Methinks the Royal Family & Harper's old lawyer pal David Johnston should call this ROUND 3 N'esy Pas Mr Prime Minister Trudeau "The Younger" ?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/trudeau-payette-charge-1.4212817

Trudeau's silence on Payette's expunged assault charge shows double standard: Robyn Urback

2925 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.

 

David Raymond Amos

@Tony Adams Oh My a double standard within CBC

Trudeau decides to reverse his "No Comment" plan and make comments However CBC offers no comment section yet?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-payette-defends-governor-general-1.4214267

 CBC allowed the comment immediately below to stand for hours. During that time it had garnered 6 likes and 4 dislikes before they blocked it. When I discovered that fact I quit commenting within this particular article for obvious reasons and moved on to other concerns. 

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David Raymond Amos

@Tony Adams Folks may enjoy a quote from the comment section of the Ipolitics article

https://ipolitics.ca/2017/07/18/pmo-has-no-comment-on-julie-payettes-expunged-2011-assault-charge/

"[Someone] cut her a break and refused to press charges
Doesn't mean she is innocent from never ... assaulting her husband. Had the pm appointed a man who had 2 prior divorces and a thrown out assault charge there wouldn't be so many apologists here
Laughing at the hyprocrisy."

wayne guitard

Big deal.The Liberals assault Canadians on a daily basis.

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David Raymond Amos @wayne guitard I don't know about that but liberals certainly do attack our wallets everyday all day long.

More importantly to me I have been roughed by the Governor General's minions in the RCMP. Yet after running for public office five times thus far against theLiberals, the Neo Cons, the Dippers and the Greens Trudeau's lawyer minions have the nerve to claim my lawsuit is frivolous an vexatious? Yea Right Perhaps Trudeau should look at his selfy photos if he wishes to view a walking talking example of that term. N'esy Pas?


 
Earl Sargent

Trudeau needed to make himself seem honourable to voters with the first pair. Now that he,s elected he thumbs his nose at Canadians.

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David Raymond Amos

@Earl Sargent The no comment part is making my belly hurt from laughter. Trudeau usually comments about everything N'esy Pas?

 

Earl Sargent

@Fenian Conn Psssst, should we bring up Martin's offshore shipping business in his son's name? And a book full of more? Sponsorship scandal? Do you really want to go down this road?

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David Raymond Amos

@Earl Sargent Martin's offshore shipping business?

Remember Martin's Coal Boat named after his wife caught with a load of cocaine in Sidney NS immediately after the election in 2004? Anne McLellan as Minister of Public Safety recused herself from the investigation. The boat sailed away and nothing appears to have ever been done by McLellan's minions in the RCMP to investigate the obvious drug running.

Now 13 long years later the world is watching Anne McLellan legalize smoking dope for the benefit of Trudeau "The Younger". Go figure why I am disgusted.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/mclellan-canada-marijuana-legalization-1.4102508

Alan Cane

@Tim Olan

We'll go back to Pierre if you want.

David Raymond Amos

@Alan Cane Please do

 

Gordon MacFarlane

@Earl Sargent

Some posters are like NasCar drivers, they only go left which of course leads them nowhere because they end up going around in circles

David Raymond Amos

@Gordon MacFarlane Trust that you would laugh as hard as I if you were to read the comments of mine that CBC are blocking in support of Mr Sargent's opinion

Patrick Smyth

@Earl Sargent

"Psssst, should we bring up Martin's offshore shipping business in his son's name? And a book full of more? Sponsorship scandal? Do you really want to go down this road?"

I'll bite, let's start at the beginning.... Sir John A MacDonald... Had to resign as Canada's first PM for taking BRIBES from CP Rail.
we can talk about Brian Mulroney and some hundreds of thousand from a German business man of undeclared cash hidden in a New York bank for a decade too... Free pass from Harpercrites.

NEITHER party can claim the moral high ground.

David Raymond Amos

@Patrick Smyth I would rather talk about all the cocaine found on Paul Martin's coal boat named after his wife while it was in port in Nova Scotia immediately after the election of the 38th Parliament

Anthony Kennedy

Justin has a solid record of treating women and minorities differently than white males. Quite frankly it's insulting to say the least.

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David Raymond Amos

@Anthony Kennedy Methinks the worm will turn eventually If the liberals have their way perhaps white males will be considered persecuted minority with many seeking asylum in Trump's not so great USA. Perhaps some of them will start up businesses south of the 49th and sue their nativeland for NAFTA infractions N'esy Pas?

