The federal government paid over $18 million in 2021 for it’s “guest of honour” sponsorship of that year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, according to a newly disclosed federal audit. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon attended the fair with over 30 guests. “The Department of Canadian Heritage incurred costs of approximately $17.5 million in connection with its responsibilities,”…

The Steering Committee for the Residential Schools National Monument has announced a prominent location on Parliament Hill where the future memorial will be built to honour survivors and victims of residential schools. The announcement follows calls from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRCC) for the federal government to “commission and install a publicly accessible, highly…

The Liberal government’s decision to remove depictions of Canadian historic sites and events in favour of more generic national images in the newly designed passport represents a “sliding, eroding scale” in the country and an indifferent attitude toward preserving Canadian heritage, says Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri. “Who thought it would be fitting or a good…

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon arrived in Yellowknife today to begin an official visit to the Northwest Territories, a day ahead of a visit from Germany’s president. Simon and her husband Whit Fraser were greeted by Margaret Thom, commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and they discussed youth and education in the territory. They also met with…

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon used the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for a nearly 3,000-kilometre flight so she could attend a six-minute ceremony last summer, federal records show. The mileage was disclosed in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons and reviewed by Blacklock’s Reporter. According to the media outlet, flight crews…

Governor General Mary Simon spent over $800,000 on travel expenses that included photographer fees and $200-per-plate meals during a four-day trip to Germany in 2021, according to newly released federal records. Simon travelled with 32 guests in October 2021 to the Frankfurt Book Fair and total expenses came out to just over $801,400, according to an…

Federal employees from various departments today faced questions from MPs on a parliamentary committee about Gov. Gen. Mary Simon’s travel expenses from her trip to the Middle East in March, which totalled $1.3 million and included in-flight catering costs averaging $218 per meal for each attendee. “At no time did the governor general make any decisions,…

During a phone call in early February with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon voiced her support of the online crowdfunding platform GoFundMe shutting down its Freedom Convoy fundraising campaign, which resulted in most of the $10 million donated being refunded to the original senders. Simon also said she believed the convoy to…

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon today urged young Canadians to learn from the sacrifices that veterans and the country’s fallen soldiers have made in the past. Simon attended the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa, where she placed a wreath on the National War Memorial near Parliament Hill, and saluted veterans and members of the Canadian…

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her delegation to the Middle East spent $1.3 million on hotels, flights, catering, and other travel expenses during the week-long trip in March, according to documents tabled with a House of Commons committee. The delegation also consisted of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) employees, National Defence Department (DND) officials, and RCMP officers. Invoices…