https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2021/statement-governor-general
Statement from the Governor General
January 21, 2021
OTTAWA—Everyone has a right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances. It appears this was not always the case at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. Tensions have arisen at Rideau Hall over the past few months and for that, I am sorry.
While no formal complaints or official grievances were made during my tenure, which would have immediately triggered a detailed investigation as prescribed by law and the collective agreements in place, I still take these allegations very seriously. Not only did I welcome a review of the work climate at the OSGG, but I have repeatedly encouraged employees to participate in the review in large numbers. We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better, and be attentive to one another’s perceptions.
I am a strong believer in the principles of natural justice, due process and the rule of law, and that these principles apply to all equally. Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my vice-regal Office and for the good of our country and of our democratic institutions, I have come to the conclusion that a new Governor General should be appointed. Canadians deserve stability in these uncertain times.
From a personal side, this decision comes at an opportune time, as my father’s health has seriously worsened in the last few weeks and my family needs my help.
So it is with sureness and humility, but also with pride over what was accomplished during my tenure as Governor General and in my service to the country for the past 28 years, that I have submitted my resignation. I have informed the Prime Minister of Canada of my decision. I wish him the best as he seeks an individual to recommend to Her Majesty as the next Governor General of Canada and I wish the best to my successor. I will remain at his or her disposal.
It has been an immense privilege to serve my country and to fulfill the constitutional duties of my Office on behalf of all Canadians. I wish to extend my thanks to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his trust and for offering me this incredible opportunity. I would also like to thank the personnel of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General for their work, especially under the difficult circumstances that we have known over the past months. All my gratitude also goes to the members of the RCMP who are willing to put their lives on the line to assure our protection; and to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have always shown tremendous respect, friendship and support. Being their Commander in chief for the last few year has been a tremendous honour. I hold them in great esteem.
For so many Canadians, the past few months have been extremely difficult. As our country, and indeed the world, faced the reality of a pandemic, we all have had to make sacrifice and do our part to limit the spread of the virus, and to protect others, especially the most vulnerable. One cannot choose when hardship comes, but one can choose how to respond to it in times of crisis, and Canadians all over the country have answered the call. At the forefront are the health and medical personnel, essential workers, military personnel, public health officials, leaders and scientists, who have been working tirelessly to provide care, support, leadership and solutions. We owe them an immense debt of gratitude.
I would like to conclude by conveying my sincere appreciation to Canadians for their support over the years. I have had the chance to meet, represent and celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of extraordinary Canadians from coast to coast over the past years and I will always cherish these memories. We live in a remarkable country.
It has been an honour and a privilege.
Julie Payette
-30-
Media information:
Rob McKinnon
Rideau Hall Press Office
343-548-1976 (cell)
Rob.McKinnon@gg.ca
https://twitter.com/DavidRaymondAm1/with_replies
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:23:18 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: I just contacted the Governor General and
Canada's latest Lieutenant Governor through their offices in Ottawa
and Fredericton .byway of phone and obviously email as well N'esy Pas
Mr Butts?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Due to the high volume of emails that we receive daily, please note
that there may be a delay in our response. Thank you for your
understanding.
If you are looking for current information on Coronavirus, please
visit www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144.
Thank you.
Bonjour,
Nous vous remercions d’avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
Tenant compte du volume élevé de courriels que nous recevons
quotidiennement, il se peut qu’il y ait un délai dans notre réponse.
Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension.
Si vous recherchez des informations à jour sur le coronavirus,
veuillez visiter
www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
Merci.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000
Fredericton, New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
E3B 5H1
Canada
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:22:12 +0000
Subject: Automatic Reply
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for writing to the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please
note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured
that your message will be carefully reviewed.
We do not respond to correspondence that contains offensive language.
-------------------
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable David Lametti, ministre de la
Justice et procureur général du Canada.
En raison du volume de correspondance adressée au ministre, veuillez
prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un retard dans le traitement de
votre courriel. Nous tenons à vous assurer que votre message sera lu
avec soin.
Nous ne répondons pas à la correspondance contenant un langage offensant.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Info <Info@gg.ca>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:22:15 +0000
Subject: OSGG General Inquiries / Demande de renseignements généraux au BSGG
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for writing to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor
General. We appreciate hearing your views and suggestions. Responses
to specific inquiries can be expected within three weeks. Please note
that general comments and opinions may not receive a response.
