Scope
Introduction
The provisions of this directive provide assistance to the employee for their spouse or common-law partner and/or dependants who will be residing with the employee at the post and who have been authorized by the deputy head to attend a pre-posting briefing program and/or foreign language training.
The cost of delivering the pre-posting briefing program and/or foreign language training is not a Foreign Service Directives expense.
Directive
12.1 Application
12.1.1 Where the deputy head has authorized a pre-posting briefing program and/or foreign language training for a spouse or common-law partner and/or dependant(s), as defined in FSD 2 – Definitions, who accompany an employee on a posting, the employee may claim expenses as follows:
- actual and reasonable return travelling expenses between the place of residence of the spouse or common-law partner and/or dependants who will be residing with the employee at the post, and the location of the pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training, up to the cost of return travelling expenses between the employee’s normal place of residence and the location of the program or training;
- where travelling expenses are authorized under the provision of another Foreign Service Directive or the NJC Travel Directive to a location other than the location of the pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training, the provisions of paragraph 12.1.1(a) shall be limited to the return travelling expenses from the other location to the location of the program or training;
- living expenses, as defined in FSD 2 – Definitions, at the location of the pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training, for the duration of the program or training;
- actual and reasonable local transportation expenses by the most practicable and economical means as determined by the deputy head for one return journey each day to the location of the pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training; and
- the cost of telephone calls in accordance with the NJC Travel Directive from the briefing or training location to the place of residence of the separated family member(s). However, telephone calls shall not be reimbursed where an incidental expense allowance is paid for travel within Canada or the continental U.S.A.
12.2 Dependant Care
12.2.1 Where the employee incurs expenses in excess of any existing dependant care arrangements as a result of a spouse or common-law partner or dependant attending a pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training, the deputy head shall authorize payment of actual and reasonable dependant care expenses incurred in accordance with the NJC Travel Directive.
12.2.2 The dependant care expenses may be incurred at the employee’s residence, at the location of the pre-posting briefing program or foreign language training or, with the prior approval of the deputy head, at another location. Note that travel for the dependant requiring care is not covered under this directive.
12.2.3 Expenses for dependant care incurred at post may exceed the maximum amount established in the NJC Travel Directive on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental coordinating committee.