The Most Welcoming GG

On the heels of her appointment as Governor General in the Fall of 1999, Adrianne Clarkson went to the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary. There were lots of people at hand to meet and greet the new GG. The Museum has long been a favourite of many children, and some brought their children with them.

I am told that Her Excellency Clarkson refused to shake hands with the children because it was "flu season." Some parents and children were apparently offended.

Today we learn that the lack of friendliness toward children may now permeate the culture at Rideau Hall. A young man and the rest of his young friends were "kicked out" of Rideau Hall for asking a question about the Viceroy's expenses. A staff member found the question offensive. At Rideau Hall, children should have to leave, like their germs, their inquisitiveness at the door.

This is the CTV report:

The office of the Governor General is in damage-control mode, following a decision to cut short a school tour of Rideau Hall -- all because of one curious student's question.

Jeremy Patfield, 15, was touring the Governor General's official residence, Rideau Hall, when he actually spotted Adrienne Clarkson -- and wondered aloud about her spending habits.

"I said, 'Is that the woman that spends the money on the Queen when she comes?'," Patfield recalled in an interview with CTV News.

Considering the controversy Clarkson's budget has spurred in the past, the question was not that unusual. But, in light of the fact it was uttered within earshot of the Governor General herself, it was particularly ill-received.

A tour guide who overheard the teen's comment took swift action.

"Our group got kicked out for my comment towards the Governor General," Patfield explained. "It was supposedly my fault that we got kicked out."

According to the Governor General's press secretary, Randy Mylek, Clarkson didn't actually hear the remark. But he nevertheless defended the tour guide's spur-of-the-moment decision to cut short the class tour.

"People definitely have a right to their opinion -- wherever they might be in this country -- and that includes at Rideau Hall," he said, characterizing the decision as "the type of judgment call Rideau Hall employees must make everyday."

"Our bottom line here always is keeping the house open, but being respectful and courteous," he said, noting that thousands of members of the public visit the Governor General's official residence each year.

Rideau Hall remains the most welcoming place in the country, he said. [Ed.- It may be the most charitable and magnanimous of places in the country as well].

According to Jeremy's father Dan, his son was simply stating a fact. "The Governor General is the lady who spends our tax money," he said. "To me I don't see a real problem with that."

Reflecting on his experience, Jeremy Patfield says he's learned a valuable lesson.

"I feel I shouldn't have said something in her house because it was her house... but I do think they're somewhat overreacting." [Ed.- Er... Actually, kid, it is NOT her house; it is HRH the Queen's House. The current occupants just act like they own it].

And he's still left without an answer to his question.

"We sort of do have a right to know why how she would spend all her money on that when we have other things we could use."

I am really beginning to think that in the last five years the staff at Rideau Hall have come to believe precisely what Adrianne herself believes: that she is Canada's Head of State.

PS: No sightings of the Viceregal consort were reported.