PROVISION OF CHRISTMAS DINNER AT PUBLIC EXPENSE
Unclassified 7208-505 (DCBA)
01 04 071504Z NOV 03 RR RR UUUU DCBA 3-2 015
DGCB OTTAWA//DCBA//
AIG 1764//ADM/COMPT//
AIG 1704//FOOD O//
UNCLAS DCBA 3-2 015
BILINGUAL MESSAGE/MESSAGE BILANGUE
SIC WAN
SUBJ: PROVISION OF CHRISTMAS MEALS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE
REFS: A. DCBA 3-2 030 180807Z NOV 02
B. DCBA 3-2 012 121624Z SEP 03
C. QR AND O 36-35 (1) (I)
D. CFAO 36-14 (4) (AG)
1. PURPOSE: DUE TO QUERIES RECEIVED AT THIS HQ THE SUBJ MATTER REQUIRES FURTHER CLARIFICATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE THIS CLARIFICATION AND TO CONSOLIDATE THE POLICY ON THE PROVISION OF A UNIT CHRISTMAS MEAL AT PUBLIC EXPENSE INTO ONE DOCUMENT. ACCORDINGLY REFS A AND B ARE CANCELLED AND REPLACED WITH THIS MESSAGE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
2. OVERVIEW: THE TRADITION OF A UNIT CHRISTMAS MEAL IS A LONG STANDING ONE. IT REINFORCES UNIT COHESION, FOSTERS MUTUAL RESPECT AND LETS THE TROOPS KNOW THEIR EFFORTS THROUGH THE YEAR ARE APPRECIATED. FOR THESE REASONS THIS TRADITION IS TO CONTINUE
3. AUTHORITY: IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFS C AND D AUTHORITY IS GRANTED TO EXPEND PUBLIC FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF ONE CHRISTMAS MEAL (BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER) PER YEAR SUBJECT TO EXPRESSED APPROVAL OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXERCISING THEIR AUTHORITY TO ENSURE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT IS REASONABLE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CF AND ITS MEMBERS
4. CONDITIONS: FOR A PUBLICLY FUNDED CHRISTMAS MEAL THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS APPLY-
A. MILITARY MBRS MUST BE REQUIRED BY THEIR CO TO ATTEND;
B. THE MEAL IS TO BE SERVED TO JUNIOR NCMS BY OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS AND SENIOR NCOS
C. THE MEAL IS TO BE HELD IN A DND/CF DINING FACILITY PROVIDED THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE CHRISTMAS MEAL. WHEN IT CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED FROM A DND/CF DINING FACILITY, IT CAN BE HELD AT ANOTHER DND FACILITY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE PLACE OF DUTY AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE LOGISTIC SUPPORT AVAILABLE
D. WHERE A UNIT DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE APPROPRIATE AND SUFFICIENT FACILITIES AND/OR FOOD SERVICES PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE THE CHRISTMAS MEAL FUNCTION, LOCAL CATERING SERVICES CAN BE USED SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 5
5. LEVEL OF PUBLIC SUPPORT:
A. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT PER MILITARY ATTENDEE IS AS FOLLOWS:
(1) UP TO THE TREASURY BOARD LUNCH RATE (CURRENTLY AT $11.20) PER ATTENDEE FOR A CHRISTMAS MEAL PROVIDED FROM A DND/CF DINING FACILITY OR OTHER FACILITY WHEN CURRENT FOOD AND RESOURCES (INCL PERSONNEL) ARE AVAILABLE
(2) UP TO THE TREASURY BOARD LUNCH RATE (CURRENT ENTITLEMENT AT $11.20) FOR A BREAKFAST PROVIDED VIA LOCAL CATERING SERVICES (RESTRICTED TO UNITS, EITHER REG OR RES FORCE THAT MEETS THE CONDITIONS AT PARA 4 D)
(3) UP TO 65% OF THE TREASURY BOARD DINNER RATE (CURRENT ENTITLEMENT AT $20.48) FOR A LUNCH OR DINNER PROVIDED VIA LOCAL CATERING SERVICES (RESTRICTED TO UNITS, EITHER REG OR RES FORCE THAT MEETS THE CONDITIONS AT PARA 4 D)
B. THESE FINANCIAL LIMITS ARE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT ALL MILITARY MEMBERS PARTAKING OF A CHRISTMAS MEAL HAVE ACCESS TO A STANDARD OF COMPARABLE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MEAL MENU OFFERINGS
C. PUBLIC FUNDS CAN ONLY BE EXPENDED ON RAW FOOD AND ITS, COMMENSURATE PREPARATION. THIS EXCLUDES SERVING COSTS, RENTAL OF FACILITIES AND ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. WHEN CATERING SERVICES ARE USED, THE TREASURY BOARD MEAL RATE ENTITLEMENT MAY COVER THE MEAL DELIVERY COSTS TO THE DND FACILITY AND THE SET UP COSTS. ALL OTHER ASSOCIATED COSTS SHALL BE BORNE BY THE MBRS ATTENDING OR SERVING THE DINNER OR NON-PUBLIC FUNDS (NPF) SOURCES
D. THE TREASURY BOARD MEAL RATES CAN BE FOUND AT:
HTTP://WWW.TBS-SCT.GC.CA/PUBS_POL/HRPUBS/TBM_113/TD-DV-C_E.ASP
6. NPF: THE PUBLIC ENTITLEMENT AND LIMITATIONS GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF A CHRISTMAS MEAL DO NOT PRECLUDE UNITS FROM USING NPF TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS TRADITIONAL MEAL
7. FORMAL REGULATIONS: THIS POLICY WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS INSTRUCTION IN DUE COURSE
