A very bad hire by Trudeau
Re: GG Julie Payette and Rideau Hall's top bureaucrat resign in wake of damning workplace review, Jan 2020.
The resignation of Gov. Gen. Julie Payette should come as no surprise. Notwithstanding Payette's outstanding personal achievements, questions regarding her overall suitability can be traced back to when she was initially picked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Had the traditional selection process been more thorough and followed in its entirety, this embarrassing matter might have been avoided and Trudeau must bear full responsibility for what happened. More significantly, it can be categorized as another example of his questionable decision-making.
F. Dale Boire, Ottawa
Trudeau should follow Payette out the door
We are told that Julie Payette was our prime minister's personal choice. One wonders what qualities he was seeking for the new governor general.
We are also told that, had he completed basic reference checks with her previous employers, he would have found out that she did not have the character and leadership skills necessary to be an adequate governor general. No “due diligence” done for this position? Yet, every manager in the federal public service must complete reference checks when hiring anyone.
Another bad decision. Another mess. This misstep has already caused serious consequences. The federal Liberal party needs to conclude that our prime minister does not “have it” and needs to show him the door.
André Corriveau, Stittsville
I vote Rick Mercer for governor general
I think Rick Mercer would be an excellent choice for our next governor general. He's well-known and liked; he's a staunch Canadian through and through; he's politically astute and aware; and most of all he appears to have the necessary humility, people skills and charisma to do the job well. He would be a wonderful vice-regal head, host and emissary for Canada.
I hope this time the government will not appoint someone based solely on their academic or career credentials, but rather their interpersonal skills and personal suitability to do the job well. I think Mercer would be able to repair the damage done and restore the honour and integrity of the governor general's office in Canada, an office which makes us all proud to be Canadians.
Garth Teskey, Ottawa
McLachlin would be great replacement
With the long-overdue resignation of Julie Payette, I am suggesting former chief justice Beverley McLachlin as a suitable interim replacement. This, of course, if she would accept such a rigorous and crucial role at this time.
She is gracious, regal, approachable and commands confidence, all of which are necessary at this critical time. With her experience, complex constitutional situations would be handled with extreme competence without any learning curve.
David W. Simpson, Ottawa
A Trumpian ‘non-apology’
At least the governor general is consistent. After a brief term in office characterized by the absence of dignity and grace, her resignation is true to form, offering the classic “non-apology” apology. She refers to perceptions and experiencing things differently: sorry if you felt bullied and all that.
The text was quite Trumpian. She managed to use the words “I,” “me” or “my” more than 30 times in the text. I hear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau overruled her on the 21-gun salute. Bill Merritt, Kanata
Employees deprived of proper apology
“We all experience things differently,” the governor general said in her resignation message (does that sentiment ring a bell for the person who appointed her, who himself faced accusations of sexual abuse?). The governor general proudly declared there were “no formal complaints or official grievances” during her tenure and that she welcomed the outside review.
Yet there are reports of multiple employees raising concerns internally well before the independent investigation was imposed on her office — concerns reportedly dismissed by the governor general's close friend, whom she hired as her official secretary. How bad were employees injured, including lasting effects of abuse? I see the secretary hired legal counsel. Unfortunately, that means employees are unlikely to get a genuine apology to help them grieve and recover. You cannot grow when you won't admit your mistakes.
Jonathan Massey-Smith, Ottawa
A patter of bad choices from prime minister
Some examples of our prime minister's judgment: travels to the Aga Khan's island in violation of ethics rules; improperly trying to influence attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould in the SNC-Lavalin case; not recusing himself in the We Charity case; appointing Julie Payette as governor general when she already had a dubious record on staff relations.
Sinclair Robinson, Ottawa
Why do we need a governor general?
Compared to the last four years at the White House, what happened at Rideau Hall was probably a walk in the park. By the way, why do we need a governor general? Just asking.
Sharon Mintz, Ottawa