Troy Mann

@Anthony Kennedy

Aww poor Anthony who is a failure in life needs to blame someone other than himself for his failures.

Be a man and accept your failures, own them and then you can work on becoming better. Stop looking for a scape goat, as long as you continue to blame the government for your ineptness you will never do what is needed to better yourself.

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann Who are you to say such things? FYI CBC blocked my support of Mr Kennedy's opinion.

Karen King

@Anthony Kennedy

What is so different there white males have been treating everyone else differently for hundreds of years!

David Raymond Amos

@Karen King Say Hey to your Father for me will ya?

 
Tony Adams

Justin Trudeau showing a double standard is not really all that big of a surprise.

Simon Kung

@Tony Adams How does a comment shoot to 47 dislikes in a matter of two minutes at 4:30AM? Seems fishy to me.

David Raymond Amos

@Tony Adams "Trudeau was eager to get his comments in before; he hardly has a good reason for staying quiet now."

Perhaps folks should ask CBC to question Trudeau and the current Governor General about the lawsuit I have been arguing with his minions about since Harper was the Prime Minister?

Everybody knows letters from a former Governor General and Minister of Public Safety are quoted verbatim in the text of the lawsuit.

BTW Julie Payette and her bankster cohorts were made well aware of my lawsuit and she is not the Governor General yet.

David Raymond Amos

@Simon Kung At least he was lucky enough to comment. Its amazing how many comments of mine CBC blocks for political reasons.

David Raymond Amos

@Tony Adams Folks may enjoy a quote from the comment section of the Ipolitics article

https://ipolitics.ca/2017/07/18/pmo-has-no-comment-on-julie-payettes-expunged-2011-assault-charge/

"[Someone] cut her a break and refused to press charges
Doesn't mean she is innocent from never ... assaulting her husband. Had the pm appointed a man who had 2 prior divorces and a thrown out assault charge there wouldn't be so many apologists here
Laughing at the hyprocrisy."

david mccaig

@Tony Adams

This whole article deals with charges levied against two males and somehow we are supposed to intertwine the false accusations against this young lady. I say false because the accusations are 6 years old and were considered too frivolous by the courts to be pursued.

David Raymond Amos

@david mccaig Frivolous? You talk like a lawyer.

Just so ya know every time Trudeau's lawyers file a document in Federal Court calling my claim against the Crown "Frivolous and Vexatious" I laugh then strongly suggest in writing that they read paragraph 83 again real slow in order to remind them that the onus is not on me to protect Trudeau's reputation
 

Dima Elman

@Tony Adams You are wrong about double standards. There are NO standards.

David Raymond Amos

@Dima Elman Many a true word is said in jest

David Raymond Amos

@Tony Adams Oh My a double standard within CBC

Trudeau decides to reverse his "No Comment" plan and make comments However CBC offers no comment section yet?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-payette-defends-governor-general-1.4214267

Mark Baker

@Gordon MacFarlane

If you have any experience with the divorce process - you would know that there is little niceness involved and often hollow charges are laid.

The prime minister stands by his choice as do I. I have not been fooled.

Urback's piece is an opportunistic cheap shot-that is hurtful to Payette in (very) weak attempt to harm Trudeau.

Urback's lacks ethics and her argument lacks substance. Her willingness to smear Payette borders on defamation.

My beef is with the very low journalistic standards of this piece - which is without a doubt in support of a political agenda.

When personal matters are involved any civilized prime minister would respond with No Comment.

David Raymond Amos

@Mark Baker "When personal matters are involved any civilized prime minister would respond with No Comment"

Clearly you did not read my comment posted directly above yours Your beloved PM changed his mind N'esy Pas?

Mark Baker

@David Raymond Amos

How did you respond to my post before it was posted?

Inside job?

David Raymond Amos

@Mark Baker Methinks you jest. Clearly I read the news and commented about it before you put your foot in your mouth

 

jimmysinclair

And yet another Trudeauian gaffe.

They never end.

David Raymond Amos

@jimmysinclair Ya gotta love the circus
 

Troy Mann

@Mark Baker

"It is sad that politics is dropping to a now low of partisan attacks through personal innuendo...

How low can you go?"

The people Jimmy align himself with are posting personal information of people they disagree with online in order to intimidate them into silence.

How low would Jimmy and his ilk go? Do the math and it's not pretty...

