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Relocation Benefits

Financial Considerations - North of 60

Cost of living is one of the more frequent concerns families mention prior to a posting. There are many financial factors to consider when posting to Yellowknife.
 

Cost of Living

This link will give you an idea on some of those financial factors: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Yellowknife.  Click here to see average 2023 household expenditures for Yellowknife: https://www.statsnwt.ca/prices-expenditures/household_expenditures/.

To note:

  • Fresh produce spoils much quicker in Yellowknife therefore most people must adjust their shopping habits.
  • Pay particular attention to expiry dates of meats, dairy products, salad dressing, etc…
  • For some reason bananas are often green, sometimes never ripening, or turn brown very quickly. It’s a thing.
  • Occasionally, there are empty shelves at one grocery store but do not worry, check out the other stores in town and you’ll usually be able to find what you need.
  • That being said, sometimes there will be a total shortage of a particular item across town. For example, one Christmas season there was a wrapping paper shortage. It’s at times like this that people get creative.

Tip: 

  • Vehicle repairs are costly with long wait times for parts. It is recommended to have vehicles serviced and/or winterized (installation of block heater, battery blanket and/or trickle charger) prior to posting to Yellowknife. 

Finances and Benefits

According to the 2023 NWT Bureau of Statistics report, the average annual 'family' income in Yellowknife is $180,118, while the average personal income is $74,799.

The higher cost of living is quickly evident while purchasing goods and services at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.   Transportation, staff, and overhead costs drive the prices up in comparison to our southern counterparts. 

The further north you go, the more expensive it gets.  The railway only goes as far as Hay River, in the Territories, which is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake.  The elevated cost of living is offset, however, by some of the allowances to which you are eligible.  If you shop around for bargains, you will also be able to keep costs down.

Personnel posted to JTFN Yellowknife, Dets Yukon and Nunavut, 1 CRPG, 440(T) Sqn, LER will receive Isolation Allowance (IsolA) and Northern Leave Travel Assistance (NLTA).

As there is no Government housing available in Whitehorse, all personnel will either rent or purchase a residence on the economy.  In Iqaluit, there is no option of renting or purchasing on the economy.  All individuals will be assigned Government housing.

Isolation Allowance

IAW CBI 11.2.01(2), Regular Force members and those on Class A, B or C reserve service who are posted to an isolated post are entitled to receive Isolation Allowance (Isol A). Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Iqaluit are considered isolated posts, and as such, an entitlement to Isol A exists.

 Isol A is broken down into four components:

  • Environmental Allowance (EA): Calculated based on the community population, climate and accessibility;
  • Living Cost Differential (LCD): Payable where prices of food and other goods and services are abnormally high in comparison to the location identified as the major source of supply for a region;
  • Fuel and Utilities Differential (FUD): Payable to assist members to meet abnormally high prices for fuel and utilities due to higher transportation costs and consumption rates; and,
  • Shelter Cost Differential (SCD): Payable to help members offset the higher shelter charges at certain isolated posts.

All members are entitled to the EA, LCD and SCD portions of Isol A, regardless of your housing situation. Members residing in government housing are not entitled to FUD as the fuel and utility charges are directly paid to the supplier by CFHA.

Isol A rates are assessed once per year by DCBA. Refer to the Table at CBI 11.2.04 for explanations regarding rate increases and decreases.

Rates of Payment - Isol A

Each member entitled to receive Isol A will have their allowance paid to them based on certain criteria, including their marital status, geographic location and housing situation. For ease of reading, each situation has been broken down based on their accompanied status. Each accompanied status will be defined and the Isol A rates associated with the location where a member will be or has been posted are included.

  • Unaccompanied

    For the purposes of Isol A, an unaccompanied is a member who is posted to an isolated post and, in most cases, declares their marital status to be single, separated or divorced and do not have dependents. There are cases where a member, primarily those on Class B Reserve Service, who is not entitled to Imposed Restriction status or Separation Expense, and where they do not move their dependents to an isolated post, will be considered unaccompanied.

    Marital Status Housing Situation EA LCD FUD SCD Total
    Unaccompanied Private $188.00 $431.00 $368.75 $544.00 $1541.75
    Unaccompanied Government $188.00 $431.00 N/A $332.00 $931.50
  • Accompanied

    Accompanied – Married, Common-Law or Single with Dependents

    For the purposes of Isol A, an accompanied member who is posted to an isolated post and, in most cases, declares their marital status to be married or common-law, and their respective spouse or partner is not employed with the Canadian Armed Forces in any capacity or the Federal Public Service. Members who are single, separated or divorced and have their dependent children accompanying them on the posting will also be considered as “accompanied” for the purpose of Isol A.
     
