Payette is enduring unfair criticism
Recent reports from a CBC journalist citing anonymous and RCMP sources of difficult staff relations within Rideau Hall, inconvenient travel logistics and prospective renovations planned for Rideau Hall are reminiscent of some of the criticisms of other governors general.
Subsequently, CBC journalist Aaron Wherry (not the journalist who broke the staff relations story), provided a helpful and balanced review of criticisms levelled at other governors general over the years — claims relating to alleged spending excesses (usually trips GGs were asked to undertake by the government), decisions regarding Rideau Hall grounds, alleged political leanings of the vice-regal’s spouse, and so on.
Not surprisingly, his review revealed that the criticisms, such as they were and whatever their validity, were directed only toward female governors general. One might conclude that female vice-regals were flawed and their male counterparts were flawless. Highly unlikely.
Being more intensely critical and of women in positions of prominence or leadership is not a new phenomenon. Maggie Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Kim Campbell, Judy LaMarsh and Kathleen Wynne were treated roughly in comparison to what their male counterparts faced. The blatant misogyny we criticize elsewhere does not mean that the discriminatory criticism of women in leadership is absent here.
Julie Payette is not, thankfully, the typical former diplomat, politician, journalist, university president or high-ranking civil servant we are used to in the role of governor general. The prime minister, to his credit, chose a women, younger than her predecessors, a single mom with a highly regarded background in engineering and the many skills required of an astronaut. She is not of the Ottawa bubble, as are most Canadians. The bubble often is uncomfortable with those from outside its often incestuous confines.
It is the responsibility of the machinery of government unit within the Privy Council Office to attend to initial staffing requirements when the previous governor general departed. Was the level of PCO engagement and the seniority of remaining staff adequate? Were there senior officials with the institutional memory needed to help the new GG navigate her role as the Queen’s representative and provide sage advice regarding her role? An Ottawa and government outsider taking on the role of governor general deserves experienced staff and detailed briefings on her duties and the expectations of the position.
Rideau Hall’s website indicates an intense level of official business, at home and abroad, that points to an enthusiastic pursuit by Mme Payette of the governor general’s traditional mandate. It includes the support of Canadian Forces deployments around the world, visits to all provinces and territories and much appreciated attendance at battlefield ceremonies and other duties worldwide. She also attended the Olympics in Seoul and the funerals of key international leaders — with sometimes three events on two continents in less than two days.
The governor general has welcomed a review of complaints of Rideau Hall staff reflecting her commitment to ongoing quality improvement. Staff deserve to be respected and appreciated for their efforts, just as any underperformance needs to be addressed. Alleged harassment or humiliation in the workplace is intolerable and enquiry in important.
The Privy Council Office, in collaboration with Rideau Hall, is right to jointly oversee an independent inquiry. But the inquiry must address all possibilities — including the possibility that the machinery of government division of PCO did not sufficiently engage on initial staffing requirements. In any inquiry, context matters.
Rideau Hall is not just another government department to be poked because of a midsummer slow news day story driven by anonymous sources, however well-intentioned. A balanced inquiry into the allegations of some anonymous employees and self reverential RCMP must reflect the constitutional independence of the Crown and its representative in Canada. It should also determine if Ottawa bubble forces inimical to a different kind of governor general are feeding the controversy.
Despite the commentary from some academics who have offered the sort of “nudge nudge, tut tut” expertise about what the governor general should or should not do, Her Excellency should simply carry on in the discharge of her many duties.
The prime minister picked an outstanding high-achieving woman of science, technology, engineering and space research and travel to symbolize the best of Canada’s today and tomorrow. He is right to have made that kind of appointment, whatever the Ottawa bubble may think.