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann Methinks that you are one of the ones practicing partisan attacks through personal innuendo

  

Alfred Sterl

I am so sick and tired of people with hidden pasts literally getting jobs that run our government. I see store clerks everyday who are polite, hard working, and display more intelligence but are forced to work at the job they have because they don't have the political connections. Then I hear how a few chief, judge, senator, and other appointees with a checkered past we find only after they have been sworn in get those things due to who they know.

John Goode

@Alfred Sterl
Who doesn't have a past? We all have done stupid things we're not proud of. To claim otherwise is to lie.

David Raymond Amos

@John Goode How many times were you charged?

Ian Smith

@Alfred Sterl

I hate to break it to you, but most store clerks also probably have skeletons in their closets.

David Raymond Amos

@Ian Smith How is it that you know so much about store clerks?

Saunistee G Leduc

@David Raymond Amos

I just punched in to my computer how many store clerks in Canada. The government web site pulled up this list. Chances are they know some people that so this work? You may as well, if you looked down upon us.
bag boy
bag boy/girl
bag clerk
bag girl
bakery assistant - food store
box boy
box boy/girl
box girl
clerk, supermarket
floor clerk - retail
floor clerk - supermarket
garment price marker
grocery clerk
grocery packer
hand packer - food store
meat cutter helper - supermarket
meat department assistant - supermarket
meat wrapper - grocery store
order filler - retail
order picker
pack boy
pack boy/girl
pack girl
price checker - grocery store
price clerk - retail
price marker - supermarket
produce clerk
produce clerk, supermarket
retail shelf stocker
shelf stocker - retail
shelf stocker - supermarket
stock clerk - retail
stock handler - food store
stockroom clerk - retail
supermarket clerk
supermarket produce clerk
[ Source: National Occupational Classification 2011 - ESDC ]

David Raymond Amos

@Saunistee G Leduc FYI I was defending you folks. Best that you review the comment thread again

 

Joe Smithson

@Alfred Sterl

Lol. You support sexual assault accused Trump....

David Raymond Amos

@Joe Smithson And you support Trudeau's accidental elbow I suppose.

Troy Mann

@David Raymond Amos

I support MPs doing work rather than standing around on my dime.

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann A better question is who is paying you?

  
Jackson Farley

Its seems like we reward bad behavior in Canada lately. Compensations and appointments. The law abiding average citizen is the real sucker.

David Raymond Amos

@Jackson Farley Methinks the liberals were not expecting this thus the no comment part was not well thought out.

However it seems that the lady was on here game out of the gate.

https://ipolitics.ca/2017/07/18/pmo-has-no-comment-on-julie-payettes-expunged-2011-assault-charge/

"Payette requested to withdraw that motion on June 13. It was only dismissed without prejudice on June 28, 2017, just a little more than two weeks before she was officially announced as Johnston’s successor."

Jason Dean

@Wendy Love

So?? All you lefties vilified and crucified Mike Duffy. He was charged and not convicted. Does that stop the lefties from the vile and spew that are thrown at him?

David Raymond Amos

@Jason Dean Methinks your argument because of what Mike Duffy got away with is rather comical

Saunistee G Leduc

@David Raymond Amos

I believe that a majority of Canadian's believes that Mike Duffy should have had far larger consequences. No matter your political affiliations.

David Raymond Amos

@Saunistee G Leduc I have no political affiliations whatsoever. Trudeau and CBC know that I always run as an independent.

Perhaps you should read this CBC comment section

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276

Mark Baker

@Jackson Farley

I'm not sure who you're attempting to suggest is not law abiding - but I seems Trudeau is respectful of legal decisions from the courts.

The previous PM was not. In fact there was some question as to whether crimes were committed in the PMO under the previous PM.

So perhaps we're all suckers just trying to get by.

All these attempts to smear Payette for political gain are disgusting. Charges were dismissed and expunged and that is the end of it under the law.

Urback on the other hand could possibly be charged with defamation for her thoughtless efforts.

David Raymond Amos

@Mark Baker "Urback on the other hand could possibly be charged with defamation for her thoughtless efforts"

Do you have any idea why i am laughing?

 
Stan Jackson

If Payette was a man, Trudeau wouldn't even consider her for GG.

Susan Maier

@Stan Jackson It is more likely that the media would not let him appoint a man as the next GG, regardless of that man's credentials.

David Raymond Amos

@Stan Jackson Oh So True

Alex Norris

@Susan Maier

Since when do the "media" choose?

