Governor General of Canada / Gouverneur général du Canadaa
Print

 

 

OPENING REMARKS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY BOARD'S PRESENTATION TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATES MAIN ESTIMATES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

APRIL 14, 2005

  • THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 2005-06 MAIN ESTIMATES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL (OSGG).

OVERVIEW OF THE ESTIMATES

  • FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006, THE OSGG IS SEEKING $19,060,000, AN AMOUNT THAT IS $121,000 LESS THAN THE AMOUNT APPROVED IN THEIR 2004-05 ESTIMATES.
  • THE 2005-2006 MAIN ESTIMATES FOR THE OFFICE (PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COSTS) CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN TWO AREAS OF ACTIVITY:

    1. GOVERNOR GENERAL'S PROGRAM - $9.4M:

    a. CONSTITUTIONAL AND TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES ($4.3M);

    b.  A VISITOR AND OUTREACH PROGRAM AT RIDEAU HALL AND LA CITADELLE ($1.2M);

    c. COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ($1.5M);

    d. ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA AND PUBLIC EVENTS ($500,000);

    e. DOMESTIC TRAVEL AND TRAVEL TO THE CITADELLE ($800,000);

    f. FUNDING FOR PENSIONS AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR FORMER GOVERNORS GENERAL ($990,000);

    g.  THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S SALARY ($114,000).

    2. CANADIAN HONOURS PROGRAM - $4.1M.

    a. ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL HONOURS SYSTEM

    b. THE CANADIAN HERALDIC AUTHORITY.

AN ADDITIONAL $5.5M IS ATTRIBUTED TO BOTH OF THESE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR CORPORATE SERVICES SUPPORT.

  • THE BUSINESS LINE FOR FORMER GOVERNORS GENERAL NO LONGER APPEARS IN THESE ESTIMATES AS THIS IS NOW INCORPORATED INTO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S ACTIVITY.

IMPACT OF ERC RECOMMENDATIONS

  • THE 2005-06 ESTIMATES WILL BE FURTHER REDUCED BY AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMITMENTS.
  • EFFICIENCIES WILL BE REALIZED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:
    • MODIFYING THE FORMAT OF SOME HONOURS INVESTITURE CEREMONIES TO REDUCE PER CAPITA COSTS AND REDUCE STAFF OVERTIME COSTS ($120,000 SAVINGS);
    • LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF HOSPITALITY OFFERED TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IS PATRON ($70,000 SAVINGS);
    • REDUCING  PROMOTION OF HONOURS ACTIVITIES ($100,000 SAVINGS);
    • REDUCING COST OF TRAVEL FOR CARING CANADIAN AWARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS THROUGH USE OF TELECONFERENCE ($10,000 SAVINGS).
  • THE IMPACT OF THESE REDUCTIONS WILL:
    • REDUCE THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF HONOURS NOMINATIONS;
    • COMPROMISE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF HONOURS NOMINATIONS;
    • LIMIT OUTREACH TO REGIONS AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY;
    • REDUCE THE ABILITY OF CANADIANS TO KNOW AND APPRECIATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS, E.G. THE ORDER OF CANADA;
    • LIMIT THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTARY, CHARITABLE SECTORS, E.G. HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RED CROSS, BOY SCOUTS, NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL;
  • THE AGENCY IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO EXPLORE SUCH CREATIVE APPROACHES TO FINDING EFFICIENCIES IN ITS OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES PARTICULARLY AS IT PLANS HOW TO MEET ITS ERC COMMITMENTS.

 ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

  • THESE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WILL BE MEASURED AND EVALUATED AGAINST THE OSGG'S STRATEGIC OUTCOME OF REPRESENTING THE CROWN IN CANADA, PROMOTING CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY AND RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE.
  • THE AGENCY IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING RESULTS-BASED PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS IN REACHING THIS OUTCOME.
  • THE OSGG HAS FURTHER CONTRIBUTED TO THE GOVERNMENT PRIORITY OF STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT THROUGH:
    • ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATE PAGES ON THE AGENCY'S WEB SITE;
    • PRO-ACTIVE DISCLOSURE OF TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY AND CONTRACTING INFORMATION ON THIS CORPORATE SITE;  
    • IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK TO ASSIST IN RESOURCE PLANNING;
    • THE MODERNIZATION OF FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE REPORTING SYSTEMS;
  • THE OSGG IS ALSO FINALIZING ITS FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR 2003-04, WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CANADIANS ON THE OSGG WEB SITE THIS SPRING.

 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S FUNCTIONS

  • THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, PARLIAMENT AND THE JUDICIARY ARE THE THREE COORDINATE BODIES THAT FORM THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN CANADA.
  • THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IS THE DE-FACTO HEAD OF STATE, AS WELL AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE CANADIAN FORCES.  IN THESE CAPACITIES, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL CARRIES OUT CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND UPHOLDS AND PROMOTES CANADIAN VALUES AT HOME AND ABROAD.
  • AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL PERFORMS AN EXTREMELY POTENT SYMBOLIC ROLE IN BUILDING PRIDE AND MORALE AMONG THE TROOPS AND CANADIANS AT LARGE.
  • FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL:
    • VISITS CANADIAN FORCES IN CONFLICT ZONES, SUCH AS KOSOVO, BOSNIA AND AFGHANISTAN;
    • REPRESENTS CANADIANS AT MEMORIAL SERVICES AND FUNERALS FOR FALLEN MILITARY PERSONNEL;
  • THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ALSO FULFILLS IMPORTANT TRADITIONAL ROLES RELATED TO BRINGING CANADIANS TOGETHER.

