall include:
(a) by worksite, a statement of the annual commuting assistance costs, the number of employees who are receiving commuting assistance at the end of the fiscal year and the type of commuting assistance provided;
(b) by worksite, the names of other participating departments;
(c) a statement and explanation of any changes in the commuting assistance provided from the previous fiscal year, giving the estimated increase or reduction in cost associated with each change;
(d) the results of any review referred to in subsection 2.5; and
(e) the number of situations that were referred to the National Joint Council for a decision and the number that were dealt with within the department.
Appendix A - Lower Kilometric Rates
Effective July 1, 2020
Province/Territory |
Cents/km |
---|---|
Alberta |
16.0 |
British Columbia |
20.0 |
Manitoba |
17.0 |
New Brunswick |
17.5 |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
18.5 |
Northwest Territories |
24.0 |
Nova Scotia |
17.0 |
Nunavut |
24.5 |
Ontario |
17.5 |
Prince Edward Island |
17.5 |
Quebec |
19.0 |
Saskatchewan |
17.0 |
Yukon |
25.0 |
Appendix B - Non-Exclusive List of Qualified Worksites and Designated Suitable Residential Communities
This appendix was prepared for convenience of reference only.
Last updated: June 1, 2010
Appendix B is a non-exclusive list of qualified worksites and designated suitable residential communities. Departments are strongly encouraged to ensure that their Designated Departmental Commuting Assistance Coordinator is kept apprised of all changes to qualified worksites and/or designated suitable residential communities for inclusion in Appendix B.
Appendix B is updated as required. As such, it may not capture all worksites where commuting assistance is currently authorized.
Qualified Worksites |
Designated Suitable
|
Departments / Agencies |
---|---|---|
Abercorn, QC |
Cowansville, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Armstrong, QC |
St-Georges, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Atlantic Institution – Renous, NB |
Miramichi, NB |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Bath Institution – Bath, ON |
Kingston, ON |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Big Beaver, SK |
Coronach, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Bloomfield, NB |
Woodstock, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Boissevain, MB |
Boissevain, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Carievale, SK |
Carnduff, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Cartwright, MB |
Cartwright, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Carway, AB |
Cardston & Lethbridge, AB |
Canada Border Services Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
CFAD Rocky Point (CFB) Esquimalt), BC |
Colwood Corners & Victoria, BC |
Department of National Defence |
CFB Shilo, MB |
Brandon, MB |
Department of National Defence |
CFB Suffield, AB |
Medicine Hat, AB |
Department of National Defence |
CFMETR Nanoose (CFB Esquimalt), BC |
Nanaimo, BC |
Department of National Defence |
CFNES Halifax – DC Division, NS |
Halifax, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Chartierville, QC |
Sherbrooke, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Chopaka, BC |
Osoyoos, BC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Clarenceville, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Climax, SK |
Shaunavon, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Comfort Cove (Loran C Station), NL |
Lewisporte, NL |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans |
Coronach, SK |
Coronach, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Coulter, MB |
Melita, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Coutts, AB |
Lethbridge, AB |
Canada Border Services Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Covey Hill, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Crystal City, MB |
Manitou, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Del Bonita, AB |
Magrath, AB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Detachment Debert, NS |
Truro, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Detachment Dundern, SK |
Saskatoon, SK |
Department of National Defence |
Detachment Folly Lake, NS |
Truro, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Dundee, QC |
Huntingdon, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
East Hereford, QC |
Coaticook, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
East Pinacle, QC |
Cowansville, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Edmonton (International Airport), AB |
Edmonton, AB |
Department of National Defence |
Emerson, MB |
Altona, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Enfield, NS |
Halifax, NS |
Department of Transport |
Estevan Highway, SK |
Estevan, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Forest City, NB |
Woodstock, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Fort Edward (Armoury), NS |
Halifax, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Fosterville, NB |
Woodstock, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Franklin, QC |
Huntingdon, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Frelighsburg, QC |
Cowansville, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Gillespie, NB |
Grand Falls, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Glen Sutton, QC |
Cowansville, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Goodslands, MB |
Deloraine, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Gretna, MB |
Altona, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Halifax (International Airport), NS |
Halifax, NS |
Canada Border Services Agency; Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Department of National Defence |
Hemmingford, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Herdman, QC |
Huntingdon, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Hereford Road, QC |
Coaticook, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Highwater, QC |
Magog, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Jamieson's Line, QC |
Huntingdon, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Joyceville Institution – Kingston, ON |
Kingston, ON |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Kingsgate, BC |
Creston, BC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Village – Harrison Mills, BC |
Agassiz & Mission, BC |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Lacolle – 9, rue de l'Église, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Lacolle – Route 221, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Lacolle – Route 223, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
La Macaza Institution – La Macaza, QC |
Mont-Tremblant, QC |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Landsdowne, ON |
Brockville & Kingston, ON |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Lena, MB |
