FSD 17 - Assistance for Spouses or Common-Law Partners

(a) Where a spouse or common-law partner, who is residing with an employee at a post, is accredited to a professional association(s) in Canada, was employed in the relevant profession within one year prior to departure from Canada and is required while abroad to pay dues to such professional association(s) in order to retain professional certification, the deputy head may authorize the payment of an allowance to the employee to cover the cost, while abroad, of annual dues in respect of memberships in up to two professional associations.

(b) In lieu of the provisions of Section 17.01(a), the deputy head may authorize payment of an allowance to cover membership dues to association(s) which are directly related to maintaining employment contacts that facilitate re-entry into the Canadian workforce, to a maximum amount of $300 per year.

(c) To claim the allowance under Section 17.01(a), the employee must provide a letter(s) from association(s) concerned certifying as to the necessity of such dues while outside Canada. To claim the allowance under Section 17.01(b), the employee must provide a letter(s) from the association(s) concerned indicating that dues are assessed.

(d) The employee shall provide the employer with such proof as the employer may require in order to ensure that this allowance was utilized for the purpose intended.

(a) An employee may claim an allowance of $500 for a spouse or common-law partner, to assist in finding employment following relocation to and/or from Canada or for a cross-posting, subject to the following conditions:

(b) Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

(c) the employee shall provide the employer with such proof as the employer may require in order to ensure that this allowance was utilized for the purpose intended.

(d) The allowance may be claimed once per relocation, either within two years of arrival at the new place of duty, or upon official confirmation of a posting or assignment to Canada. It is recognized that eligible costs may be incurred prior to receipt of posting confirmation.

(e) At the discretion of the deputy head, the provisions of this section may be extended to include situations where a spouse or common-law partner has not been employed outside Canada because paid employment was not available at the employee's post; or not employed within a year of departure from Canada due to leave for care and nurturing of pre-school age children, illness, education, or elder care.

(a) Where a spouse or common-law partner, who is residing with an employee at post, is accredited to a professional association(s) in Canada, was employed in the relevant profession within one year prior to departure from Canada and is required to undergo retraining on return to Canada to re-acquire professional certification at the level previously held, the deputy head may authorize reimbursement to the employee of the actual and reasonable tuition costs incurred for mandatory re-training courses when commenced within twelve months of return to Canada.

(b) At the discretion of the deputy head, reimbursement of actual and reasonable costs of education/training completed in Canada may be authorized up to a maximum of $1,000 where: