Corporate Charge Card Policy

1.0   Policy Statement
2.0   Application
3.0   Definitions
4.0   Responsibilities
5.0   Using the Corporate Charge Card

1.0    Policy Statement

1.1 Government’s corporate charge card is available to all employees who travel on government business. This card may be used for all business travel expenses including the purchase of airline tickets (or other commercial transportation), car rentals, commercial accommodations, food and other related business expenses.

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2.0    Application

2.1 This policy applies to all employees of Government departments.
2.2 Bargaining unit employees should also consult their respective collective agreements and the provisions of the collective agreement shall prevail.

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3.0    Definitions

Corporate Charge Card A charge card issued to employees to provide a means to pay for expenses incurred while on government business.
Corporate Charge Card Cash Advance An amount of money obtained by employees from their corporate charge card based on anticipated cash expenditures while traveling on government business. The corporate charge card cash advance is usually for a single trip and may be obtained when it is anticipated that the corporate charge card may not be accepted.
Subrogation Agreement An agreement between card holding employees and the Employer, outlining the expectations for the use of the card and allowing the Employer to recover monies for seriously delinquent accounts from the employees’ travel claims and/or pay cheques.

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4.0    Responsibilities

4.1 Employee
It is the responsibility of employees to:

  • complete Travel Card – Cardholder Application/Request for update form and sign a cardholder agreement with the employer;
  • be aware of and follow the terms of cardholder agreement;
  • safeguard the corporate card by signing new cards immediately and destroying old cards;
  • notify the Bank of Montreal immediately if corporate charge cards are lost or stolen;
  • ensure that the card is paid in full upon receipt of the monthly statement;
  • use the card for intended business purposes and not personal expenses; and
  • notify the Bank of Montreal immediately if the billing address changes.
4.2 Department
It is the responsibility of the Deputy Minister to:

  • ensure that employees who travel on government business are aware that they may apply for and use the corporate charge card;
  • notify the Program Administrator, Government Purchasing Agency, when employees terminate employment or transfer to another department; and
  • take the appropriate action to ensure that any employees’ delinquent accounts are brought up to date (an account is considered delinquent if it is 30 days overdue and appears on the delinquent report provided to the Employer).

It is the responsibility of the Director of the Department’s Finance Division to monitor the use of corporate charge cards and to advise the Deputy Minister accordingly.

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5.0    Using the Corporate Charge Card

5.1 Government’s corporate charge card is available to all employees who travel on government business. This card may be used for all business travel expenses including the purchase of airline tickets (or other commercial transportation), car rentals, commercial accommodations, food and other related business expenses. The card is not a personal credit card and therefore use of the card for personal expenses is not permitted.
5.2 The corporate charge card is issued for a 36-48 month period. Renewal cards will not be issued to employees whose cards have not been paid to current status upon the renewal date.
5.3 Employees are encouraged to use corporate charge card cash advances rather than travel advances, where feasible (see the Travel Advances Policy). The fees associated with corporate charge card advances and interest fees can be claimed as a miscellaneous travel expense as per the Miscellaneous Expense Policy.
5.4 Corporate charge cards may be cancelled without notice when payment is 60 days overdue. Employees who lose charge card privileges, through non-payment of account, may not be provided with an increase in travel advance to cover expenses which would normally be charged.
5.5 Employees whose corporate charge cards are lost or stolen should notify the Bank of Montreal immediately at the following toll free number 1-800-263-2263.

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Last Policy Update: November 16, 2015