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Senate Bill

Bill S-221

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 07, 2022
An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits)
  • This bill, known as Bill S-221, aims to amend the Governor General's Act to change the eligibility requirements for the retiring annuity and other benefits for Governors General. Currently, a Governor General is entitled to receive these benefits regardless of how long they served in office. However, if this bill is passed, a Governor General would only be eligible for a retiring annuity or other benefits if they held office for at least five consecutive years. The bill also includes a provision that allows a Governor General who is unable to serve for five consecutive years due to medical reasons to still be considered as having served for that period. Additionally, the bill states that no financial support shall be given to a former Governor General who held office for less than five consecutive years. Lastly, the bill includes transitional provisions that would cease the payment of an annuity to a former Governor General who held off
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First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,

70 Elizabeth II, 2021

SENATE OF CANADA

BILL S-221
An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits)
FIRST READING, November 24, 2021

THE HONOURABLE SENATOR Carignan, P.‍C.
4412026


SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Governor General’s Act to provide that a Governor General is not eligible for a retiring annuity or other benefits unless they hold office for at least five consecutive years.

Available on the Senate of Canada website at the following address:
www.sencanada.ca/en


1st Session, 44th Parliament,

70 Elizabeth II, 2021

SENATE OF CANADA

BILL S-221

An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits)

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

R.‍S.‍, c. G-9

Governor General’s Act

1 The title of Part II of the Governor General’s Act is replaced by the following:

Governor General’s Retiring Annuity Insertion start and Other Benefits Insertion end

2 (1) The portion of subsection 6(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Annuity

6 (1)  Insertion start When Insertion end a Governor General Insertion start who has held Insertion end office Insertion start for at least five consecutive years Insertion end ceases to hold office as such, there shall be paid to him an annuity equal to the aggregate of

(2) The Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 6(1):

Medical reasons

Start of inserted block

(1.‍1) A Governor General who, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, is unable for medical reasons to serve for five consecutive years is deemed to have served for at least five consecutive years for the purpose of subsection (1).

End of inserted block

3 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 11:

Other benefits

Start of inserted block

12 No money shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of providing administrative support to or reimbursing expenses incurred by a former Governor General who held office for less than five consecutive years.

End of inserted block

Transitional Provision

Former Governor General

4 (1) The payment, under Part II of the Governor General’s Act as it read immediately before the day on which this Act comes into force, of an annuity to a former Governor General who held office for less than five consecutive years ceases on the day on which this Act comes into force.

Survivor

(2) The payment, under Part II of the Governor General’s Act as it read immediately before the day on which this Act comes into force, of an annuity to a survivor shall continue during the life of the survivor.

Published under authority of the Senate of Canada


EXPLANATORY NOTES

Governor General’s Act
Clause 1: Existing text of the title:
Governor General’s Retiring Annuity
Clause 2: (1) Text of the relevant portion of subsection 6(1):

6 (1) Where a Governor General ceases to hold office as such, there shall be paid to him an annuity equal to the aggregate of

(2) New.
Clause 3: New.