OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to end the policy that allows governors general to bill taxpayers for clothes.

“The feds need to rein in the governor general’s out-of-control expenses,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Canada’s governor general already takes a $342,100 salary every year so they can pay for their own clothes.”

Governors general Julie Payette and Mary Simon expensed more than $88,000 in clothing that they get to keep. Expenses include a $680 “top,” $590 dress pants, $20 t-shirts, a $160 scarf and $1,064 in boots. 

“While some of the items were worn for specific ceremonies connected to the governor general’s role, many others appear to be clothing for personal or day-to-day business use,” according to the National Post.

A governor general is allowed to expense up to $130,000 in clothing purchases over their five-year mandate. 

“The prime minister and most of his cabinet have not expensed any clothing to taxpayers since 2017, but for two exceptions: former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould expensed lawyers’ robes in 2017 and Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge expensed steel-toed boots earlier this year,” the National Post reported.

The governor general’s annual salary is $342,100, which is about $40,000 more than it was before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Many Canadians are actually stressed about the price of clothing, but the governor general isn’t one of them,” Terrazzano said. “If the prime minister and ministers can pay for their own clothes then surely governors general can too.”