Payette steps down as G-G
Julie Payette has stepped down as governor-general after a very negative report on the “toxic work environment” at Rideau Hall during her term. Payette, a Montreal native, is a scientist and astronaut, and – as her Wikipedia entry attests – “faced some criticism about controversial comments she had made against those who believe in creationism and those who did not believe in climate change.” Controversial?
MarcG 21:06 on 2021-01-21 Permalink
Yeah I think it’s time that we normalize calling out people with horrible ideas in their heads, especially if they hold positions of power. I want some quotes of what she said.
PatrickC 03:22 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
According to La Presse, she also resented having to sign the pro forma royal assent to legislation. That was what, an hour’s work a week? Too bad, with a little savvy, and a little diplomacy, she could have used her position and her background to make the “trust the science” argument to audiences around the country that would never listen to Greta. What a waste!
I gave up on her after reading a CBC report back in August about her stairway to nowhere, in which it was said that: “According to multiple sources, Payette doesn’t like maintenance workers in her line of sight. Even RCMP paid to protect Payette are no longer allowed to stand directly outside her office door and must hide in a room down the hallway, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.” Shades of Ivanka!
steph 10:41 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
“please respect my opinion”, their opinion; “2+2=5”
Meezly 10:43 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
“Payette doesn’t like maintenance workers in her line of sight.”
Seems like she took notes from Ellen DeGeneres on how to run a toxic workplace.
Payette’s resignation made it to the Washington Post. Quite embarrassing.
Kate 11:32 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
The G-G is, formally, a head of state, so it’s news. The story also made the Guardian and Le Monde.
That stuff about the workmen and not wanting to sign an important law because she had other plans are disturbing. But there’s also an echo here. Just as Sue Montgomery and her office manager were vilified in CDN-NDG, Payette and her secretary are being vilified at Rideau House. It’s almost as if these women were put in an apparent position of authority but failed to grasp that they were never really meant to direct things. So when they started actually giving orders, maybe asking people around them to do things a different way, it was perceived as bullying and “toxic”?
Maybe.
In the Aaron Wherry piece I linked there he says Justin Trudeau made a bad choice, but he also suggests that Payette never really grasped the basic bones of the job. You get a nice house and have to show up occasionally, but when you have to show up, you really have to show up. Did nobody ever read her the riot act?
DeWolf 14:02 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
Kate, I would have been more sympathetic to that line of defence in the past, but it has also been reported that Payette was forced to leave two of her previous jobs for exactly the same kind of bad behaviour. Twice is a coincidence, three times is a trend.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-julie-payette-hr-issues-past-employers-1.5732109
Kate 15:02 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
Wow, that really is a detailed and damning piece.
Meezly 15:21 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
WTF happened in Maryland where she struck and killed a pedestrian while driving?
EmilyG 16:00 on 2021-01-22 Permalink
Yeah, this is more serious and goes deeper than her just making comments about creationists.