*****
Nous vous remercions d'avoir écrit au Bureau du secrétaire du
gouverneur général. Nous aimons prendre connaissance de vos points de
vue et de vos suggestions. Il faut allouer trois semaines pour
recevoir une réponse à une demande précise. Veuillez noter que nous ne
donnons pas nécessairement suite aux opinions et aux commentaires
généraux.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This message may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are
not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or
copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately if you have
received this email by mistake and delete it from your system.
AVIS IMPORTANT : Le présent courriel peut contenir des renseignements
confidentiels et est strictement réservé à l’usage de la personne à
qui il est destiné. Si vous n’êtes pas la personne visée, vous ne
devez pas diffuser, distribuer ou copier ce courriel. Merci de nous en
aviser immédiatement et de supprimer ce courriel s’il vous a été
envoyé par erreur.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:22:09 -0400
Subject: Fwd: I just contacted the Governor General and Canada's
latest Lieutenant Governor through their offices in Ottawa and
Fredericton .byway of phone and obviously email as well N'esy Pas
To: Rob.McKinnon@gg.ca, SylviaPoirier <SylviaPoirier@conservative.ca
pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>,
"Ian.Shugart" <Ian.Shugart@pco-bcp.gc.ca>, David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca,
mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, ltgov@gnb.ca, info@gg.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Mark.Blakely"
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet"
<martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>
robmoorefundy@gmail.com
Rob McKinnon
Rideau Hall Press Office
343-548-1976 (cell)
Rob.McKinnon@gg.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2019 10:42:31 -0300
Subject: Re: I just contacted the Governor General and Canada's latest
Lieutenant Governor through their offices in Ottawa and Fredericton
.byway of phone and obviously email as well N'esy Pas Mr Butts?
To: info@gg.ca, ltgov@gnb.ca, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>,
"kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>,
"Kevin.Vickers" <Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca>, "brian.gallant"
<brian.gallant@gnb.ca>, "ian.hanamansing" <ian.hanamansing@cbc.ca>,
"Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, "darrow.macintyre"
<darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca>, "carl.urquhart" <carl.urquhart@gnb.ca>,
"Catherine.Tait" <Catherine.Tait@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury"
<sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.
<Alex.Johnston@cbc.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)"
<kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)"
<megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy" <michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>,
"rick.desaulniers" <rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin"
<robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, robmoorefundy <robmoorefundy@gmail.com>,
alaina <alaina@alainalockhart.ca>, "robert.mckee"
<robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, "andrea.anderson-mason"
<andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca>
andre <andre@jafaust.com>, jbosnitch <jbosnitch@gmail.com>,
"Roger.Brown" <Roger.Brown@fredericton.ca>, "dan. bussieres"
<dan.bussieres@gnb.ca>, "Gilles.Blinn" <Gilles.Blinn@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>,
"Gilles.Cote" <Gilles.Cote@gnb.ca>, "hon.ralph.goodale"
<hon.ralph.goodale@canada.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>,
"Nathalie.Drouin" <Nathalie.Drouin@justice.gc.ca
kathleen.roussel@ppsc-sppc.gc.
Cc: "Gerald.Butts" <Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>,
Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca, motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>,
Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, "Jacques.Poitras"
<Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "David.Lametti" <David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca>,
"Ian.Shugart" <Ian.Shugart@pco-bcp.gc.ca>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Info <Info@gg.ca>
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2019 13:36:23 +0000
Subject: OSGG General Inquiries / Demande de renseignements généraux au BSGG
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for writing to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor
General. We appreciate hearing your views and suggestions. Responses
to specific inquiries can be expected within three weeks. Please note
that general comments and opinions may not receive a response.
*****
Nous vous remercions d'avoir écrit au Bureau du secrétaire du
gouverneur général. Nous aimons prendre connaissance de vos points de
vue et de vos suggestions. Il faut allouer trois semaines pour
recevoir une réponse à une demande précise. Veuillez noter que nous ne
donnons pas nécessairement suite aux opinions et aux commentaires
généraux.
On 10/9/19, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
> Rideau Hall
> 1 Sussex Drive
> Ottawa ON K1A 0A1
> 613-993-8200
> 1-800-465-6890 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.)
> TTY: 1-800-465-7735
> info@gg.ca
>
> I spoke to a lady named "Hannah"
>
> Lieutenant Governor .
> Phone: (506) 453-2505
> Fax: (506) 444-5280
> E-mail: ltgov@gnb.ca
> Or by regular mail (see below)
>
> I got the recording so I left another voicemail
>
> This is the lawsuit I was referring to
>
> https://davidraymondamos3.
