New rule bars Governor General from lavish spending on clothes, shoes after $88K bill as Canadians struggle. Why it matters for you (and your money)

According to a letter sent to MPs, governors general will only be reimbursed for outfits worn at official functions, such as black-tie events or public ceremonies, where it is their duty to represent the monarch and country.

“Normal everyday casual or business attire is the responsibility of the Governor General,” the letter reportedly stated.

The move comes after renewed criticism over the clothing expenditures billed by predecessors at Rideau Hall. In September 2025, a list of former Governor General Mary Simon’s wardrobe purchases between January 2024 and March 2025 was made public in Parliament.

Notable pieces include $1,500 for a “sealskin chest piece” for official events in Nunavut and $1,117 on six pairs of shoes.

And it’s not the first time a governor general’s new clothes have come under scrutiny. Both Simon and her predecessor, Julie Payette, have been criticized for expensing a combined total of $88,000 to Canadian taxpayers for clothing purchases made between 2017 and 2023.

Clothing they got to keep.

While a few of the items were worn in connection to their official duties, others appeared to be for everyday use, prompting renewed calls for reform to the clothing allowance. Defenders have pointed out that the role requires them to attend many official functions with strict dress requirements — and that female governors generally attract the most scrutiny for their wardrobe expenses.

Rideau Hall did not respond to Money.ca’s request for comment in time for publication.

Part of the issue may be optics. As the country enters a technical recession, expenses on the hill are an easy target for criticism.

More than just clothes

To be clear, Canadians as a whole are struggling. The Consumer Price Index — an inflation benchmark — hit 3.2% in May, a 29-month high pushing the country out of the Bank of Canada’s inflation-control target range of 1% to 3%. Meanwhile, the cost of food outpaced the CPI for 16 straight months. Most notably, the price of a tomato was 45.2% higher in May 2026 than in May 2025.

These basic, very human concerns add some perspective to expenses filed by governors general, both past and present.

And it’s not just about their clothing.

In May, it came out that the Canadian government paid out $554,000 in just one year to support five former governors general — who are allowed to bill up to $206,040 per year in expenses after leaving office.

What makes these charges more notable is that they come on top of generous salaries governors generals receive while they’re in office and the sizeable pensions they get after they leave. Current estimates put the salary of a serving governor general at $393,800, while former governors general take in annual pensions of about $150,000.

For reference, the salary of an average Canadian is around $70,000, or less than a quarter of the current Governor General’s take. So it’s perhaps no wonder that 59% of Canadians polled by Leger believed the salary should be reduced.

This raises the question: what can Canadians do to secure their retirement?

Retire like a king… or a governor

Most Canadians would jump at the chance of a $150K pension, let alone $200K in paid expenses, for their retirement years.

The reality is, they’ll probably have to do it themselves.

There are many ways of securing enough income for retirement, from using public pensions, like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), to contributing to workplace pensions or opening personal investment accounts, like a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). But with the rising costs of living, at least some part of their future income will likely rely on investment accounts.

That’s why Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), which are registered savings accounts that function as an investment account, are a popular option for retirement investing. TFSAs allow you to avoid taxes on income earned through capital gains, dividends or interest on withdrawal, within limits.

There’s one big disadvantage: You can only contribute up to $7,000 per year as of 2026. However, holding a self-directed TFSA in a brokerage account lets you choose from a range of investment options, including stocks, bonds and ETFs.

Taking the next step

Choosing a self-directed TFSA is not the final step — there’s also the question of finding the right brokerage account. In particular, it’s a good idea to shop around for reputable brokerages that also offer minimal commissions on trades or account fees.

And if you don’t know where to start looking, here’s a guide to seven of the best Canadian brokerage firms in 2026.

Out of these seven contenders, however, a standout is CIBC Investor’s Edge, which gives investors security from one of Canada’s biggest banks without paying exorbitant commissions or fees.

With a comprehensive online trading platform, it actually pays to trade more. Active traders making over 150 trades a quarter can enjoy a discounted commission rate of $4.95 per trade. Plus, CIBC doesn’t charge any account or maintenance fees when the combined market balance of all accounts is greater than $10,000.

If you want to know more about CIBC Investor’s Edge, check out this comprehensive review of its platform and features before coming to a decision.

Break in case of emergency

The cost of living crisis in Canada is hard enough for many Canadians, but what happens when things go wrong? What happens if you lose your job and suddenly can’t pay for groceries? In this scenario tapping into your retirement account would be a gamble and a setback.

One way of setting up an emergency fund that can also grow your wealth is putting it into a high-interest savings account (HISA), which gives you access to your funds when you need them while earning interest over time. Rates on accounts like these are often at or above the rate of inflation, meaning they can slow down the erosion of your dollars.

Luckily, there are many great options to choose from that offer their own perks to customers.