Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola tabled a motion on Oct. 6 to call more witnesses and examine all governors general travel expenses since 2015, including Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, as an opposition MP says a committee was “misled” by witnesses who tried to downplay Simon’s recent Middle East trip that may have cost almost $100,000 in catering.
During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on Oct. 3, Vignola said she received about 500 emails from taxpayers who were upset about the spending on Simon’s trip, and Conservative MP Kelly McCauley said he received about 1,300 in one day.