David Raymond Amos

@Alex Norris How many recent Governor Generals since Trudeau the "Elder" took over the liberal party were French and or CBC personalities?

David Allan

@Stan Jackson

Of course. That's been the tradition for a long time. Alternating between men & women.

David Raymond Amos

@David Allan YUP Its called divide and conquer You liberal pals play that game very well while neo cons play the reverse

 
William Ben

Our current PM is artificial and well the intelligent bit let's not go there.

Of course because he is a feminist and very PC so he only possesses one dimensional thinking on all of his view points kind of like talking to a brick wall actually.

David Raymond Amos

@William Ben Methinks the PM thinks he talks on behalf of us but we can't talk to him be there a brick wall or not.

Obviously CBC just proved that if someone asks a question that embarrasses the PM, they get a "No Comment" response from him and his spokesperson.

Troy Mann

@David Raymond Amos "Methinks the PM thinks he talks on behalf of us"

He does, he is the Prime Minister of Canada

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann True However ask the majority of Canadians whether or not the PM truly speaks for us. Notice the reaction to a recent payoff?

 

Troy Mann

@David Raymond Amos

Could careless what your or anyones opinion is, fact remains the Prime Minister of Canada speaks on behalf of Canadians. Renounce your citizenship and he will no longer speak for you..

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann Did you forget why I am suing the Crown???

 

Troy Mann

@David Raymond Amos

Could careless about some who lacks professionalism and class that they need to advertise 'themselves' on an Internet forum

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann I am no professional like you are. Furthermore just exactly what are you and Trudeau doing with CBC if not promoting yourselves???

  

HeleneRussell

Trudeau's war cry: "I'm a feminist! I'm a feminist"
Politically correct, phony and on the way out!

David Raymond Amos

@HeleneRussell Am I a feminist too? Nope but then they say I am never politically correct and way outside of the box Trudeau "The Younger" is in .
You decide whether I am phoney or not after you figure out why CBC denied that I ran for public office 5 times.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276

David Allan

@David Raymond Amos
" Am I a feminist too? Nope "

You are against the political, economic, & social equality of women to men.

David Raymond Amos

@David Allan Nope I am for the political, economic, & social equality of men.

 

Troy Mann

@William Keleher

Talking to conservatives is like talking to a 6 year old

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann However when I respond to you CBC blocks me

 

Troy Mann

@David Allan

People who think economics is a science are even more amusing. School of economics is an Arts school not a business school.

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann You and I both know a lot about economics don't we?

David Allan

@David Raymond Amos
"I am for the political, economic, & social equality of men."

Then you are, by definition, a feminist.

David Allan

@Troy Mann

Economics is based on slavery. Seriously. The founding philosophy is Rationalism. Rationalism was invented to support the "rational" notion that whites are superior.

David Raymond Amos

@David Allan WRONG Women have the advantage right now and everybody knows it excepting you and your beloved PM.

  

Earl Sargent

Trudeau's protection brigade is crying fowl. Why? Are they not the same group supporting all the Trumped (love that) up fake news on this Russian thing? Calling for impeachment on their good old he said,she said? Love the Liberal double standard Robyn is referring to. Love it when they get force fed some of their own crap.

David Raymond Amos

@Earl Sargent I have no respect for Trump whatsoever However to be fair the strange Yankee with funny hair he does not have a taxpayer funded propaganda corporation supporting him like his buddy Trudeau "The Younger" does. N'esy Pas Hubby Lacroix and Minister Joly?

Troy Mann

@Earl Sargent " fake news on this Russian thing?"

Prove it is fake

You can't

I can prove these charges were dismissed and she has no criminal record and there is no investigation

You see these as the same? Really, I suggest you are deliberately being obtuse...

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann Perhaps you should Google my name and that of Trump's???

 

Troy Mann

@David Raymond Amos "Perhaps you should Google my name and that of Trump's???"

I have no interest in petty games from either the right or left but thanks for admitting you are a fake.
 

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann

Anyone can Google my name and yours Correct?

You know I am no fake The trust that your liberal pals know that the most watched political debate in Canada byway of Rogers Youtube Channel was mine.

 

Earl Sargent

@Mark Wood The story is still evolving in the backrooms of CNN. They up to their eyes in this fake story.

David Raymond Amos

@Earl Sargent Thats true

David Raymond Amos

@Troy Mann

Anyone can Google my name and yours Correct?

