Does the Fort McMurray evacuation fall under the "Northern Living" travel deduction?

[cattizie_247]

I was evacuated from Fort McMurray to Edmonton for a period of time. Can I claim the entire duration of this trip" under the Northern Living Allowance for travel?

[TurbotaxRobert · Accepted solution]

You can only claim the "Northern Living" travel deduction If your employer provides a vacation travel allowance and includes it in box 32 of your T4, in which case you would be allowed to claim up to two trips for you or a member of your household on Form T2222 of your return. The deduction for each trip is limited to the lesser of:

1) the available amount of the box 32 

2) actual travel costs planes, hotel, car rental, $51/day food allowance 

3) the cost of the "lowest return airfare" from your community to the nearest Canadian major centre.

The lowest airfare amount is something you can ask the airline to provide for you. Its generally the cost of a cash return ticket if you were to have booked it on the day you flew.