DRAMZ AT RIDEAU GATE — It's not often a journalist is privy to a passive-aggressive email chain between the secretary to the governor general and Canada's chief of protocol. But Playbook got its hands on correspondence between ASSUNTA DI LORENZO and then-protocol boss ROY NORTON.
At issue was 7 Rideau Gate. The 160-year-old residence just off the Rideau Hall grounds is the government of Canada’s official guesthouse for foreign dignitaries — and a meeting space for senior federal folk, including PMO staff. Governor General JULIE PAYETTE moved into the two-storey home for what would become an extended stay while Rideau Hall — the GG’s official residence — was under renovation, including updates to meet the new viceregal’s requests for privacy. CBC's ASHLEY BURKE reported in 2020 that taxpayers footed a C$140,000 bill for studies and designs for "a private staircase that was never built." Burke also reported more than $117,500 in Rideau Hall spending "on a gate and series of doors to keep people away from Payette's office." Playbook obtained the back and forth between Di Lorenzo and Norton from Global Affairs Canada through an informal access-to-information request, which means somebody else paid the C$5 fee and asked for the documents first. — 'Major impact': Back in August 2018, a Globe and Mail media request kicked up a hornet's nest between the GG's office and Global Affairs. A reporter had asked if Payette's stay was getting in the way of other government business. The query landed on the desk of CHRISTINE MACINTYRE, Rideau Hall's executive director of events, household and visitor services. On Aug. 23 at 6:04 p.m., MacIntyre sent an email to Norton at Global Affairs with a draft of her response. It included this line: "To the best of our knowledge, the Governor General's residency has had no major impact." Norton took exception to the claim, noting in a reply email the following morning that the "lack of access to the facility has significantly reduced options for Prime Minister’s hospitality." 24 Sussex, he reminded MacIntyre, was also unavailable ( and still is ). He said it's "vitally important" for Rideau Hall to know that dozens of hospitality requests from ministers and senior federal officials had been declined during the GG's stay. His recommendation: “I would not recommend use of the 'no major impact' phrase.” — The clapback: Less than three hours after receiving Norton's missive, Di Lorenzo fired back. “We also wish to confirm that to the best of our knowledge there has been no major impact to Canada in Her Excellency staying temporarily at the alternative NCC residence," she wrote Norton. "We have recently confirmed this fact with the PM and high officials at PMO. “It is indeed unfortunate that because of the state of repairs of our official residences many people are unable to be in locations that would have otherwise been available. We all have to work around this temporary situation. “In light of the fact that we are not talking about ‘major impacts’ here and that our proposed answer has now been approved by Her Excellency, the RCMP and others, I would suggest that we use our proposed answer to the journalist’s question. Please kindly confirm as soon as possible. I will call you shortly.” — The epic conclusion: Di Lorenzo did call within the next few minutes, as Norton confirmed in a reply 26 minutes after receiving her email. The chief of protocol conceded the "no major impacts" battle, though he did insist the word "significant" should suffice. Norton signed off with an attempted detente. “Thanks for calling; we both await news from the NCC as to when the residential quarters at Rideau Hall will be ready for occupancy.” — Fast forward: In July 2019, deputy chief of protocol ISABELLE SAVARD raised "missed opportunities" for government meetings at 7 Rideau Gate with Norton's successor, STEWART WHEELER. (Savard is now Canada's ambassador to Libya. Wheeler is still chief of protocol.) Savard's understanding at the time: "The present occupant has no intention to leave and that the most senior level was not planning to intervene." Wheeler replied: "We need to be careful on this. [Rideau Hall] is an important client and partner but at the same time, I think it's a real loss to the Govt not to have access on a prolonged basis to the Govt Guest House." Later that summer, CBC's ASHLEY BURKE reported on the extensive renovations still underway a short walk away at Rideau Hall. Payette would resign from the job a few months later amid serious harassment allegations. — Fun fact: 7 Rideau Gate was the meeting ground for JUSTIN TRUDEAU and JAGMEET SINGH when they hammered out their not-a-coalition deal last March. — The guests: A list between 1967 and 1997 reveals former prime minister LESTER B. PEARSON and his wife, MARYON, as the first to stay after the feds purchased the property in 1966. The Pearsons spent the night on April 7, 1967. Maryon played a major role in its redecoration. RICHARD NIXON slept at 7 Rideau Gate in April 1972, the night after telling a joint session of Parliament that Canadians and Americans should "move beyond the sentimental rhetoric of the past." In 1981, when RONALD REAGAN assured parliamentarians that his country was "much more than an acquaintance," he also rested at the guesthouse. — The guests that never were: The ATIP package includes a list of 25 foreign dignitaries not offered accommodation at 7 Rideau Gate between Payette’s installation in October 2017 and the end of 2018. Instead, the VIPs stayed at hotels, which the docs acknowledge is considerably cheaper for the feds. When dignitaries stay at 7 Rideau Gate, the facility is staffed by 2–4 people and total costs — including food and alcohol — can exceed C$4,000 per night. On 7 Rideau’s non-guest list: French President EMMANUEL MACRON, Portuguese PM ANTÓNIO COSTA, then-U.S. secretary of state REX TILLERSON, KING PHILIPPE and QUEEN MATHILDE of Belgium, NATO secretary-general JENS STOLTENBERG, Dutch PM MARK RUTTE, Namibian President HAGE GEINGOB, and PRINCE ALBERT of Monaco.
| 
