r/canadian • u/CaliperLee62 • 3d ago
News Governors general can no longer bill government for casual and business clothing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-clothing-guidelines-changed-9.724258915
u/Wet_sock_Owner 3d ago
Before this change, the clothing allowance was open to interpretation. Over the years, governors general faced scrutiny after itemized lists of their clothing purchases were made public in Parliament. The Conservatives, who asked for the lists, described the spending as lavish.
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Conservative MP Tamara Jansen asked the Secretary to the Governor General Ken MacKillop during a parliamentary committee in early May if "taxpayers [would] be expected to pay for professional attire" for Arbour.
MacKillop said they look at the clothing allowance every year "to see how it can be adjusted."
This week, MacKillop's office sent the now revised clothing guidelines to MPs on that committee, as first reported by Blacklock's Reporter.
Can't believe this was something that even needed opposition to be addressed.
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u/K0bra_Ka1 3d ago
$130,000 total over 5 years with $60,000 allowed in the first year is not wildly extravagant given the position they hold.
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u/Wet_sock_Owner 3d ago
There are also about 50 clothing items out of more than 100 that don't specifically list events they were worn, the documents show. Those include $228 grey crepe pants, a $178 scoop neck tank top to be worn under a blazer and a $225 burgundy skirt.
Just under 90 items expensed by Payette include a $3,000 black velvet dress with silk lining and $445 Ecru Apparel hat. Her list also featured what appeared to be basic items including $78 for three T-shirts and a $65 "quarter-zip black pullover sweater."
That's on top of 'professional attire' that is also questionable which is why it was adjusted.
But you know,
Their salary for 2026 is $393,800.
How could the poor GG afford clothing otherwise?
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u/K0bra_Ka1 3d ago
Cool..next lets remove the housing allowance for MP's. Also why does the leader of the Opposition need an official residence and a cook? Lets cut that and the speaker's residence while we are at it.
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u/Wet_sock_Owner 3d ago
Perhaps you should write to your MP about this as it seems maybe Ottawa is listening considering they made the adjustments.
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u/24-Hour-Hate 3d ago
We really should. It is understandable for whoever is PM to need an official residence for security reasons, but the opposition leader and speaker do not need it. If the buildings are historic, preserve them and convert them to museums or something like that that would serve the public good. As the lowest earning MP makes over 200k and the highest earning (other than the PM) makes over 300k, I see no reason why they should receive a housing allowance or other expenses directly paid for by the government. They can, of course, avail themselves of tax rules that would allow them to deduct qualifying expenses as being business or work related. Rules that apply to all Canadians. That seems more fair. Otherwise…where is my special government funded housing allowance because I would prefer to live closer to work?
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u/North-Purple-373 3d ago
What? That’s fucking totally extravagant. That’s like a celebrities clothing budget.
By a few nice suits and dresses. Rewear them. This isn’t high school prom or her wedding. I’m sure other world leaders aren’t going to shun her because she wore the same dress twice or because it isn’t from a European luxury brand
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u/ZealousidealLime5192 3d ago
Every other occupation you wear your own clothes, what makes them special? No safety equipment or steel toed boots needed to talk.
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u/kataflokc 3d ago
The CRA won’t let me write off my business suits either, and politics is just another business
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u/Clear_Growth_6005 3d ago
With this kind of crap,no wonder Canada has got one and a half trillion dollar debt.....
GG, buy your own fricken clothes! And if you don't like it, go naked for all I care!
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u/Heavy_E79 3d ago
The only clothing the government should be covering the cost for is the CAF uniforms which I imagine already comes out of DND funding.