You know I am no fake The trust that your liberal pals know that the most watched political debate in Canada byway of Rogers Youtube Channel was mine.

 
hans grubermeister

This opinion piece nails it. A double standard based on gender. An expunged domestic charge for a male even with outstanding credentials, would have, without a doubt, disqualified that person for the position of GG.

David Raymond Amos

@hans grubermeister I agree

David Raymond Amos

@Reid Cowper Well Said Sir

Trudeau defends his choice for governor general amid revelations about her past

Julie Payette was once subject of criminal probe for assault in U.S., but charges were dropped

By John Paul Tasker, CBC News Posted: Jul 20, 2017 2:41 PM ET

Former astronaut, and future governor general, Julie Payette faced an assault charge while living in Maryland, but it was ultimately dropped. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his pick for governor general after it was revealed she struck and killed a pedestrian while driving and was once the subject of a criminal probe for assault.

Trudeau said Thursday his team did a thorough vet of Julie Payette, a former astronaut who will assume the largely ceremonial post in the fall, and there is nothing in her past that disqualifies her for the job.

"I assure everyone that there are no issues that arose in the course of that vetting process that would be any reason to expect Mme. Payette to be anything other than the extraordinary governor general that she will be," he said, calling her among Canada's "very best."

Two issues have emerged since the prime minister announced her appointment last week. First, Payette was charged with second-degree assault when she lived in Maryland in 2011, but it was later dismissed by prosecutors and the case was "expunged" from her record. Payette has called the assault charge "unfounded," adding she was cleared quickly.

Second, Payette was involved in a fatal car accident in which she was not found at fault. The Toronto Star reported the car accident Wednesday and spoke to the family of the late Theresa Potts, a recovering alcoholic who was on her way to an AA meeting at the time of the incident.

Payette divorced her former husband, Billie Flynn, a test pilot with Lockheed Martin in the Washington, D.C., area, shortly after the 2011 car collision.

"Obviously, our hearts go out to the family affected by this tragic accident — it's a terrible and tragic thing," Trudeau said.

Trudeau said the vetting process "raised absolutely no issues," and his talks with the future head of state didn't focus on her past.

"The conversations I had with Mme. Payette centred around the extraordinary service, her vision for the country, her vision of the role that she would fulfill as governor general and demonstrated to me her extraordinary strength in being one of our great governor generals."

Governor general-designate Julie Payette's ex-husband, Billie Flynn. The two divorced shortly after her motor vehicle accident. (Billie Flynn/LinkedIn)

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau has some questions to answer about the vetting process, but he would not comment on matters in her personal life.

"My position on her nomination has not changed," Scheer told reporters Thursday. "I indicated my support for her nomination when it was first announced."

Payette was the first Canadian female to visit the International Space Station in 1999, and is a former chief astronaut at the Canadian Space Agency.

Julie Payette's vetting for governor general questioned amid 'disquieting' revelations

Trudeau did not use selection committee and won't comment on future GG's dismissed assault charge

By Jordan Press, The Canadian Press Posted: Jul 20, 2017 8:52 AM ET

Media reports this week have revealed aspects of future governor general Julie Payette's past that were previously not disclosed, including a dismissed domestic assault charge and a fatal traffic accident. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press) 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is refusing to say what he knew — and when he knew it — about a dismissed, non-felony charge against his choice for Governor General.

Julie Payette is calling the six-year-old incident a case of an "unfounded" allegation for which she was "immediately cleared" without any prosecution.

The second-degree assault charge doesn't appear in Maryland court records, but is accessible through American-based background check websites that provide the charge, dates, case number, location and reason for its dismissal. It provides no further details about the reasons for the charge.

The incident, first reported by the political news website iPolitics, has raised questions about whether Trudeau knew about the potentially embarrassing information during the selection process that took place behind closed doors in the Prime Minister's Office. And if he did know, why he didn't see it as an issue towards making Payette the next viceregal.

Trudeau twice said Wednesday he had no comment when asked about the deleted charge against Payette, echoing comments he made a day earlier.

He said that before any appointment to such a high-profile political post, the government conducts a thorough background search on the candidate's past. Trudeau wouldn't say if he had been made aware of the incident prior to her appointment.

"I know that Mme. Payette is going to make an extraordinary governor general. She represents the very best of Canadian values, openness to the world, curiosity, intellectual rigour and inspiration. She will continue to inspire generations of Canadians as she represents us at the very highest level," Trudeau said at an event in Quebec City.

