Proactive Disclosure

On December 12, 2003, the Prime Minister announced a new policy on the mandatory publication of travel and hospitality expenses for selected government officials.

The rules and principles governing travel are outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and in Treasury Board's Travel Directive and Special Travel Authorities. The purpose of these directives is to provide for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses necessarily incurred during travel on government business.

The Government of Canada extends hospitality in accordance with the rules and principles outlined in the Guidelines for Ministers' Offices and the Treasury Board Hospitality Policy. The objective of the policy is to ensure that hospitality is extended in an economical and affordable way when it facilitates government business or is considered desirable as a matter of courtesy and protocol.

For national security reasons, the Director and executive members of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service are exempted from the mandatory disclosure requirements outlined in the policy.

Members of the public may continue to make requests for this information under the provisions of the Access to Information Act. The process for making a request is outlined on the Government of Canada's Info Source Web site.