>
> Friday, 18 September 2015
> David Raymond Amos Versus The Crown T-1557-15
>
>
>
> Court File No. T-1557-15
>
> FEDERAL COURT
>
> BETWEEN:
> DAVID RAYMOND AMOS
>
> Plaintiff
> and
>
> HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
>
> Defendant
>
> STATEMENT OF CLAIM
>
> The Parties
>
> 1. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (Crown) is Elizabeth II, the Queen of
> England, the Protector of the Faith of the Church of England, the
> longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and one of the
> wealthiest persons in the world. Canada pays homage to the Queen
> because she remained the Head of State and the Chief Executive Officer
> of Canada after the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.) 1982, c. 11 came into force
> on April 17, 1982. The standing of the Queen in Canada was explained
> within the 2002 Annual Report FORM 18-K filed by Canada with the
> United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It states as
> follows:
>
> “The executive power of the federal Government is vested in the
> Queen, represented by the Governor General, whose powers are exercised
> on the advice of the federal Cabinet, which is responsible to the
> House of Commons. The legislative branch at the federal level,
> Parliament, consists of the Crown, the Senate and the House of
> Commons.”
>
> “The executive power in each province is vested in the Lieutenant
> Governor, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the
> federal Cabinet. The Lieutenant Governor’s powers are exercised on the
> advice of the provincial cabinet, which is responsible to the
> legislative assembly. Each provincial legislature is composed of a
> Lieutenant Governor and a legislative assembly made up of members
> elected for a period of five years.”
>
> 2. Her Majesty the Queen is the named defendant pursuant to
> sections 23(1) and 36 of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act. Some
> of the state actors whose duties and actions are at issue in this
> action are the Prime Minister, Premiers, Governor General, Lieutenant
> Governors, members of the Canadian Forces (CF), and Royal Canadian
> Mounted Police (RCMP), federal and provincial Ministers of Public
> Safety, Ministers of Justice, Ministers of Finance, Speakers, Clerks,
> Sergeants-at-Arms and any other person acting as Aide-de-Camp
> providing security within and around the House of Commons, the
> legislative assemblies or acting as security for other federal,
> provincial and municipal properties.
>
> 3. Her Majesty the Queen’s servants the RCMP whose mandate is to
> serve and protect Canadian citizens and assist in the security of
> parliamentary properties and the protection of public officials should
> not deny a correspondence from a former Deputy Prime Minister who was
> appointed to be Canada’s first Minister of Public Safety in order to
> oversee the RCMP and their cohorts. The letter that helped to raise
> the ire of a fellow Canadian citizen who had never voted in his life
> to run for public office four times thus far is quoted as follows:
>
> “Mr. David R. Amos
> Jan 3rd, 2004
> 153Alvin Avenue
> Milton, MA U.S.A. 02186
>
> Dear Mr. Amos
>
> Thank you for your letter of November 19th, 2003, addressed to
> my predecessor, the Honourble Wayne Easter, regarding
> your safety.
> I apologize for the delay in responding.
>
> If you have any concerns about your personal safety, I can only
> suggest that you contact the police of local
> jurisdiction. In addition, any
> evidence of criminal activity should be brought to
> their attention since the
> police are in the best position to evaluate the
> information and take action
> as deemed appropriate.
>
> I trust that this information is satisfactory.
>
> Yours
> sincerely
>
> A. Anne McLellan”
>
> 4. DAVID RAYMOND AMOS (Plaintiff), a Canadian Citizen and the
> first Chief of the Amos Clan, was born in Sackville, New Brunswick
> (NB) on July 17th, 1952.
>
> 5. The Plaintiff claims standing in this action as a citizen
> whose human rights and democratic interests are to be protected by due
> performance of the obligations of Canada’s public officials who are
> either elected or appointed and all servants of the Crown whose
> mandate is to secure the public safety, protect public interests and
> to uphold and enforce the rule of law. The Crown affirms his right to
> seek relief for offences to his rights under section 24(1) of the
> Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter). Paragraphs 6 to 13
> explain the delay in bringing this action before Federal Court and
> paragraphs 25 to 88 explain this matter.
>
> 6. The Plaintiff states that pursuant to the democratic rights
> found in Section 3 of the Charter he was a candidate in the elections
> of the membership of the 38th and 39th Parliaments in the House of
> Commons and a candidate in the elections of the memberships of the
> legislative assemblies in Nova Scotia (NS) and NB in 2006.
>
> 7. The Plaintiff states that if he is successful in finding a
> Chartered Accountant to audit his records as per the rules of
> Elections Canada, he will attempt to become a candidate in the
> election of the membership of the 42nd Parliament.