Vetting usually flags issues

Political appointees normally are run through a detailed vetting process that includes looking for details that could become damaging for the candidate and government should they become public. The candidate is also usually asked to volunteer any embarrassing details in their personal lives before an appointment is finalized.
Depending on the severity of the what is found, the appointment could be killed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had nothing but praise for Julie Payette's accomplishments and skills when he announced her as his pick for the governor general's role a week ago. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

The final decision usually rests with the prime minister who can decide to overlook the details because the person is an exemplary candidate, or give them a pass after hearing a reasonable explanation.

"Generally, security vetting and/or interviews would catch a situation like this," said Penny Collenette, who was Jean Chretien's director of appointments for four years and is now an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa.

"Obviously, this situation is personally disquieting, both for Julie Payette and for the prime minister. We don't have the full context or all the facts, but it is worth remembering that appointees always have a human dimension, separate and distinct from qualifications and accomplishments. We should not be surprised when that human dimension comes to light."

An online background check search shows that Payette was charged with second degree assault on Nov. 24, 2011. The prosecutor formally dismissed the charge about two weeks later on Dec. 8, 2011.
The online records don't detail what led to the charge. The records also don't turn up in official Maryland records searches, suggesting they were expunged from the public record.

'I will not comment'

In a statement issued through Rideau Hall, Payette declined to comment on the event.

"For family and personal reasons, I will not comment on these unfounded charges, of which I was immediately and completely cleared many years ago, and I hope that people will respect my private life."

At the time, Payette was living with her then husband William "Billie" Flynn, a retired Air Force pilot who now is a Lockheed Martin test pilot for the F-35 fighter jet.

Payette and Flynn went through lengthy divorce proceedings that closed in late June when Payette withdrew a motion for child support, based on online Maryland court records. The records also show that a motion to seal the proceedings and accompanying affidavits was filed in Maryland court Tuesday.

Payette, seen here before her 2009 mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, is best known as the second Canadian woman to travel in space. Her personal life was rarely discussed in public until her appointment was announced. (Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

Meanwhile, media reports surfaced late Wednesday that said Payette was also involved in a fatal accident in Maryland in July 2011, four months prior to the assault charge.

She reportedly struck and killed a pedestrian who had stepped off a curb in front of Payette's car. The case was closed without charges in April 2012 following an eight-month police investigation.

No selection committee this time

Trudeau made Payette the next Governor General without the help of an ad hoc committee of experts.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper struck such a committee seven years ago when his government tapped David Johnston for the position. At the time, Harper had a minority government, meaning that whoever held the post of Governor General was essential to maintaining the stability of government.

The names of those on the selection committee weren't published until after Johnston's nomination, but Harper would go on to make the committee a permanent body, saying a process to ensure a non-partisan approach to viceregal appointments was important.

Trudeau was non-committal about maintaining the committee when asked about it last year, even though he is essentially using the same process to select Supreme Court justices and identify candidates for various federal appointments.

"I'm not going to change things just to reinvent the wheel," Trudeau said in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press about how he would select Johnston's successor.

"If there is a good process that we can improve by making (it) more open and transparent and more diverse, that I will probably do."

NDP ethics critic Nathan Cullen said the selection process for the Governor General worked out well in this case — he called Payette over-qualified for the job. But he warned the process could go off the rails in the future, citing the recent controversy around the government's nomination of Madeleine Meilleur to the role of official languages commissioner.

Meilleur withdrew her candidacy after heavy criticism for her Liberal connections and her donation of about $3000 to the federal Liberals since 2009.

"This prime minister recently politicized the process of appointing independent watch dogs of Parliament, by choosing a lifelong Liberal and big donor," Cullen said.

"I have complete trust in Ms. Payette's ability to fulfil the role, but that doesn't mean the appointment process should be kept behind closed doors going forward."

Trudeau's silence on Payette's expunged assault charge shows double standard: Robyn Urback

Trudeau was forthright in the past about unproven allegations concerning his MPs. Why so quiet now?

By Robyn Urback, CBC News Posted: Jul 20, 2017 5:00 AM ET

It's not far-fetched to think that if it was discovered that a male governor general-designate had an assault charge in his past — even if it was entirely unfounded — Trudeau would seize the opportunity to evangelize about male aggression and domestic violence. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Until artificial intelligence progresses to the point where intelligent machines take over our Westminster system (yes, I'm scared, too), we will continue to appoint flawed humans to important government posts.

