Clarkson’s spending
Re: Time to stop this gravy train, John Ivison, Nov. 1 What’s up with all of the female governors general to date?
Jeanne Sauvé, the first, closed the sprawling park that surrounds Rideau Hall to the public because the crowds annoyed her and interfered with her privacy.
The second was Adrienne Clarkson, who not only never met a taxpayer’s dollar that she couldn’t spend during her tenure, but has thought of tax dollars as her personal piggy-bank since leaving office.
Third in line was Michaelle Jean, who to my mind was more a representative of, and champion for, Haiti than she ever was for
Canada.
And now we have Julie Payette, the quintessential embodiment of the square peg and the round hole, as she never misses an opportunity to publicly chafe, if not outright play hooky from the performance of many traditional duties incumbent upon a governor general.
Each of these women has seemingly insisted upon changing the protocols of the position to suit their own agendas. Meanwhile, back at the Palace, Queen Elizabeth is rolling her eyes. Dr. Joel L. Goldman, Toronto
Is it any wonder so many honest taxpaying Canadians are desperately looking for ways to avoid onerous taxation policies? On the other hand, I can’t even imagine the mindset of these who get indignant and try to justify these expenses. Is there any ROI from this office that can remotely warrant this lifestyle? N. Gillen, Ajax, Ont.
Please don’t tell us that we are on the hook to pay Julie Payette close to $150,000 a year for life after her invisible time in the GG role. Jacques Konig, Toronto
It is well past time that the anachronistic irrelevance of the office of Governor-General (and Lieutenant-Governor) were stomped into the dumpster of history.
Sadly, Canadian apathy means this will be forgotten by next week. Selby Martin, Toronto