Killarney, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
LFCA Training Center Meaford (CFB Borden), ON |
Collingwood & Owen Sound, ON |
Department of National Defence |
Lyleton, MB |
Melita, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Millhaven Institution – Bath, ON |
Kingston, ON |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Mirabel (International Airport), QC |
Laval, QC |
Department of National Defence; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Monchy, SK |
Ponteix, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Morses Lines, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Nelway, BC |
Trail, BC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
North Portal, SK |
Estevan, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Northgate, SK |
Oxbow, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Noyan, QC |
St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
NRS Newport Corner (CFB Halifax), NS |
Halifax & Dartmouth, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge – Maple Creek, SK |
Maple Creek, SK |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Oungre, SK |
Estevan, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Pê Sâkâstêw Centre – Hobbema, AB |
Ponoka & Wetaskiwin, AB |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Pigeon River, ON |
Thunder Bay, ON |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Piney, MB |
Steinbach, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Pittsburgh Institution – Kingston, ON |
Kingston, ON |
Correctional Service of Canada |
QAM Enfield Work Centre, NS |
Halifax, NS |
Department of National Defence |
Regway, SK |
Radville, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
River de Chute, NB |
Centreville, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Rockwood Institution – Stony Mountain, MB |
Winnipeg & Teulon, MB |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Roosville, BC |
Cranbrook, BC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
St. Anthony (Airport), NL |
St. Anthony, NL |
Department of Transport |
St-Armand, QC |
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Ste-Aurélie, QC |
St-Georges, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
St-Bernard de Lacolle, QC |
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu & St-Jean d'Iberville, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency; Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Public Works and Government Services Canada |
Snowflake, MB |
Manitou, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
South Junction, MB |
Steinbach, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Sprague, MB |
Steinback, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Stanhope, QC |
Coaticook, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Stanstead 143, QC |
Magog, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Stanstead-Beebe, QC |
Magog, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Stanstead – Route 55, QC |
Magog, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Stony Mountain Institution – Winnipeg, MB |
Winnipeg & Teulon, MB |
Correctional Service of Canada |
Tolstoi, MB |
St. Pierre Jolys, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Torquay, SK |
Estevan, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Trout River, QC |
Huntingdon, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Victoria (Airport), BC |
Victoria, BC |
Department of National Defence |
Warkworth Institution - Campbellford, ON |
Trenton, ON |
Correctional Service of Canada |
West Poplar River, SK |
Assiniboia, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Williams Lake (Loran C Station), BC |
Williams Lake, BC |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans |
Willow Creek, SK |
Maple Creek, SK |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Windygates, MB |
Morden, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Winkler, MB |
Winkler, MB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Woburn, QC |
Lac-Mégantic, QC |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Woodstock Road, NB |
Woodstock, NB |
Canada Border Services Agency |
Appendix C - Non-Exclusive List of Criteria for Suitable Residential Communities
This Appendix was prepared for convenience of reference only.
Effective Date: June 1, 2010
Appendix C is a non-exclusive list of criteria to assist departmental representatives and bargaining agents in determining if a community may be deemed a suitable residential community for the purpose of this directive. The information provided below is for general guidance only.
Criteria |
Description of Criteria |
Relevance |
---|---|---|
(a) Adequate Housing Facilities |
||
〈 Sufficient Accommodation |
Vacancy rate (excluding vacant lots and excessively priced dwellings) where majority could reside – Need 4 of 5 housing types: townhomes/semi-detached; single family dwellings; 1, 2 or 3 bedroom rentals |
Very Important |
(b) Adequate Infrastructure Services |
||
〈 Adequate Road Routes to Work |
Most direct, safe and practical road route |
Very Important |
〈 Public Utilities |
Water supply, electricity, gas |
Very Important |
〈 Telephone |
Land line or cellular phone |
Very Important |
〈 Internet |
Internet access |
Very Important |
〈 Cable or Satellite |
Important |
|
〈 Garbage |
Pickup or Community dump |
Important |
〈 Public Transportation |
Desirable |
|
〈 Taxi |
Desirable |
|
(c) Adequate Educational Facilities |
||
〈 Schools |
Elementary & secondary or bus service within 20 km |
Very Important |
〈 Official Second Language School |
Elementary & secondary or bus service within 20 km |
Desirable |
(d) Adequate Commercial Facilities / Services |
||
〈 Grocery Store |
Basic requirement |
Very Important |
〈 Fuel Station |
Basic requirement |
Very Important |
〈 Mechanic Service |
Important |
|
〈 Pharmaceutical Services |
Open 6 days/week |
Important |
〈 Restaurants |
Important |
|
〈 Clothing Store |
Items for Women, Men and Children |
Important |
〈 General Convenience Store |
Desirable |
|
〈 Electrical/Plumbing Services |
Desirable |
|
〈 Hair Salon/Barber |
Desirable |
|
〈 Hardware Goods |
Desirable |
|
〈 Furniture Items |
Desirable |
|
(e) Adequate Health and Emergency Services |
||
〈 Medical Service |
Hospital or clinic or physician within 20 km |
Very Important |
〈 Dentist |
Within 20 km |
Important |
〈 Veterinarian |
Desirable |
|
〈 Ambulance |
Including Volunteer(s) |
Desirable |
〈 Fire Department |
Including Volunteer(s) |
Desirable |
〈 Police |
Including RCMP |
Desirable |
(f) Adequate Public Services and Social Facilities |
||
〈 Child Care |
Public or private |
Very Important |
〈 Financial Institution |
Bank or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) |
Important |
〈 Sport/Recreational/Social Establishment |
Important |
|
〈 Place of Worship |
Desirable |
|
〈 Postal Services |
Desirable |
|
〈 Library |
Desirable |