Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister prepares to appoint a new governor general, I would like to present petition e‑6839, which was initiated by Benoit Dutrizac.
The petition calls on the government to set the governor general's salary at a symbolic $1 per year, rather than at nearly $400,000, as is currently the case; sell Rideau Hall, which costs more than $2 million a year in maintenance, and distribute the savings to food banks; prohibit all travel outside Canada, which would save over $3 million based on Mary Simon's spending; cover wardrobe costs internally, which would save $130,000; remove chauffeur and limousine services; use chef services for formal meals only; and restrict duties to assenting to bills, hosting formal meals with dignitaries visiting Canada, attending commemorative or civic award ceremonies and delivering the Speech from the Throne.
The petition was signed by over 3,000 people, and I suspect that the vast majority of Quebeckers feel the same way.