Canadian Forces Ranger Danny Smith from Inuvik, NT tries out new wet weather boots during Operation NANOOK 2012 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Military and civilian personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces who require safety footwear not provided by their respective units are now receiving reimbursements for the purchases in a new way. Photo: Sergeant Frank Hudec, Canadian Forces Canada Command. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.
By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has changed how they reimburse personnel, civilian and military alike, for the purchase of safety footwear that is not provided directly by the units where they work.
Corporal Devin Birkby, a member of the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Marching Team, cleans his boots at Groesbeek Cemetery in the eastern Netherlands on July 23, 2015. Safety footwear required for many jobs in the Canadian Armed Forces are not provided by units and the organization has changed the process for reimbursing members for those purchases. Photo: Warrant Officer Jerry Kean, 5th Canadian Division Public Affairs. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.
The change was brought about by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), which provides finance and other services to the federal government. Reimbursements are now paid directly by DND from Operations and Maintenance funds and not as a taxable allowance through the larger public service’s Phoenix pay system.
Employees who already have a Pay Action Request (PAR) in the system for footwear procured earlier must not re-submit them under the new system. Existing PARs are being processed and are expected to be completed by the end of December.
The office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) has also expanded eligibility for these reimbursements. Previously, only permanent employees or others on work terms of more than three months who are not contractors were eligible. Now all term employees, as well as students, will be. More detail will be provided in an upcoming general order.
This will ensure DND remains in compliance with its obligations to provide safety footwear where necessary under the Canada Labour Code and its associated Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
