Julie Payette resigns as Canada's Governor General following release of "damning" report
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jan 23, 2021
Canadian Governor General Julie Payette has resigned amid claims she created a toxic work environment for her staff.
It comes after the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who appointed Ms Payette in 2017, ordered an investigation into allegations of workplace harassment.
The CBC reports alleged that Payette belittled and humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit.
The government does not intend to release the report just yet due to privacy issues and the promises of confidentiality made to all complainants, LeBlanc said.
"Right from the beginning, I was appalled at what was going on", one former employee told Global News after the news broke.
Payette responded at the time that she took the allegations very seriously.
At that time, multiple current and former staff members had gone to various news outlets with complaints of bullying and harassment.
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette is resigning, a source with direct knowledge of her decision but not authorized to discuss it publicly confirms to The Canadian Press.
In the statement, she added: 'We all experience things differently.
"Everyone has a right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances". "It is disappointing to learn that the Governor General's office hadn't put their workers' safety and well-being first".
She says out of respect for the integrity of her office, and for the good of the country and its democratic institutions, a new Governor General should be appointed.
In the event a Governor General can't carry out the job, is removed, or dies, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada assumes the office's powers as long as necessary.
-Excerpt from statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The position is the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, and holds a mostly ceremonial position.
Payette confirmed her resignation on Thursday.
And she often found herself at odds with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police over tight security, including eluding her security detail to go for a jog. She succeeded David Johnson and was sworn in later that year.
It is therefore with assurance and humility, but also with pride for what has been accomplished during my tenure as Governor General and in the service of the country for 28 years, that I tendered my resignation.
Trudeau was unspecific on whether he plans to include the opposition when choosing the next governor general, and whether changes to the annual payment or expense allowances will be made in this case.
Born in Montreal, Payette, 57, worked as an astronaut and scientist and flew two missions in space from 1992 to 2013.
