May 1, 2009
Foreign Service Directives Committee
Transitional provisions and application
As part of the cyclical review of the Foreign Service Directives (FSD), FSD 8 – Short term assignments outside Canada was created to replace Appendix A to FSD 3 (Short-term Relocation Outside Canada and United States of America (U.S.A.)).
The provisions of Appendix A to FSD 3 have been revised and incorporated into the new FSD 8.
The new directive is applicable to employees who are assigned outside Canada to an office of the Government of Canada at a post for short periods of more than 30 consecutive days, but less than one year. Assignments are defined in Section 3.01 of FSD 3 – Application which may be found at the following link: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tb_8332/siglist-eng.asp
In certain situations, assignments of 120 consecutive days or less, and assignments in excess of 120 consecutive days are differentiated to ensure practicality.
- The NJC Travel Directive
- Appendix A to FSD 3 of the Foreign Service Directives
As such, in accordance with FSD 8.03(a), employees on assignment outside Canada under the provisions of the NJC Travel Directive on April 1, 2009 shall be given the option of remaining under these provisions or electing for the revised provisions of FSD 8 – Short term assignments outside Canada, for the remainder of the assignment, not including any extensions.
Furthermore, in accordance with FSD 8.03(b), employees on assignment outside Canada on April 1, 2009, under the provisions of Appendix A to FSD 3 – Short-term relocation outside Canada and the U.S.A. shall come under provisions of the new FSD 8 – Short term assignments outside Canada.
Impact
During the implementation of the new directive, it is recommended that users note the following:
While the NJC Travel Directive specifies travel in Canada and the continental U.S.A. in Module 3 and international travel outside Canada or the continental U.S.A. in its Module 4, the new FSD 8 applies anywhere outside Canada.
This change means that, in accordance with FSD 8.03(a), employees in the continental U.S.A. who were governed by the NJC Travel Directive may now be governed by the FSDs, subject to FSD 3 – Application.
The new Foreign Service Directives may be accessed on the Treasury Board Secretariat website http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/tb_8332/siglist-eng.asp
In addition further information announcing the new Foreign Service Directives, including the introduction of FSD 8 and Questions and Answers may be found at http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/doc.php?sid=27&lang=eng
Enquiries
Requests for more information or clarification should be addressed to designated departmental personnel.
Designated departmental officials may contact either:
Cynthia Nash
Senior Policy Analyst
Excluded Groups and Administrative Policies
Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat
Telephone (613) 946-3714
Fax (613) 952-3002
Cynthia.Nash@tbs-sct.gc.ca
Kimberley Gowing
Policy Analyst
Excluded Groups and Administrative Policies
Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat
Telephone (613) 952-3256
Fax (613) 952-3002
Kim.Gowing@tbs-sct.gc.ca