Michael Mills made a statement and, with other witnesses, answered questions.

Julie Vignola moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the expenses of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary for its representation activities abroad and in Canada for the years 2015 to the present;

1) that, in light of the information disclosed since the meeting on Thursday, September 22, 2022 concerning the testimony of representatives of organizations related to the decision-making process and the use of budgets by and for the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary, the committee invite the following witnesses to testify:

• Christine MacIntyre, Deputy Secretary, Policy, Program and Protocol Branch, Office of the Governor General’s Secretary;
• Stewart Wheeler, Chief of Protocol of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development;
• Senior officials of the Department of Canadian Heritage;
• Senior representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
• Any other witnesses whom the committee deems appropriate to invite;

2) that testimonies take place over at least three meetings and that the committee has the first meeting on its study at the latest on Monday, November 15, 2022; the other meetings being scheduled in accordance with the schedule prepared for the other studies taking place;

3) that the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police table the financial reports of the expenses incurred during the trips of the Governors General from 2015 to present, broken down by trip and by item of expenditure including, in particular, accommodation costs, catering costs, caterer costs, travel costs, security costs, and costs for alcohol and drinks, indicating the number of people included for each delegation;

4) that copies of invoices associated with the March 2022 trip to the Middle East of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary be produced;

that the said documents be submitted in English and French and forwarded no later than Monday, October 31, 2022, at 12 p.m. to the clerk of the committee and that the clerk forward them upon receipt to the members of the committee; and

5) that the committee report its observations and recommendations to the House.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the expenses of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary for its representation activities abroad for the years selected by the committee;

1) that, in light of the information disclosed since the meeting on Thursday, September 22, 2022 concerning the testimony of representatives of organizations related to the decision-making process and the use of budgets by and for the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary, the committee invite the following witnesses to testify:

• Christine MacIntyre, Deputy Secretary, Policy, Program and Protocol Branch, Office of the Governor General’s Secretary;
• Stewart Wheeler, Chief of Protocol of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development;
• Senior officials of the Department of Canadian Heritage;
• Senior representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
• Any other witnesses whom the committee deems appropriate to invite;

2) that testimonies take place over at least three meetings and that the committee has the first meeting on its study at the latest on Tuesday, November 15, 2022; the other meetings being scheduled in accordance with the schedule prepared for the other studies taking place;

3) that, for the years selected by the committee, the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Department of Canadian Heritage and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police table the financial reports of the expenses incurred during the foreign trips of the current Governor General, Governor General Julie Payette, and Governor General David Johnston after January 1, 2014, broken down by trip and by item of expenditure including, in particular, accommodation costs, catering costs, caterer costs, travel costs, security costs, and costs for alcohol and drinks, indicating the number of people included for each delegation;

4) that copies of unredacted invoices associated with the March 2022 trip to the Middle East of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary be produced as well as a list of all foreign trips undertaken by the current Governor General, Governor General Julie Payette, and Governor General David Johnston after January 1, 2014;

5) that the documents required under section 4) be submitted in English and French and forwarded no later than Monday, October 31, 2022, at 12 p.m. to the clerk of the committee and that the clerk forward them upon receipt to the members of the committee;

6) that the committee will determine the years for which the documents set out in Section 3) will be produced, and that those documents be forwarded to the clerk of the committee no later than Sunday, January 15, 2023;

7) that the committee report its observations and recommendations to the House.

It was agreed, — That the Chair, in conjunction with the clerk and analysts, be authorized to set the agenda for upcoming committee meetings.