Thank you very much.
Mr. Chair and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you today as we review the main estimates for the office of the secretary to the Governor General.
I am the secretary to the Governor General. As Mr. Chair mentioned, this is my first visit to this committee in my current position.
I am accompanied today by Philippe Roy-Bélisle, director, finance and material management and procurement, and chief financial officer.
Before we discuss main estimates, please allow me to take a minute to acknowledge the important role of the Governor General.
I've had the privilege of supporting Governor General Mary Simon for the past two and half years and look forward to welcoming our next Governor General, the Honourable Louise Arbour. I've seen first-hand how we balance the constitutional responsibilities of the Crown and service to Canadians from coast to coast to coast, while staying firmly committed to doing so with fiscal responsibility and transparency as well.
As the representative of the head of state and commander-in-chief of Canada, the Governor General ensures the continuity of our parliamentary democracy through her constitutional duties, from the swearing-in of governments to granting royal assent. Beyond these duties, the Governor General is a non-partisan pillar of our national identity. She has a unique ability to convene people and encourage conversations on issues of national importance. She helps bring Canadians together, especially on difficult issues, such as the ongoing work of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
In other words, the role is about creating space for respectful dialogue and building understanding. It is about strengthening our connection with Canadians by championing themes that matter to all of us.
The Governor General also has a duty to recognize Canadian excellence. This is done through a range of honours programs, from the Order of Canada to decorations for bravery and military honours. This past year, our office oversaw the award of approximately 45,000 honours. These awards are presented at Rideau Hall, the Citadelle in Quebec City and in communities across the country. It is a way for the Governor General to meet people where they live and shine a light on the diversity of their achievements in shaping Canada.
On each visit, the Governor General highlights local people and organizations that are making a difference, advances priorities for communities or regions and supports national interests. The Governor General represents Canada abroad, as well as helping advance key foreign policy objectives such as strengthening co-operation and supporting sovereignty. We saw this, for example, when Her Excellency marked the opening of the Canadian consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, this past February.
Although much of our work focuses on supporting the Governor General directly, that's not our only role. We also ensure that both Rideau Hall and the Citadelle remain open and accessible to visitors. Providing Canadians and international guests with opportunities to learn about the Governor General’s role and continued relevance is especially important at a time when trust in public institutions is fragile. We are enabling visitors to engage with Canada’s heritage within the very special spaces in which Canadian history continues to unfold.
To deliver on the core functions of the office, we have 162 employees and a number of student guides. Our staff represents a wide range of occupations and functions expected of an organization that hosts 8,000 Canadians per year, from cleaners to accountants to heralds and student guides.
Out of our $22.2 million budget, $16.4 million is allocated to employee salaries. One-third of the remaining amount is for the delivery of the national honours awarded to deserving Canadians.
Although our department's budget has been stable for many years, we, like other departments, experienced the comprehensive expenditure review this year. As a result, by 2028–29, on an ongoing basis, the office will be required to achieve $1.3 million in savings from vote 1. The voted budget reduction for 2026–27 is approximately $743,000. However, that reduction is not in the main estimates, because of the timing of the government’s decision. It will, nevertheless, be implemented through a frozen allotment this year and impact the office's available spending authorities this year.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.