>
> 8. The Plaintiff states that beginning in January of 2002, he
> made many members of the RCMP and many members of the corporate media
> including employees of a Crown Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting
> Corporation (CBC) well aware of the reason why he planned to return to
> Canada and become a candidate in the next federal election. In May of
> 2004, all members seated in the 37th Parliament before the writ was
> dropped for the election of the 38th Parliament and several members of
> the legislative assemblies of NB and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
> knew the reason is the ongoing rampant public corruption. Evidence of
> the Plaintiff’s concerns can be found within his documents that the
> Office of the Governor General acknowledged were in its possession ten
> years ago before the Speech from the Throne in 2004. The Governor
> General’s letter is as follows:
>
>
> “September 11th, 2004
> Dear Mr. Amos,
>
> On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne
> Clarkson,
> I acknowledge receipt of two sets of documents and CD
> regarding corruption,
> one received from you directly, and the other forwarded to
> us by the Office of
> the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.
>
> I regret to inform you that the Governor
> General cannot intervene in
> matters that are the responsibility of elected officials
> and courts of Justice of
> Canada. You already contacted the various provincial
> authorities regarding
> your concerns, and these were the appropriate steps to take.
>
> Yours sincerely.
> Renee
> Blanchet
> Office
> of the Secretary
> to the
> Governor General”
>
> 9. The Plaintiff states that the documents contain proof that the
> Crown by way of the RCMP and the Minister of Public Safety/Deputy
> Prime Minister knew that he was the whistleblower offering his
> assistance to Maher Arar and his lawyers in the USA. The Governor
> General acknowledged his concerns about the subject of this complaint
> and affirmed that the proper provincial authorities were contacted but
> ignored the Plaintiff’s faxes and email to the RCMP and the Solicitor
> General in November of 2003 and his tracked US Mail to the Solicitor
> General and the Commissioner of the RCMP by way of the Department of
> Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in December of 2003
> and the response he received from the Minister of Public Safety/Deputy
> Prime Minister in early 2004. One document was irrefutable proof that
> there was no need whatsoever to create a Commission of Inquiry into
> Maher Arar concerns at about the same point in time. That document is
> a letter from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office
> Inspector General (OIG complaint no. C04-01448) admitting contact with
> his office on November 21, 2003 within days of the Plaintiff talking
> to the office of Canada’s Solicitor General while he met with the US
> Attorney General and one day after the former Attorney General of New
> York (NY) and the former General Counsel of the SEC testified at a
> public hearing before the US Senate Banking Committee about
> investigations of the mutual fund industry.
>
> Here is a comment I made in CBC before I called their offices
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> 6 Comments
>
> David Raymond Amos
> Methinks whereas Murphy spoke about her passion for social justice,
> the lady and I should have a long talk very soon about the lawsuit I
> filed in Federal Court in 2015 while I was running in the last federal
> election N'esy Pas?
>
>
>
>
> Brenda Murphy installed as New Brunswick's 32nd lieutenant-governor
>
>
> Formal ceremony held in Fredericton on Tuesday follows swearing-in last
> month
> CBC News · Posted: Oct 08, 2019 5:40 PM AT | Last Updated: October 8
> Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy's installation ceremony included an honour
> guard. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
>
>
> Brenda Murphy was installed as New Brunswick's 32nd
> lieutenant-governor during a formal ceremony Tuesday at the
> legislative assembly in Fredericton.
>
> In her first speech as lieutenant-governor, Murphy spoke about her
> passion for social justice.
>
> "Effective change can happen when we work together to build an
> inclusive, equitable society, address systemic barriers and support
> one another," she said.
>
> "Having experienced New Brunswick through several different lenses, I
> am looking forward to bringing that diverse perspective to this role
> and to continuing to serve the people of our province."
>
> Murphy, 60, of Grand Bay-Westfield, succeeds Jocelyne Roy Vienneau,
> 63, who died Aug. 2 following a battle with cancer.
>
> Murphy was sworn in during an informal ceremony on Sept. 8 to allow
> for the immediate commencement of her duties.
>
> Brenda Murphy 'humbled' to be appointed New Brunswick's new
> lieutenant-governor
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs, who hosted Tuesday's official ceremony, thanked
> Murphy for her leadership in social justice and making "a profound
> difference in the lives of many New Brunswickers."
>
> "I know she will continue to inspire others and contribute to the
> betterment of our province as lieutenant-governor, and I look forward
> to working with her."
