From the Canadian Taxpayers Federation

By Ryan Thorpe

The salary for Canada’s Governor General has skyrocketed by just over $75,000 since 2019. Meanwhile the average annual salary among all full-time workers in Canada was roughly $70,000 in 2024

Governor General Mary Simon pocketed a $15,200 pay raise this year, bumping her annual salary for 2025 up to $378,000. 

This marks Simon’s fourth pay raise since she was appointed governor general in 2021, meaning she now makes $49,300 more than when she took on the role.

“Can anyone in government explain how Canadians are getting more value from the governor general, because her taxpayer-funded salary just increased by more than $1,200 a month,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “The automatic-pay-raise culture in Ottawa is ridiculous and politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t expect more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation confirmed Simon’s current salary and the details of her latest pay raise with the Privy Council Office.

“For 2025, the Governor General’s salary, which is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Governor General’s Act … is $378,000,” a PCO spokesperson told the CTF.

The federal government hiked the governor general’s annual salary by $75,200 (or 25 per cent) since 2019.

Meanwhile, the average annual salary among all full-time workers in Canada was roughly $70,000 in 2024, according to Statistics Canada data.

“Canadians can’t afford to keep paying more for a largely symbolic role,” Terrazzano said. “The governor general already takes a huge taxpayer-funded salary and she should show leadership by refusing this year’s pay hike.”

On top of the $378,000 annual salary, the governor general receives a range of lucrative perks, including a taxpayer-funded mansion, a platinum pension, a clothing budget, paid dry cleaning services and lavish travel expenses.

Former governors general are eligible for a full pension, of about $150,000 a year, regardless of how long they serve in office.

Even though Simon’s predecessor, Julie Payette, served in the role for a little more than three years, she will receive an estimated $4.8 million if she collects her pension till the age of 90.

The CTF estimates that Canada’s five former governors general will receive more than $18 million if they collect their pensions until the age of 90.

Even after leaving office, former governors general can also expense taxpayers for up to $206,000 annually for the rest of their lives, continuing up to six months after their deaths.

In May 2023, the National Post reported the governor general can expense up to $130,000 in clothing during their five-year mandates, with a $60,000 cap during the first year.

Simon and Payette combined to expense $88,000 in clothing since 2017, including a velvet dress with silk lining, designer gloves, suits, shoes and scarves, among other items.

Rideau Hall expensed $117,000 in dry-cleaning services since 2018, despite having in-house staff responsible for laundry – an average dry cleaning tab of more than $1,800 per month.

In 2022, Simon’s first full year on the job, she spent $2.7 million on travel, according to government records obtained by the CTF.

Simon’s travel has sparked multiple controversies, including a $100,000 bill for in-flight catering during a weeklong trip to the Middle East, and her $71,000 bill at IceLimo Luxury Travel during a four-day trip to Iceland.

“Platinum pay and perks for the governor general should have been reined in a long time ago,” Terrazzano said. “The government should stop rubberstamping pay raises for the governor general every year, end the expense account for former governors general, reform the platinum pension, scrap the clothing allowance and cut all international travel except for meetings with the monarchy.”

Table: Annual Governor General Salary, per PCO data