Pay and Benefits

Is your personal information up-to-date? It is very important to have up to date personal information.

Your personal information is contained in a system called PeopleSoft and can be found in the HR Self-Service system. Your personal information must be up-to-date as it may be accessed by your manager if he/she needs to contact you in case of an emergency. If you leave the Agency, your updated personal information enables staff to reach you, among other reasons, to help resolve a pay issue.

Regardless of your employment status with Parks Canada, it is your responsibility to update your personal information in the HR Self-Service system.

Follow these steps to update your personal information:

1. Click the HR Self-Service link at the bottom of the ParksNet page.

2. Select “Personal Data” and check your residential and mailing addresses and your email address.

3. If you have to make any changes, click on the yellow box under the address that you wish to edit.

4. Once the changes have been made, click Save.

For further details, consult the Self-Service User Guide located on ParksNet.

If at anytime during the update process you experience technical difficulties, submit a request through the HR Service Desk.

If you do not have access to HR Self-Service, how can you change your personal information?

Inform your manager if you do not have access to a work computer or you cannot make the changes yourself. Your manager can submit a request through the HR Service Desk with your personal information

Claims for expenses and financial losses due to Phoenix

Parks Canada wants to make sure that no team member - current or former, - is out of pocket because of incomplete or inaccurate pay.

There are processes in place to compensate team members who have incurred expenses or financial losses because of the implementation of the Phoenix pay system.

Filing a claim will not impact your pay, since claims are not processed through the Phoenix pay system.

There are four types of claims:

Claim out-of-pocket expenses

If you have incurred out-of-pocket expenses such as interest charges or late fees because of Phoenix, you can submit a claim.

Reimbursement for tax advice

If you need to consult an expert to sort out your income taxes because of errors in your pay caused by Phoenix, the Government of Canada will reimburse expenses (up to $200) related to obtaining tax advice.

Request an advance for government benefits

If your government benefits, such as the Canada child benefit, or other credits were reduced because you were overpaid by Phoenix, you can request an advance to help you during this time.

Claim for impacts to income taxes and government benefits

If you earned salary in 2016 that was not paid until 2017, you might incur a financial loss related to paying a higher rate of income tax or reduced government benefits and credits such as the Canada child benefit.

Please note that all emails will be handled in confidentiality. For privacy and security reasons, all claim requests should be submitted through your departmental email account (lotus notes). Internet email exchange is not a secure mechanism as the confidentiality and integrity of the email cannot be guaranteed. The email can be intercepted and the contents revealed.

Submit a claim for out-of-pocket expenses related to Phoenix pay issues

Parks Canada wants to ensure that current and former employees, including students, who have incurred additional financial or out-of-pocket expenses because of incomplete or inaccurate pay resulting from implementation of the Phoenix pay system are reimbursed in a timely manner.

If you experienced a pay problem after Parks Canada started using the Phoenix pay system and you have incurred out-of-pocket expenses because of incomplete or inaccurate pay, you are invited to submit a claim.

To avoid unnecessary delays, employees are encouraged to bundle their eligible expenses as much as possible for efficiency of processing and reimbursement. If further pay problem occur, claimant can file additional claim.

Employees must:

1. Prepare the claim using TBS's claim form;
2. Attach all supporting documentation such as pay stubs and statements for the period of the pay problem;
3. Indicate whether a grievance in relation to this claim has also been filed (Section 3 of the claim form);
4. Attest that no other eligible person is claiming the same expenses (Section 3 of the claim form);
5. Sign the claim form certifying and consenting to share the information provided with their organization and the Claims Office for the purposes of due diligence and processing their claim; and
6. Submit the claim with all supporting documentations via email to Departmental Claims Officers (DCO) .

Once a claim is authorized, the DCO will communicate with the employee to obtain a signed release form prior to the payment of the claim.

Please refer to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website and Frequently Asked Questions for all information regarding an application for out-of-pocket expenses related to Phoenix payroll issues, including documents and receipts required to support your claim.

For additional assistance, contact:

pc.reclamationsphenix-claimsphoenix.pc@canada.ca

Submit a claim for the reimbursement of fees for tax advisory services

Current and former employees, including students, who encountered pay issues related to the Phoenix pay system and who required the assistance of an accountant or another qualified tax professional may seek a reimbursement for tax advisory services in relation to their 2016 or 2017 income taxes.

This process is designed to reimburse employees for income tax advice and services that may arise due to errors to their employment income from the Phoenix pay system. Please read the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website and Frequently Asked Questions carefully to understand what costs are covered under this process.

Email us for additional assistance.

Submit a claim for expenses and financial losses due to Phoenix: request an advance for government benefits

If you were overpaid in 2016 or 2017, the amount you received for government benefits and credits may have been reduced.