>
> Murphy spent more than two decades as the head of the Saint John
> Women's Empowerment Network before retiring in April and has served on
> advisory councils on poverty and the status of women at the federal
> and provincial levels.
>
> She served three terms as a town councillor in Grand Bay-Westfield and
> has volunteered with a variety of organizations over the years,
> supporting housing, justice and equality for women.
>
> Lieutenant-governors are appointed by Julie Payette, the Governor
> General of Canada, on the recommendation of the prime minister. They
> serve terms of at least five years.
>
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
Independent firm completes review into claims of 'toxic' environment at Rideau Hall
Sources briefed on the report say it's scathing
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette. An outside consultant hired to look into reports of a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall has tabled a report that sources say comes to some harsh conclusions. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
An independent consulting firm has completed its review into reports of a toxic environment and workplace harassment at Rideau Hall — and sources briefed on the report say its tone is blistering.
Sources said the negative findings in the report could make it difficult for Julie Payette to remain in her role as Governor General. The Globe and Mail also reports that the review has been completed and is damning in its conclusions.
Sources have also told CBC that Secretary to the Governor General Assunta Di Lorenzo, who has also been accused of harassing employees, recently hired Marie Henein's firm to represent her.
Henein represented ex-Vice Admiral Mark Norman, the military's former second-in-command, during his trial for breach of trust. Federal prosecutors stayed that charge. It's not clear if Henein or another lawyer at her firm is personally representing Di Lorenzo.
CBC News contacted Rideau Hall, Di Lorenzo and Henein this morning for comment and has not heard back. The National Post has also reported Henein Hutchison LLP has been hired.
CBC is not naming the sources as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The head of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Dominic LeBlanc, is overseeing the review and is expected to offer recommendations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his response. LeBlanc's father was the governor general from 1995-1999.
Experts agree that when a government wants a controversial governor general to depart, the most likely approach would be for the prime minister to suggest resignation. If the governor general doesn't follow through on that suggestion, the prime minister could turn to the Queen to appoint a replacement.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace wouldn't comment on the report today.
"This is a matter for the Canadian government so I would refer you to them," said Hannah Howard, deputy communications secretary to the Queen.
The Privy Council Office launched the unprecedented third-party review in July in response to a CBC News report featuring a dozen public servants and former employees confidentially claiming Payette had belittled, berated and publicly humiliated Rideau Hall staff. Di Lorenzo, the Governor General's longtime friend and second-in-command, is also accused of bullying staff.
Payette tweeted two days after that story aired that she was "deeply concerned about the media reports" and she "takes harassment and workplace issues very seriously ... I am in full agreement and welcome the independent review."
As of Jan. 5, Rideau Hall had spent more than $150,000 in public funds on legal representation in response to the toxic workplace allegations, including a former Supreme Court justice for the Governor General and Blakes law firm for the institution.
That sum is larger than the original value of the federal contract that hired Quintet Consulting to conduct the review. The private firm was hired on an $88,325 contract in Sept. 2020.
More than 50 people voluntarily took part in the review. They included current and former staff at Rideau Hall and representatives of other government departments that work closely with the Governor General and her office, such as the RCMP, Global Affairs and the National Capital Commission.
The number of participants grew higher than the government anticipated, causing the review to take longer than originally scheduled.
Quintet's president, Raphael Szajnfarber, told CBC News yesterday the firm remains "unable to discuss this confidential matter."
WATCH | The atmosphere at Rideau Hall was tense in November 2020 as review was underway:
The
atmosphere at Rideau Hall is tense as an investigation into allegations
of workplace harassment continues with more than 50 people being
interviewed. The investigation follows claims that Gov. Gen. Julie
Payette harassed employees and her second-in-command bullied staff. 1:51
Reports of 'tantrums' on foreign trips
Last year, former staffers gave CBC News accounts of Payette throwing "tantrums" in the office and on foreign trips, openly criticizing people's work to the point where they were reduced to tears, and tossing an employee's work aside and calling it "shit." Employees have been seen leaving her office with tears in their eyes or crying in their vehicles.
Sources say Payette is known for dropping "explosions" or "bursts of emotion" on staff at Rideau Hall over the quality of work done in the office.
CBC News has now spoken confidentially to more than 20 public servants with direct knowledge of the workplace climate at Rideau Hall. They spoke on the condition they not be named because they feared they could lose their jobs or their careers could suffer. Many of the sources are still in the public service, while others are former Rideau Hall employees.
One source said Rideau Hall went from being one of the most collegial federal public service workplaces to a "house of horrors," causing longtime employees to leave in droves.