Some of these people will come with pasts more fraught than others, but show me a closet without a skeleton and chances are there's a rug nearby with an ugly lump.

That's why I look at the expunged assault charge for governor general-designate Julie Payette, as reported Tuesday by iPolitics, with little more than a shrug.

It is newsworthy, certainly: there is hardly a compelling reason why the news that Canada's next governor general once faced a second-degree assault charge ought to be kept from Canadians, other than perhaps for Payette's personal privacy, though that's generally forfeited when assuming as high profile a role as representative of the Queen.

An 'unfounded' charge

If we take Payette at her word that the 2011 charge was "unfounded," then it should constitute a mere line or two in her biography, and certainly not disqualify her from her soon-to-be-assumed role. The charge was laid, quickly dropped and subsequently expunged, according to reports. See "flawed humans," above.

What makes the story exceptional, however, is the prime minister's reluctance to address the report with anything beyond a cursory "no comment." Indeed, when pressed by iPolitics, Kate Purchase, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's director of communications, said simply: "We've got no comment on this." She also would not confirm whether the prime minister was aware of the charge before appointing Payette (though it's difficult to imagine he wasn't, considering the way candidates for the post are vetted).

• Countdown begins for Julie Payette's new life as governor general
• Trudeau and Payette speak about her new role as GG

In a thoughtful column for iPolitics, Susan Delacourt posited that Trudeau's response might not have been so nonchalant had reports surfaced of a male governor general-designate with an expunged assault charge in his history.

"It brings up a thought-provoking question," she wrote. "Could the PMO simply say 'no comment' in response to reports about an assault charge involving a male appointee?"

"Probably not," she answers. "Let's all cast our minds back to Trudeau's delivery of swift justice against two former Liberal MPs accused of pressing unwelcome advances against two female New Democrat MPs."
Delacourt ends the discussion there, but I think it merits a more detailed comparison.

Massimo Pacetti, left, and Scott Andrews were suspended from the Liberal caucus in 2014. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

In the case of those two former Liberal MPs — Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti — there were no actual charges levelled against them when the news broke back in November 2014. In fact, the internal investigation of the matter came only after Trudeau announced that the pair would be suspended from caucus because of "allegations of serious misconduct."

At the time, the MPs hadn't even been informed of the specific allegations against them. Nevertheless, Trudeau stood before cameras to declare that he would "give the benefit of the doubt to those who come forward."

Months went by and one of the original accusers gave a detailed account of a sexual encounter with Pacetti to Huffington Post Canada, while a Toronto human rights lawyer hired by Trudeau conducted an independent investigation into the allegations.

Finally, in March, Pacetti and Andrews were informed — via media leaks, not from their party, and before they had a chance to look at the final report from the external investigator — that they would be permanently booted from the Liberals. Trudeau confirmed the news shortly thereafter.

There are obvious differences between the Payette case and that of Pacetti and Andrews, the most significant of which being that the allegations against the latter two concern their conduct while in office, not six years prior. But the chief point here is that when Trudeau made that first public statement back in November 2014, the allegations against them were unproven.

Yet instead of quietly investigating the matter before going public, Trudeau opted for what was likely the more politically expedient move: he talked about them publicly — remarking on the importance of individuals coming forward, and about power dynamics, and about safe workplaces — even if it helped prematurely convict the MPs in the court of public opinion.

It's not a perfect comparison, but the difference in approach is striking: a couple of men were treated as guilty before we knew the facts, and Trudeau jumped in front of the microphone at seemingly the first available opportunity. But now, with a woman at the centre of the controversy, he's totally mum. It's all the more bizarre considering that, in the eyes of the law, Payette's case is settled.

It's not far-fetched to think that if it was discovered that a male governor general had an assault charge in his past, Trudeau would seize the opportunity to evangelize about male aggression and domestic violence. Then again, I don't think Trudeau would appoint a male governor general with a past assault charge — even one that had been dropped and expunged — in the first place.

Payette's past shouldn't disqualify her from the role of governor general, but it shouldn't be ignored by the prime minister, either. Trudeau was eager to get his comments in before; he hardly has a good reason for staying quiet now.

 https://ipolitics.ca/2017/07/18/pmo-has-no-comment-on-julie-payettes-expunged-2011-assault-charge/

PMO has no comment on Julie Payette's expunged 2011 assault charge

Case was ultimately dropped and Payette insists she was ‘completely cleared’

BJ Siekierski

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 

Governor General Designate Julie Payette was charged with second-degree assault while living in Maryland in 2011 — a charge she calls ‘unfounded’ and which she has since had expunged — and about which the Prime Minister’s Office is refusing to confirm it had prior knowledge.