You can request an advance for benefits if:

• you were overpaid in 2016 or 2017 and your government benefits or credits, such as Canada child benefit payments, were reduced
• you are experiencing financial hardship because of a Phoenix pay issue

Advances are interest-free money from the government for your use until your Phoenix pay issue is resolved. Once your pay issue is resolved and you receive the money owing to you, you must pay back the advance.

Who can submit a claim?

You qualify for an advance if you were overpaid in 2016 or 2017 and:

• the amount of your provincial/territorial or federal benefits for 2017 or 2018 was reduced because your employment income was overstated in 2016 or 2017
• you have reported your overpayment to Public Services and Procurement Canada
• you have not yet received your amended tax slip to correct the overstated employment income
• you have filed your income tax for 2016 or 2017 with the Canada Revenue Agency or with Revenue Québec

Before you begin

Please read the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website and frequently asked questionsabout advances for government benefits and credits carefully.

Your request for an advance is important to us. We will review each request carefully, and we will review exceptional situations on a case-by-case basis.

Email us for additional assistance.

Submit a claim for impacts to income taxes or government benefits and credits

If you earned salary in 2016 that was not paid until 2017, you might incur a financial loss related to:

• paying a higher rate of income tax
• reduced government benefits and credits such as the Canada child benefit

Filing a claim will not impact your pay, since claims are not processed through the Phoenix pay system.

Who can submit a claim?

To submit a claim, you must meet all of the following requirements:

You must be a current or former federal public servant (includes students and casual employees) whose pay is or was administered by the Phoenix pay system

You were owed salary from 2016 that was paid to you in 2017

The time taken to receive your outstanding salary from 2016 exceeded normal service standards

Before you begin

Starting in April 2018, employees will be able to submit claims related to impacts to their 2017 income taxes.

Starting in July 2018, employees will be able to submit claims related to their 2018 government benefits and credits (e.g. Canada child benefit, GST/HST rebates, daycare subsidies, etc.). More information will be available soon.

Please read the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website and frequently asked questions carefully for information on how to complete your claim.

Email us for additional assistance.

Emergency salary advances (ESUs) are administered by Parks Canada's Compensation Operations team. Parks Canada provides emergency salary advances to all new or returning employees who do not receive their first pay on time and to existing employees who do not receive their regular, bi-weekly pay. 

What is an emergency salary advance?

An emergency salary advance is money paid to the employee until the employee's regular bi-weekly salary is paid through the pay system. The emergency salary advance is 60% of the employee's gross salary, which in most cases is the amount received after payroll deductions.

Who is eligible for an emergency salary advance?

New and returning employees

You will receive an emergency salary advance if you do not receive your first pay on time (approximately one month after your first day of work). 

Current employees

You will receive an emergency salary advance if you have problems with your pay and do not receive your regular bi-weekly pay.

How do I receive an emergency salary advance?

New and returning employees

New and returning employees receive an emergency salary advance automatically.

You will receive an email notification from the Compensation Operations team, and the emergency salary advance will be deposited into your account by direct deposit.

If you have not received your regular pay and have not received notification of an emergency salary advance payment, please inform your manager.

Current employees

Inform your manager if you are having problems with your pay and have not received your regular bi-weekly pay. You or your manager will also need to inform your human resources manager (PDF, 202 KB). 

To obtain an emergency salary advance, you must submit a request in ParksNet (Jira) or if you are unable to access ParksNet, you must email the Compensation Operations team at pc.capemergencysalaryadvance-capavancesdurgence.pc@canada.ca.

You will then receive an email notification from the Compensation Operations team, and the emergency salary advance will be deposited into your account by direct deposit.

Is it possible to receive an emergency salary advance more than once?

New and returning employees

It is possible to receive an emergency salary advance more than once. To obtain an emergency salary advance, you must email the Compensation Operations team at pc.capemergencysalaryadvance-capavancesdurgence.pc@canada.ca.

Current employees

It is possible to receive an emergency salary advance more than once. To obtain an emergency salary advance, you must email the Compensation Operations team at pc.capemergencysalaryadvance-capavancesdurgence.pc@canada.ca.

Do I have to pay back an emergency salary advance?

If you receive an emergency salary advance, you will subsequently receive, through the pay system, the amount of pay to which you were entitled during the period covered by the emergency salary advance. You will then have to pay back the full amount of the emergency salary advance received so that you are not paid twice for the same work period.

Once you have received your regular pay, contact the Compensation Operations team at pc.capemergencysalaryadvance-capavancesdurgence.pc@canada.ca to pay back the emergency salary advance. There are two repayment methods:

1. Payment by cheque from a personal account, bank draft or money order.
2. Repayment via deduction from your next regular pay through the pay system. The Compensation Operations team will indicate which pay cycle the deduction is being taken from.

Will my taxable income be affected by the emergency salary advance?

Your taxable income will not be affected by an emergency salary advance since you will be paying back the amount of the emergency salary advance after receiving your regular bi weekly pay.

