Governor General’s Office Spent Over $117K on Dry Cleaning
Over the past five-plus years, the Governor General’s office has incurred dry cleaning expenses exceeding $117,000.
As disclosed in a document presented to the House of Commons at the request of Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General has expended a total of $117,566.34 on dry cleaning between January 1, 2018, and May 30. This translates to an average monthly expenditure of over $1,800 or nearly $21,700 annually.
While addressing this issue, McCauley expressed his concerns, stating, “While record number of Canadians are going to food banks just to get by, this latest spending scandal is disgraceful,” McCauley told CTVNews.ca on Friday. “Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for such out of control spending which is why we called on the government to reduce the budget of the Office of the Governor General.”
A significant portion of these dry cleaning expenses, around 80%, amounting to nearly $95,000, was allocated to cleaning uniforms worn by military personnel, hospitality staff, and student tour guides. An additional sum of over $13,500 was designated for cleaning linens such as tablecloths and napkins.
Furthermore, almost $10,000 was allocated for dry cleaning the personal clothing of the Governor General, including $6,576.12 for outfits worn by former Vice Regal Julie Payette and $2,974.64 for the current Governor General, Mary Simon.
In response to these revelations, the Governor General’s office clarified that while they have an in-house laundry service for items like dishtowels and bedsheets, they lack the capacity and equipment to provide dry cleaning services. The spokesperson explained, “Dry cleaning is required for military uniforms, hospitality and student uniforms, as well as for larger and more delicate household items (i.e. heritage and embroidered tablecloths), which account for 92 percent of dry cleaning costs.” They also noted that construction activities in 2022 led to extended water disruptions at Rideau Hall, necessitating a greater reliance on external dry cleaning services.
The spokesperson emphasized that “every effort” is made to minimize costs related to laundering and dry cleaning for events.
McCaulay obtained this dry cleaning expenditure data through an order paper question, which allows members of Parliament to submit questions and receive written responses from the government, similar to freedom of information requests. The response to McCaulay’s questions, submitted on May 30, was tabled in parliament on September 18.
The Governor General’s office received $33.8 million in federal funding for the 2022 fiscal year. The Governor General’s role comes with an annual salary of over $350,000 and a clothing expense account worth up to $130,000 over their five-year term.
Located at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, the Governor General serves as the representative of the Canadian monarch, King Charles III, and frequently hosts official ceremonies, receptions, and diplomatic events. Mary Simon assumed the prestigious position in July 2021, following the resignation of Julie Payette in January 2021 amidst a workplace harassment scandal.
The current Governor General’s spending has come under increased scrutiny following the revelation of an $80,367.19 fee for in-flight catering during a March 2022 trip to the Middle East.
McCaulay chairs the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee. In an October 2023 report on the Governor General’s travel expenditures, the committee recommended measures to enhance financial transparency and accountability in the Office of the Governor General, including the publication of an annual report on its activities, including financial statements, on its website. Conservative committee members also called for a reduction in the Governor General’s budget.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a nonprofit taxpayer advocacy group, publicized the dry cleaning expenses earlier in the week. The federation’s director, Franco Terrazzano, remarked, “This is another perk the governor general enjoys that struggling Canadians can’t afford. Why does the Governor General’s office need to spend so much on dry cleaning when it already has staff doing laundry and there’s a six-figure expense account for new clothes?”
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