 KEY INITIATIVES FOR 2005-2006

  • REPRESENTING CANADA, ALONGSIDE HUNDREDS OF CANADA'S VETERANS, AT EVENTS TO  COMMEMORATE THE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS;
  • OFFICIALLY OPENING THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM;
  • CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIALS OF SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA WITH CANADIANS IN THOSE PROVINCES, INCLUDING GREETING CANADA'S QUEEN;
  • VISITING WITH CANADIANS IN A VARIETY OF NORTHERN COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS OTHER REGIONS, INCLUDING NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR;
  • PRESIDING AT AS MANY AS 14 HONOURS INVESTITURES AND SEVERAL GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD PRESENTATIONS;
  • WELCOMING UP TO 200,000 CANADIANS AND OTHER VISITORS TO THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCES AS PART OF A HIGHLY ACTIVE VISITOR AND PUBLIC EVENTS PROGRAM;

VALUE TO CANADIANS

  • COMFORTS PEOPLE IN TIMES OF LOSS;
  • OFFERS HOPE IN RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENT AND CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE;
  • BRINGS CANADIANS TOGETHER THROUGH COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE;
  • FOSTERS UNITY, PROMOTES CANADIAN VALUES AND IDENTITY.

 SPECIFIC INITIATIVES – VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAM

  • THE VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE OSGG'S MOST HIGHLY VISIBLE AND POPULAR INITIATIVES. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND THE HISTORY OF OUR DEMOCRACY THROUGH SCHOOL VISITS, HISTORICAL EXHIBITIONS AND GUIDED TOURS.
  • VISITORS TO RIDEAU HALL AND LA CITADELLE NUMBER ON AVERAGE 200,000 ANNUALLY AND SURVEYS CONDUCTED INDICATE THAT 82% OF VISITORS LEAVE WITH AN INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COUNTRY.
  • THE AGENCY INVESTS $1.2 MILLION IN THIS PROGRAM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
  • THERE IS TREMENDOUS INTEREST AMONG CANADIANS IN RECEIVING MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY AND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND FROM THE QUEEN.  MANY OF THESE REQUESTS COME THROUGH OUR OFFICES AND WE TRANSMIT THEM TO RIDEAU HALL ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
  • BETWEEN 25,000 AND 28,000 SUCH MESSAGES ARE SENT TO CANADIAN CITIZENS ANNUALLY FOR A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $90,000.
  • BRAVERY AWARDS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF THE MANY HONOURS INVESTITURES OVER WHICH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL PRESIDES EACH YEAR. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE POIGNANCY ASSOCIATED WITH RECOGNIZING CANADIANS WHO HAVE, IN MANY CASES RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES, TO SAVE ANOTHER.
  • EACH CEREMONY COSTS APPROXIMATELY $60,000 INCLUDING THE COST OF TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION, WITHIN CANADA, FOR EACH RECIPIENT AND ONE GUEST, AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE RECEPTION FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY.

SPECIFIC INITIATIVES
CITIZENSHIP/CARING CANADIAN AWARD CEREMONIES

  • OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL HAS PRESIDED OVER EIGHT SUCH CEREMONIES, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 35-50 NEW CITIZENS ARE SWORN IN.
  • THESE EVENTS ARE HELD ALL ACROSS CANADA IN THE MANY RECREATIONAL CENTRES AND SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITIES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL VISITS ANNUALLY.
  • APPROXIMATELY 500 PEOPLE ATTEND EACH EVENT AT A COST OF BETWEEN $8,000 TO $10,000.

SPECIFIC INITIATIVES - HONOURS PROGRAM

  • EACH YEAR, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL PRESENTS HONOURS AND AWARDS ON BEHALF OF ALL CANADIANS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE, COURAGE OR EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO SERVICE IN WAYS THAT BRING SPECIAL CREDIT TO OUR COUNTRY.
  • THE ORDER OF CANADA, ORDER OF MILITARY MERIT, ORDER OF MERIT FOR POLICE, BRAVERY AWARDS AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS ARE SOME OF THE CANADIAN HONOURS WITH WHICH COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE MOST LIKELY FAMILIAR.
  • MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED SOME OF THESE CEREMONIES WHEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE BEING HONOURED.

SUPPORT FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

  • THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OSGG ARE SUPPORTED BY SIX OTHER FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES: DND, RCMP, NCC, PWGSC, FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA AND CANADIAN HERITAGE. THEY DO THIS AS PART OF THEIR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY AND SEEK FUNDS TO FULFILL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE PART OF THEIR OWN MAIN ESTIMATES.
  • TO RESPOND TO THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO SATISFY THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS, THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL WROTE TO EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO REQUEST EXPENDITURE INFORMATION INCURRED IN SUPPORTING THE OSGG.
  • THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED INFORMATION RELATED TO ACTUAL AND FORECASTED EXPENDITURES SO THAT THE OSGG WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO CAPTURE GLOBAL COSTS. THE COMPLETE  INFORMATION HAS NOT YET BEEN PROVIDED.
  • THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE REFERRED TO THE REPORT TABLED IN MARCH 2004 WHICH OUTLINED SUPPORT PROVIDED BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.

CONCLUSION

  • YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH DETAILED DOCUMENTS AS ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE FINANCIAL HISTORY OF THE OSGG AND ITS PROPOSED MAIN ESTIMATES FOR 2005-06.
  • I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THESE DOCUMENTS OR TAKE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
  • THANK YOU.
Created: 2005-09-27
Updated: 2005-12-06
Important Notices
top of page
top of page