Payette greets Canadian World War II veteran Bill Anderson, left, at a ceremony at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Reviers, Normandy, France, in June 2019. Some former employees reported that on some foreign trips Payette threw 'tantrums' and was verbally abusive to staff. (David Vincent/The Associated Press)
Five executives left Payette's office in 2018 within months of each other, the communications department cleared out during the pandemic and Di Lorenzo has had at least four executive assistants leave, according to sources. In the past month, another group of staff members departed.
"She screams and humiliates staff in front of others," one former employee told CBC News in July 2020. "It's verbal abuse. In no world is it OK to treat people that way."
At the beginning of her mandate, sources said, Payette also put staff on the spot by quizzing them about outer space — asking them to name all the planets in the solar system, for example, or to state the distance between the sun and the moon.
In one four-month period, roughly two dozen people reported abusive conduct by Payette or Di Lorenzo to management, according to government sources. Former employees complain the system protects the alleged abusers and said they fear it would ruin their careers to file an official complaint.
Claims of harassment of employees
Di Lorenzo is also accused of harassing employees and calling some "lazy" and "incompetent."
A former lawyer and executive in Montreal, Di Lorenzo is supposed to keep Payette's office running smoothly and effectively. Multiple sources said Di Lorenzo is years into the job — which is typically filled by a seasoned public servant — and still doesn't understand how the public service works.
"[Di Lorenzo is] also a bully," said a source. "When confronted with something she's unsure of, instead of giving you the benefit of the doubt, she comes at you as a pit bull."
CBC News has also reported Payette has faced similar claims at past workplaces, but the prime minister and his officials didn't conduct checks with her past employers before appointing her as Governor General.
Payette was given severance of roughly $200,000 when she resigned from the Montreal Science Centre in 2016 following complaints about her treatment of employees, say multiple sources at Canada Lands Company, the Crown corporation that employed her. In 2017, Payette left the Canadian Olympic Committee after two internal investigations into her treatment of staff that included claims of verbal harassment, sources with that organization said.
The Governor General retained the services of former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache as "constitutional adviser" and paid him $41,488. The law firm Blakes is also assisting the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) in the review process and has been paid $111,179; that contract has been amended to allow for billing up to $149,500.
In August, Rideau Hall hired former NDP national director Karl Bélanger and his firm, Traxxion Strategies, to provide strategic communications counsel and media relations support to Payette, and has paid him $9,450 so far.
About the Author
With files from the CBC's Kristen Everson
Payette stepping down as governor general after blistering report on Rideau Hall work environment
Chief Justice Richard Wagner will be fulfilling duties of the Governor General
Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette and her secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, are resigning after an outside workplace review of Rideau Hall found that the pair presided over a toxic work environment.
Last year, an independent consulting firm was hired by the Privy Council Office (PCO) to review reports that Payette was responsible for workplace harassment at Rideau Hall.
Sources who were briefed on the consulting firm's report told CBC News that its conclusions were damning.
President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada Dominic LeBlanc told CBC's Vassy Kapelos the federal government received the final report late last week, which he said offered some "disturbing" and "worrisome" conclusions.
LeBlanc said Payette indicated her intention to resign during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last night, where they discussed the report's contents.
In a media statement announcing her departure, Payette apologized for what she called the "tensions" at Rideau Hall in recent months, saying that everyone has "a right to a healthy and safe work environment."
"While no formal complaints or official grievances were made during my tenure, which would have immediately triggered a detailed investigation as prescribed by law and the collective agreements in place, I still take these allegations very seriously," she said in the statement.
"We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better and be attentive to one another's perceptions."
WATCH | Gov. Gen. Julie Payette resigns after scathing workplace review:
Gov.
Gen. Julie Payette resigned on Thursday after a scathing review about a
toxic workplace at Rideau Hall. The review followed CBC reporting into
allegations of workplace harassment and bullying in the Governor
General’s office. 2:50
Payette said her resignation comes at a good time because her father is in poor health and her family needs her help.
Trudeau's office confirmed receiving Payette's resignation.
"Every employee in the Government of Canada has the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, and we will always take this very seriously," Trudeau said in a statement. "Today's announcement provides an opportunity for new leadership at Rideau Hall to address the workplace concerns raised by employees during the review."
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Richard Wagner will fulfil the duties of the Governor General on an interim basis. In a short statement, Buckingham Palace said "the Queen has been kept informed of developments."
