Trudeau says vetting process needs improvement
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's admission Friday that he might have to improve the vetting for high-level appointments sparked criticism over why he didn't figure that out before he chose Julie Payette as governor general.
Trudeau named the former astronaut as Canada's 29th governor general in 2017 after disbanding a non-partisan, arm’s-length committee created by the previous Conservative government to recommend worthy nominees for viceregal posts.
Thursday, she resigned over allegations she created a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall, an unprecedented move for a monarch's representative in Canada.
Trudeau faced questions Friday about his judgment and his government’s failure to check with Payette’s former employers at the Montreal Science Centre and the Canadian Olympic Committee, where she faced similar allegations of harassing and bullying subordinates.
“We will continue to look at the best way to select people for vice-regal appointments,” Trudeau told a news conference Friday outside his residence at Rideau Cottage. “It’s an important role for Canadians and we will look at how we can improve it.”
But Trudeau would not commit to reinstating the non-partisan,committee to choose her successor.
Payette announced her resignation about a week after the government received the damning findings of an independent investigation into allegations of harassment and other workplace issues at Rideau Hall.
Trudeau said he spoke with the Queen by telephone Friday to inform her that Chief Justice Richard Wagner is stepping in until a new governor general is named.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said earlier the Queen was being kept informed and will leave the matter in the hands of the Canadian government.
Trudeau said everyone deserves a safe and healthy workplace, including employees at Rideau Hall. He also said the work they have done has been “exceptional.” But he
deflected a question over whether he owed those employees and Canadians an apology.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the choice of Payette was one of style over substance.
“Really it comes down to Justin Trudeau, who was more interested in a flashy announcement of a governor general rather than doing the work of making sure it was the right selection,” Singh said Friday.
“And it seems to be an ongoing trend, this pursuit of a flashy headline instead of working to get the job done.”
Patricia Faison Hewlin, of McGill University’s Faculty of Management, said leaders with authentic leadership skills have never been more important than now.
“During these uncertain and devastating times, we are in critical need of leaders who are skilled at connecting to people in meaningful ways — building unity, allaying concerns, and showing empathy,” she said.
“The days are over when leaders could skimp on emotional intelligence and building relationships. Employees are demanding more from their leaders.”
Trudeau’s minority government could be defeated at any time and, were that to happen, it would fall to the governor general to decide whether to call an election or give Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole a chance to form a government.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday the government has begun discussions with those responsible for vetting, but the prime minister hasn’t had time yet to reflect on the best way to choose Payette's successor. The government will have more to say on that likely next week, he said.
He agreed the debacle of Payette’s tenure shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting vice-regal appointments.
LeBlanc said the government report came to “compelling" and "stark” conclusions.
The government does not intend to release the report due to privacy issues and the promises of confidentiality made to all complainants, LeBlanc said. It will instead release a redacted version of the report in response to requests made under the Access to Information Act.