ARCHIVED - Department of Justice Canada

Authority:
In December 1997, an Order in Council (OIC) was issued to direct organizations other than Crown corporations with authority to establish their own policies regarding travel and hospitality expenditures to be guided by the TBS Special Travel Authorities and the Hospitality Policy (see PCO OIC 1997-1810). A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury Board also stated that departments and agencies that have travel policies that differ from those of TBS are directed to publish in their Departmental Performance Reports their established travel policies and report on the resulting additional costs in comparison with TBS travel policies.

Coverage:
The departmental policy on business class travel applies to all managers.

Principal difference(s) in policy provisions:
TBS Special Travel Authority Section 6.7 “Business Class Air” authorizes the use of business class air travel for trips of 850 air kilometres or more one way by the following groups and levels, and above:

outside the National Capital Region: EX-01, LA-2A, PM-MCO 4, GC3 and CGQ3; in the National Capital Region: by EX-02, GX, LA-2B, excluded MD- MOF-4, MD-MSP-3, DS-7A, GC4 and GCQ4 as well as to equivalent senior RCMP and military personnel.

In Justice, the following further restrictions on the use of business class travel by management (EX’s and LA-2B’s and LA-3’s) were introduced in December 2000:

flight must be for a minimum of 3 hours duration and in addition, two of the following criteria are met:

• employee travels outside his regular hours of work
• employee works during the flight; and
• employee must attend an important meeting that day or the following day.

Principal financial implications of the difference(s):
Limiting the use of business class travel lowers the overall travel costs for the Department.

Comparison to the TBS Travel Directive, Rates and Allowances Travel Policy:
The Department of Justice follows the TBS Travel Directive, Rates and Allowances.