“We’ve got no comment on this,” Kate Purchase, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s director of communications, said in an email. She would not confirm whether Trudeau had been aware of the almost six-year-old criminal charge relating to an alleged assault — a charge that was ultimately dropped — before he announced that Payette would replace David Johnston as Canada’s new governor-general.

Late yesterday, Payette acknowledged the arrest and charges, but strongly stated her innocence.

“‎For family and personal reasons, I will not comment on these unfounded charges, of which I was immediately and completely cleared many years ago, and I hope that people will respect my private life,” she said in a statement provided to iPolitics.

In a routine background check, iPolitics found the record of the assault charge. The record shows Payette was arrested and charged under Section 3-203 of the Maryland Code with second-degree assault, which can carry a jail term of up to 10 years and fines up to $2,500. The charge was dropped two weeks later.

The alleged offence for which she was charged took place on November 24, 2011 in Piney Point, Maryland, where Payette was living with her then-husband, retired RCAF pilot William “Billie” Flynn. According to a source, Flynn was the victim of the alleged assault, but that has not been confirmed. Efforts to reach Flynn for comment over the weekend went unanswered.

Flynn spent 23 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force before becoming a test pilot for Lockheed-Martin in 2003 and an outspoken advocate of the F-35 fighter jet.

Payette and Flynn split shortly after the November 2011 incident and Maryland’s St. Mary’s County Circuit Court records show two family court cases filed on May 22, 2013 and June 26, 2013 — both of which are now closed.

The records include court documents related to “Custody or Visitation Issues” (Payette is the mother of a 14-year-old son) and a “Motion for Earnings Withholding Order for Child Support” that was filed on Payette’s behalf on March 10, 2017.

Payette requested to withdraw that motion on June 13. It was only dismissed without prejudice on June 28, 2017, just a little more than two weeks before she was officially announced as Johnston’s successor.



A second-degree assault charge is most commonly applied when someone is accused of having caused “physical injury” to another person. It can also be applied when the accused made someone “fearful of harm.”

The background search record shows that on December 8, 2011 the assault case was entered nolle prosequi, meaning the prosecutor opted to not proceed with the charges. This most commonly occurs in domestic disputes because the victim refuses to press charges, witnesses recant, or the district attorney sees little chance of conviction. There’s no explanation in the background records obtained by iPolitics of what transpired or why the charge was dropped.


Under Maryland law, an individual can file a petition for expungement based on a nolle prosequi after three years — or within three years if the individual files a “General Waiver and Release of all legal claims”.
If an expungement is granted, the public is no longer able to view the record. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search doesn’t reveal one.

According to a Maryland Judiciary background document on removing criminal records from public access, however, even after a record has been expunged, it may continue to be visible to individuals performing background checks.

“Some companies and agencies download case information and retain it for a long period of time. If they have access to older data, they may find the information which has since been expunged,” the document says. “If you are asked about expunged information, you may need to provide a copy of the court order to prove the record has been expunged.”

Based on the background record obtained by iPolitics, Michael H. Gardiner, a lieutenant in St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office said, “it appears the case may have been expunged.”

A 53-year-old Montrealer who worked as an astronaut from 1992 to 2013 and flew two missions in space, Payette brings an impressive CV to Rideau Hall that includes 27 honorary doctorates in addition to her bachelor of electrical engineering from McGill University and master’s in computer engineering from the University of Toronto.

Last Thursday, Trudeau called her a role model.

“Ms. Payette’s life has been one dedicated to discovery, to dreaming big and to always staying focused on the things that matter most. These truly Canadian traits, along with her years of public service, make her unquestionably qualified for this high office.”

She’s expected to assume the position, which comes with a $290,660 annual salary, in the fall.

From 2011 to 2013, according to her biographical notes on the prime minister’s website, she worked as a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and was appointed scientific authority for Quebec in the United States.

She is a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec and an Officer of the Order of Canada and serves on a variety of boards.

“Many of you probably remember watching Ms. Payette and seven other prominent Canadians as they carried the Olympic flag during the opening ceremonies in Vancouver in 2010,” Trudeau said last week when he introduced her.

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