Third-party review
The Privy Council Office launched the unprecedented third-party review in July in response to a CBC News report featuring a dozen public servants and former employees confidentially claiming Payette belittled, berated and publicly humiliated Rideau Hall staff. Di Lorenzo, Payette's longtime friend and second-in-command, is also accused of bullying staff.
Payette tweeted two days after that story aired that she was "deeply concerned about the media reports" and she "takes harassment and workplace issues very seriously ... I am in full agreement and welcome the independent review."
As of Jan. 5, Rideau Hall had spent more than $150,000 in public funds on legal representation in response to the toxic workplace allegations, and had hired a former Supreme Court justice to represent Payette and Blakes law firm for the institution itself.
That sum is larger than the original value of the federal contract that hired Quintet Consulting to conduct the review. The private firm was hired on an $88,325 contract in Sept. 2020.
Sources have also told CBC that Secretary to the Governor General Assunta Di Lorenzo, who has also been accused of harassing employees, recently hired Marie Henein's firm to represent her.
Henein represented ex-Vice Admiral Mark Norman, the military's former second-in-command, during his trial for breach of trust. Federal prosecutors stayed that charge. It's not clear if Henein or another lawyer at her firm is personally representing Di Lorenzo.
The Bloc Québécois issued a statement calling for the immediate release of the Rideau Hall workplace review and said the position of Governor General has no place in a democracy.
LeBlanc said his department has already received — and will comply with — access to information requests for the report. But he added that federal privacy law limits what can be disclosed.
"The government is not in a position ... to necessarily release all the details of the report," LeBlanc said. "We will clearly comply with the access to information legislation and the appropriate version will be made public as soon as we can."
Removing a Governor General
Payette joins a very short list of governors general who have left the post early — but she is the first to do so mired in controversy.
Lord Alexander left for England a month before Vincent Massey was sworn in as his replacement in 1952. John Buchan, also known as Lord Tweedsmuir, and Georges Vanier both died while serving, in 1940 and 1967, respectively. In those cases, the Supreme Court chief justice of the day stepped in to fill the role temporarily.
Romeo LeBlanc, Dominic's father, stepped down in 1999 before the end of his term due to health issues. The office was not left vacant; LeBlanc continued until Adrienne Clarkson was ready to succeed him.
Governors general have resigned under pressure — and have been asked to resign by prime ministers — in Commonwealth countries in the past. In 2003, Australian Gov. Gen. Peter Hollingworth resigned after controversy erupted over the way he had handled sexual abuse claims while he was archbishop of Brisbane.
WATCH | Former heritage minister on choosing a governor general
James Moore was the heritage minister in the Conservative government of Stephen Harper. 1:48
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole released a statement calling on the Liberal government to consult the other parties before choosing Payette's permanent replacement.
"The Governor General is the Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces and has an important constitutional role," O'Toole said. "Considering the problems with his last appointment and the minority Parliament, the Prime Minister should consult opposition parties and re-establish the Vice-Regal Appointments Committee."
That committee was created by the Harper government in 2012 to identify a list of possible candidates for viceregal offices, including the Governor General, through a non-partisan consultation process. It was later disbanded and was dormant in 2017.
LeBlanc committed the Liberal government to a "robust and thorough and complete" vetting process when choosing Payette's successor.
In a statement, Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, called media reports about Payette's behaviour "regrettable." He said he hopes that her resignation will usher in a new chapter at Rideau Hall defined by "loyalty, dignity and respect."
"It is important to remember that the Governor General represents our admired head of state, the Queen," said Finch. "If future vice-regals aspire to perform their roles with the grace, dedication and duty as our Sovereign has during almost 70 years, they will excel."
With files from the CBC's Mark Gollom, Peter Zimonjic, Ryan Jones and the Canadian Press
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/payette-governor-general-resignation-wherry-1.5883082
Payette is the one resigning — but Justin Trudeau has to wear it
In Payette's appointment, we can see the consequences of a PM leaping before looking
· CBC News · Posted: Jan 22, 2021 4:00 AM ET
Julie Payette leaves along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after delivering the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2020. Payette resigned her post as governor general on Thursday. She may be the first governor general to have to resign in scandal, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does not come away from the scandal unscathed. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Julie Payette might still want to debate the details of what exactly occurred inside Rideau Hall over the last three and a half years. But she apparently couldn't escape an increasingly obvious conclusion — that for her to continue as governor general would risk inflicting serious damage on the office.
"I am a strong believer in the principles of natural justice, due process and the rule of law, and that these principles apply to all equally," Payette said in a statement released Thursday.
"Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my vice-regal office and for the good of our country and of our democratic institutions, I have come to the conclusion that a new governor general should be appointed."
