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CRA requires separating a retiring allowance into an eligible and non-eligible portion. The eligible portion is the maximum that can be transferred to an RRSP/RPP under the special rules (without using regular RRSP room). The formula is: $2,000 for each year (or part-year) of service before 1996, plus an additional $1,500 for each year (or part-year) before 1989 in which the employee had no employer pension/DPSP benefit vested at the time of payment (or previously paid).

Rosa worked from 1983 to 1995 (inclusive) for pre-1996 service: 13 years × $2,000 = $26,000.

For the extra pre-1989 amount: she joined the pension plan in 1986 and was fully vested when paid the retiring allowance in 2015, so 1986–1988 do not qualify for the extra $1,500. However, 1983–1985 were years before 1989 when she had no vested employer pension benefit, so 3 years × $1,500 = $4,500.

Eligible portion = $26,000 + $4,500 = $30,500.

Non-eligible portion = $62,500 − $30,500 = $32,000.

Termination notice requirements come from the employment standards legislation that applies to the workplace, which is tied to the jurisdiction where the employee works (province/territory), unless the workplace is federally regulated. The Government of Canada explicitly directs employers and employees to consult the employment standards for the province or territory of work if they are not in a federally regulated industry.

Within a given jurisdiction, the minimum notice (or pay in lieu) is typically based on the employee’s length of continuous employment/service. For example, under the Canada Labour Code (federally regulated workplaces), required notice increases with service (and can be replaced with wages in lieu), showing service length is a core driver of notice entitlements.

That’s why “where they live” is not the deciding factor for notice rules: the governing employment standards are based on the jurisdiction of employment (where the work is performed / the employment is regulated), and the employee’s length of service under that jurisdiction’s rules.

A fixed amount paid to an employee for meals each pay period is typically a meal allowance. CRA guidance distinguishes an allowance from a reimbursement: an allowance is usually a set amount paid without the employee having to submit receipts for actual costs, while a reimbursement repays specific expenses and is generally supported by receipts or an expense claim.

Because Charlene “receives $50.00 each pay for her meals,” it is a flat amount, which aligns with an allowance rather than a reimbursement. Whether the allowance is taxable or non-taxable depends on the facts (for example, whether it is reasonable and paid under conditions CRA recognizes as non-taxable for certain travel situations). If it’s not a reasonable travel allowance under CRA’s exceptions, it is generally a taxable allowance and must be included in income with appropriate deductions.

So the correct classification is A (an allowance).

The CRA defines a retiring allowance (also called severance pay) as an amount paid to an employee when or after they retire or lose their job, in recognition of long service or for the loss of office or employment. This matches option A.

The other options are specifically not retiring allowances under CRA guidance. The CRA states a retiring allowance does not include salary, wages, bonuses, or overtime, which rules out bonus or incentive pay and accumulated overtime. The CRA also states it does not include payments for accumulated vacation leave not taken before retirement, which rules out vacation pay.

This classification matters in payroll because retiring allowances have distinct rules: for example, they are not subject to CPP or EI deductions, and part of a retiring allowance may be eligible for direct transfer to an RRSP/RPP under special rules (based on pre-1996 service).