Record of Employment

Parks Canada does not produce Records of Employment (ROEs) and employees on the compensation operations team do not have access to the ROEs of Agency personnel. ROEs are issued electronically by the Pay Centre and sent directly to Service Canada. As a general rule, you do not have to do anything to get your ROE.

Because your ROE is usually issued electronically five (5) days after your last pay period, you cannot obtain your ROE at the end of your employment.

To check whether a ROE was issued within the usual time periods, you must create a My Service Canada Account and log in to it. If you do not find a ROE, please contact the Client Contact Centre (CCC) by telephone or electronically using a Phoenix Feedback Form.

If you later find that your ROE has still not been issued, you can fill out the Request for Record of Employment (INS3166) form and follow the instructions to submit it to the nearest Service Canada office.

Employment Insurance application

You must send an Employment Insurance application online. If you do not have access to a computer at work or during your regular work hours, you can contact the CCC.

You can apply for Employment Insurance benefits even if you have not received your ROE. To do this, you will need your most recent pay stub. You must apply as soon as your employment ends.

Questions?

Please contact the CCC by telephone or electronically using a Phoenix Feedback Form.

1. Through the MyGCPay External Web application.
2. Through the Compensation Web Applications (CWA).
3. Through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account for Individuals or Revenu Québec’s My Account for Individuals.
4. If you do not have regular access to the CWA and are already receiving paper pay stubs, your tax slips will be mailed to you directly by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

Staff Housing- Rent free or Low rent - Taxable benefit

Canada Revenue Agency benefits and allowances.

Housing benefits (Chapter 3, CRA Guide):

If you provide an employee with a house, apartment, or similar accommodation for rent less than the fair market value of such accommodation, there is a taxable benefit for the employee.

The amount you pay, or reimburse to, your employee for utilities (such as telephone, hydro, and natural gas) is also a taxable benefit.

You have to estimate a reasonable amount for the benefit. It is usually the fair market value for the same type of accommodation, minus any rent the employee paid.

If the amount of the housing benefit you report is based on the fair market value, you have to calculate and report any GST/HST

that applies. However, if the employee occupies the accommodation for

one month, the value of the accommodation is usually not subject to GST/HST.

Report the taxable benefit for the utilities in box 14, "Employment income," and in the "Other information" area under code 40 at the bottom of the employee’s T4 slip. Report the taxable benefit for housing in box 14 and in the "Other information" area under code 40.

Note: If the accommodation you provide to the employee is in a prescribed zone, see below “Housing in a prescribed zone”

Special circumstances that reduce the value of the housing benefit

The following two factors may reduce the value of a housing benefit you provide to your employee:

• Suitability of size - Your employee may have to occupy an accommodation that is larger than he or she needs (such as a single person in a three-bedroom house). To calculate the taxable housing benefit, you can reduce the value of the accommodation to equal the value of accommodation that is appropriate to your employee's needs (in this case, a one- or two-bedroom apartment or house).

Note: If the accommodation you provide is smaller than your employee needs, we cannot allow any reduction in value. The difference between the market rate and the rent paid by the employee must be reported as a housing benefit.

• Loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment - If the accommodation you provide to your employee contains things like equipment, public access, or storage facilities that infringe on your employee's privacy or quiet enjoyment of the accommodation, you can reduce the value of the housing benefit. The reduction has to reasonably relate to the degree of disturbance that affects your employee.

These two factors apply in the above order. If both circumstances apply to an accommodation, you should first reduce the value to equal the value of accommodation that suits your employee's needs. Then, you should apply any reduction for loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment to that reduced value. For more information, contact us.

Housing Benefits – prescribed zone:

All places in the Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories are located in a prescribed northern zone.

The method you use to determine the value of the benefit depends on whether or not the place in a prescribed zone has a developed rental market.

a. Places with developed rental markets

Some cities and towns in prescribed zones have developed rental markets. When that is the case, you base the value of any rent or utility you provide on its fair market value.

The cities and towns in prescribed zones that have developed rental markets are:

• Whitehorse
• Yellowknife
• Dawson Creek
• Fort McMurray
• Grand Prairie
• Thompson
• Labrador City
• Wabush
• Fort St. John

The housing benefit will equal the fair market value of rent less the rent paid in the year plus HST/GST.

b. Places without developed rental markets

In places in prescribed zones without developed rental markets, CRA has confirmed, in the absence of a rental market, the base shelter value provided by CMHC can be considered the market value of rent.

If you provide both rent and utilities and can calculate their cost as separate items, you have to determine their value separately. Add both items to get the value of the housing benefit.

If your employee reimburses you for all or part of his or her rent or utilities, determine the benefit as follows:

Report as housing benefit whichever of the following amounts is less:

• the fair market value of the rent (CMHC Base shelter value); or
• the ceiling amount *

Subtract any amount reimbursed by your employee and include the amount that remains in his or her income.

*ceiling amounts for prescribed zones