Payette can now plead her case as a private citizen if she chooses. And if the next person to fill the role manages to do so with little to no trouble, the injuries to the office should be limited.
Payette will go down as the first governor general to have to resign in scandal, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does not come away unscathed.
It's the office that counts
The office of governor general is bigger than the person who temporarily occupies it. However interesting or noteworthy the appointee might be, he or she does not come to it with a popular mandate — it's the office that matters. Each governor general might hope to leave a mark, but it's the office that sits at the centre of Canada's democratic system. That imposes a special duty of care on the occupant.
Payette's time as governor general was threatening to tarnish that office. Other governors general have landed in controversy and maybe no one gets through their time at Rideau Hall without experiencing some criticism — either for being too interesting or not interesting enough.
But the allegations against Payette concerned both her interest in attending to some aspects of the job and her treatment of others, specifically her own staff. Those claims by staff members about a "toxic" environment at Rideau Hall were quite serious, and reports suggest an independent review of the office confirmed at least the gist of those charges.
As one commentator noted on Thursday, treating people badly in the workplace might not have been enough to get someone dismissed from a job in years past. But tolerance for misuse of authority is now greatly diminished. And for the nominal head of state, it was too much to overcome.
The GG is a figurehead — but an important one
It is very easy to discount or disregard the governor general. In many ways, the job is about attracting as little attention as possible.
The governor general is, on most days, a figurehead — the representative of Queen Elizabeth II and the embodiment of the Crown. The governor general should represent and celebrate the best of the country while carefully remaining apolitical.
Since the governor general is widely seen as someone who hands out awards and reads the throne speech, it's tempting to imagine that the office could easily be done away with.
But the Crown is central to the Canadian system of government. It's the governor general who presides over transfers of power, imposes some implicit restraint on the prime minister and, in rare circumstances, settles disputes over who will be given the opportunity to govern.
The office could not be reformed or eliminated without significant ramifications for the rest of the system — a system that has, for the most part, served Canada well.
How thoroughly was Payette vetted?
So it's not something to trifle with. And when serious accusations are levelled against the office's occupant, the integrity of the office has to be considered. Payette put that office at risk with her behaviour, and whoever takes the job next will do so at a uniquely delicate moment.
But the end of Payette's time at Rideau Hall leads back to questions about how it started. Doubts about how well she was vetted — about whether gaps in the process led to the appointment of an individual who was unsuited to the task — have already been raised. Such questions will get fresh attention now.
WATCH: Dominic LeBlanc on Julie Payette's resignation
Privy
Council President and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc
on the resignation of Governor General Julie Payette. 2:48
Were warning signs missed or discounted? Did the prime minister know enough about who he was appointing? Did Payette know enough about what she was being asked to do?
Payette's appointment might now seem like an artifact of the version of Justin Trudeau that existed between 2013 and 2019 — and that may still live on beneath the more workman-like version that was largely (but not entirely) on display through 2020.
The pre-beard Trudeau was more ostentatious. Sometimes he took a leap and managed to get to the other side — kick-starting Senate reform, legalizing marijuana or resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees. Other times, he failed to look before leaping and ended up taking a nasty fall — as he did with electoral reform.
Julie Payette was very much the sort of governor general you would have imagined Trudeau picking. Stephen Harper chose a bookish, grandfatherly university administrator. Justin Trudeau picked an astronaut who can sing and play the piano. It's easy to imagine Trudeau thinking about how great Payette would be if it all worked out. But it never really did.
Unfortunately for Trudeau, it will now be noted that Harper appointed a panel to come up with potential nominees — and that Trudeau didn't do the same. Maybe that wouldn't have kept Trudeau from picking someone better. But no one can claim it would have resulted in him picking someone worse.
The new governor general might be fine and the public might go back to not thinking much about who occupies Rideau Hall or what they do. More stories will emerge from Rideau Hall, no doubt, and perhaps Payette will attempt to clear her image with an interview or two. In time, though, this might go down as an unfortunate footnote.
But Payette, Trudeau and the office of the governor general will be lucky if that's as far as the fallout goes. For 153 years, Canadian governors general managed to serve without having to resign in scandal. Breaking that streak might not be the end of Canada's constitutional order — but it's no small thing.
About the Author
When you have a wannabe space man able to appoint a space witch to public office this is the result.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't like anyone couldn't see the potential train wreck right from the get-go?
Maybe the wannabe spaceman figured he would become a full fledged spaceman by association?
I am becoming ashamed to be Canadian.