    Marital Status Housing Situation EA LCD FUD SCD Total
    Accompanied - Married/Common-Law/Single w/ Dependents Private $313.00 $719.00 $614.58 $544.00 $2200.58
    Accompanied - Married/Common-Law/Single w/ Dependents Government $313.00 $719.00 N/A $544.00 $1586.00

     
  • Serving Couple with Dependents

    Married Service Couple/Federal Public Service Couple with Dependents

    For the purposes of Isol A, a member, who forms part of a MSC or FSC, and has dependent children, will fall into this category. One member of the MSC or FSC will receive isolation allowance at the accompanied rate and the other will receive the allowance at an unaccompanied rate. There is an option for one member to collect all portions, except for the EA component, of the unaccompanied allowance. For further information, please speak with the JTFN HQ OR screening section prior to arrival or with the pay and records section upon in-clearance.
     
    Marital Status Housing Situation EA LCD FUD SCD Total
    MSC/FSC (w/ dependents) (accompanied) Private $313.00 $359.50 $307.29 $277.00 $1256.79
    MSC/FSC (w/ dependents) (unaccompanied) Private $188.00 $359.50 $307.29 $277.00 $1131.79
    MSC/FSC (w/ dependents) (accompanied) Government $313.00 $359.50 N/A $277.00 $949.50
    MSC/FSC (w/ dependents) (unaccompanied) Government $188.00 $359.50 N/A $277.00 $824.50
  • Service Couple with no Dependents

    Married Service Couple/Federal Public Service Couple with no Dependents

    For the purposes of Isol A, a member, who forms part of a married service couple (MSC) or is married to or in a common-law partnership with a Federal Public Service employee, and does not have dependent children, will fall into this category. For ease of the chart below, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces married to or in a common-law partnership with a Federal Public Service employee has been abbreviated as FSC (Federal Service Couple) and will be referred to as such in following scenarios, except for the title of the scenario.
     
    Marital Status Housing Situation EA LCD FUD SCD Total
    MSC/FSC (no dependents) Private $188.00 $359.50 $307.29 $277.00 $1131.79
    MSC/FSC (no dependents) Government $188.00 $359.50 N/A $277.00 $824.50
  • Imposed Restriction
    For the purposes of Isol A, a member, who has declared a marital status of married or common-law, is posted to an isolated post who requests and is granted Imposed Restriction (IR) status from the Career Manager and demonstrates entitlement to Separation Expense (SE) under CBI 208.997 will receive the EA, LCD or both components of Isol A. This is because a member on IR status and entitled to SE will be entitled to non-commercial accommodation and family housing under CBI 208.997(9), where a member is entitled to actual and reasonable expenses for non-commercial accommodations or family housing and utilities.
     
    Marital Status Housing Situation EA LCD FUD SCD Total
    Member on IR Private $188.00 $431.00 N/A N/A $619.00

CANEX Home Heating Program

For those of you heating with oil, there’s a discounted home heating program provided through Canex. Click here to apply: https://www.canex.ca/en/hhp. Unfortunately, this program does not include propane in Yellowknife at this time. 

Tax Benefits

There is no provincial sales tax in the NT or NU, however, there is a NT/NU payroll tax which equates to 2% of your gross income.  This tax is, offset by a NT/NU tax credit, claimable by all personnel whose primary residence, as at 1 August 2023, was in the NT/NU.

Isolated Post Travel Assistance (formerly known as NLTA)

The purpose of IPTA is to give a member, who is posted for duty at an isolated post, and, where applicable, their dependants, the option to travel from the post without being subjected to excessive costs. This applies to any member that has been posted for duty to an isolated post for a period of 90 or more consecutive paid days. 

For more information on eligibility and frequency of entitlement refer to CBI 11.4.03 

Please note that single members posted to an Isolation Post are entitled to receive their Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) and their Isolated Post Travel Assistance.   LTA is a separate benefit referring to a different policy, CBI 209.50.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the JTFN OR staff by email at JTFNOR@forces.gc.ca for clarification.

Long Term Storage (LTS) policies and procedures

Reference:   Canadian Forces Integration Relocation Program (CFIRP) 2009-2018 Article 9.1.06

A CF member who moves their HG&E on or after 19 April 2018 is entitled to LTS including partial shipment when they are posted to an isolated post.

LTS will be at origin, not at destination (Yellowknife).  Therefore, the request cannot be entertained once the HG&E is packed/loaded.  The earlier you send your request to the losing unit F&E Section, the better.

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