Following Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon’s official working visit to the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait) from 17 to 23 March 2022, a House of Commons sessional paper revealed that the cost of catering services for related flights was over $80,000. Pursuant to two related motions passed 13 June 2022 and 6 October 2022, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates studied selected travel expenses of the current and previous two governors general. During its studies, it heard from six federal officials about the working visit to the Middle East. It also received written documentation, including invoices and other financial information on official travel from five federal organizations.

This report outlines the structure of federal support for the governor general and describes the costs of the March 2022 working visit to the Middle East. It then compares Governor General Simon’s travel costs for her first year in office with the travel costs of the two previous governors general in selected years. Next, it provides an overview of federal efforts to reduce travel costs. The report concludes by offering the committee’s observations and recommendations.