Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Many people have spoken out against the fact that the Governor General, who resigned following the release of a scathing report against her, will receive a lifetime pension from the government. I am one of them.

However, my question is about the Governor General’s secretary, Assunta Di Lorenzo, whom Ms. Payette forced the government to hire to the detriment of public servants who would normally fill that position. Like her boss, Ms. Di Lorenzo also resigned, since she too was targeted in the report on the work environment at Rideau Hall.

Leader, I know that sometimes your government seems to specialize in covering up the terms and conditions of departure for senior officials, as in the case of Vice-Admiral Norman, for example. I would like you to tell us what the terms and conditions of retirement were for Ms. Di Lorenzo, who, for reasons I am unsure of, was described by The Globe and Mail as being the Governor General’s “sidekick.”

I understand your position and your response, leader, but do you not find this bizarre?

When Vice-Admiral Norman left, there was some sort of confidential arrangement. In fact, we are never able to ascertain the cost of these departures. Now it is Ms. Di Lorenzo’s turn to leave without the cost being disclosed. Let’s not forget one thing: All these departures are at taxpayers’ expense. Don’t you think that Canadians should know what they paid for?