The long list of charges against Payette includes tantrums and staff reduction to tears.
“Tensions have arisen at Rideau Hall in the past few months and for that I am sorry,” Payette said in a statement late on Thursday. “I came to the conclusion that a new governor-general should be appointed. Canadians deserve stability in these uncertain times ”.
The role of the governor general: Although he has an apolitical and largely ceremonial role, the post of governor general is Canada’s oldest continuing institution. The GG, as the post holder is often known, acts as the Canadian representative of the British monarchy – in this case, Queen Elizabeth II – and is responsible for ensuring that Canada has a prime minister and a government that is trusted by the Parliament. The governor-general is also the commander-in-chief of Canada.
Payette is the first governor-general to step down in modern Canadian history and her departure comes as the Liberal Trudeau maintain minority status in Parliament.
Payette was an indication of signing Trudeau’s first term. She faced a series of controversies from the minute she took on the role – and, as it turned out, in roles she previously played. The appointment was seen as a flagrant failure of the Trudeau government’s verification process.
What happened: On Thursday, the news was that third-party investigators prepared a “biting” report – at a cost of almost C $ 90,000 – on allegations of a toxic work environment perpetuated by Payette and his secretary Assunta Di Lorenzo. Some findings from that confidential report are expected to be released later this week, according to the Globe and Mail.
The unprecedented investigation was launched by the federal government after dozens of former and current employees told the media that Payette “disparaged” and “shouted” at employees. Payette would also have had “tantrums” during trips abroad and would publicly humiliate employees to the point of crying.
A source also told CBC News that Rideau Hall went from being one of the most pleasant places to work in the federal government to becoming a “house of horrors”.
Payette, who was the first Canadian to serve on the International Space Station, was nominated in 2017 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Even with the investigation underway, he defended Payette, saying in September that she was “excellent” in her work and had no intention of asking her to leave.
In her resignation statement, Payette apologized and said she would use her exit to spend time with her father, who is in poor health.
“We all experience things differently, but we must always strive to do better and be aware of each other’s perceptions,” she said.
Current list of controversies: Days after Payette was chosen to become governor-general, it was revealed that she was charged with second-degree assault in 2011 while living in Maryland. The charge, which Payette said was “unfounded”, was later dropped. It was then revealed that Payette had been involved in a fatal car accident involving a pedestrian that same year, although the case was closed without charges after a police investigation.
Trudeau defended Payette’s choice, however, saying at the time: “There are no problems that have arisen in the course of this verification process that would be any reason to expect Mrs. Payette is anything but the extraordinary governor-general she will be. “
Payette faced further criticism for delaying her move to the governor-general’s official residence, only after two years of continuous reforms to address privacy issues – at a cost of more than C $ 250,000.
And last year, CBC News reported that Trudeau’s office had failed to verify former Payette employees during its verification process. Ultimately, Payette resigned from the Montreal Science Center in 2016 after complaints of mistreatment of employees, according to the news agency. She also left the Canadian Olympic Committee in 2017, the year she became governor-general, after two internal investigations into allegations that she had verbally harassed team members.
Response from Trudeau: Trudeau issued a short statement late on Thursday, saying that Payette’s resignation offers “an opportunity for new leadership at Rideau Hall to address workplace concerns raised by employees during the review.”
“All employees of the Government of Canada have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, and we will always take this very seriously,” he said.
Next steps: Canadian Supreme Court President Richard Wagner has stepped in to replace Payette for now. Trudeau’s office said a recommendation for a permanent replacement would be made to Queen Elizabeth “in due course”.