Government Operations committee  Thank you for your question. With respect to high-level tours, preparatory trips are essential when we travel to host countries where official meetings with representatives are scheduled. Representatives of the Protocol Office and the Office of the Secretary of the Governor Gen

Government Operations committee  Before passing it to the general to comment as well on the improved processes that we've put in place, I just want to reiterate that our office works with the offices that you see here to deliver and secure the logistics of Governor General travel abroad, because the Governor Gen

Government Operations committee  In the production of papers we have supplied to the committee, there are amounts for each ministry. The total cost of the trip is in fact $1.147 million. For my part in Global Affairs, the total that was charged against the budgets allocated to the office of protocol was $518,741

Government Operations committee  Yes, it does, ma'am.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Chair and Madam member, I would be happy to review those. There were three primary objectives. The first was to express Canada's sincere appreciation for the support that these three countries have all provided militarily and diplomatically to Canada in our operations in the

Government Operations committee  No. I'm not, but I would be happy to look at the recommendations and provide feedback to the committee on notice as to how those recommendations have been included in operations and processes of the departments involved in this kind of travel.

Government Operations committee  I don't believe that is an area in which the office of protocol has a mandate or an official view, but I might turn to my colleague from Rideau Hall.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Chair, it is Stewart Wheeler speaking, and I would be happy to answer that for the honourable member. The trip took place from March 16 to March 23, 2022, so a total of eight days inclusive. The members will have noted there were expenses incurred during an advance visit earl

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members of the committee. My name is Stewart Wheeler. As chief of protocol of Canada, I am pleased to join the committee again today, alongside my colleagues, to help clarify the processes used by our offices to fulfill our mandates, and to re

Government Operations committee  From the Global Affairs protocol perspective, I would refer to what the general mentioned, which is the complexity of factors that are in play when the final catering cost comes out. Those change for countries and for airports. It's not like the Treasury Board travel guidelines f

Government Operations committee  That's precisely the kind of flag I'd like our teams to be developing.

Government Operations committee  Yes, absolutely, Mr. Chair. I'm happy to take that on board. We are constantly working together, and these people work together all the time. What we are asking our teams to do is to work in between the operational working on a specific visit to sit down and say, “What isn't wor

Government Operations committee  The final discussion on menus is a conversation back and forth. As we mentioned, it would be a member of my team, and no, they would not see the price at that time—

Government Operations committee  As I mentioned, we.... That is—

Government Operations committee  We would always be happy to see the committee, but I think you're absolutely right, sir. What we need is to have an environment between the teams where those things are being flagged to us.