The following is excerpted from a 24 November 2010 news release by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Today, the Government of Canada continued its action to ensure respect for taxpayers' dollars by strengthening the rules surrounding spending on travel, hospitality and conferences. The announcement was made in Ottawa by the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)...

Building on Canada's Economic Action Plan, in which the Government of Canada froze travel, hospitality and conference expenditures at 2008–2009 levels, this new action delivers increased accountability and tougher rules for spending of taxpayers' money including:

• ensuring that total departmental spending on travel, hospitality and conferences is reported to the public every year, in addition to the previous requirements for ministers, ministerial staff and senior Government officials to report on their travel and hospitality expenses;
• making sure that annual budgets for travel, hospitality and conferences are approved by deputy ministers, who will view spending through the lens of best value for taxpayers; and
• restricting all spending on alcohol to situations that are necessary for the rules for protocol, diplomacy or appropriate business with outside stakeholders.

"Controlling spending is an essential part of balancing a budget, whether for a government or a Canadian household," said Minister Lebel...

The directive will ensure that spending decisions in these areas are necessary and demonstrate value for money. Government organizations will also be required to systematically consider cost-saving measures around these expenses, including options to use teleconferencing or videoconferencing...