Trudeau speaks to the Queen after resignation of Julie Payette as governor-general
Posted Jan 22, 2021 09:55:40 AM.
Last Updated Jan 22, 2021 10:54:38 AM.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he spoke with the Queen by telephone Friday to let her know that Canada’s Chief Justice Richard Wagner is stepping in until Trudeau names a new governor-general.
Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says he spoke with the Queen this morning to inform her the Chief Justice will be interim GG until a replacement is nominated #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 22, 2021
Julie Payette announced her resignation from the role on Thursday, about a week after the government received the damning findings of an independent investigation into allegations that she presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall.
WATCH: Gov. Gen. Julie Payette resigns over workplace abuse allegations
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said earlier that the Queen was being kept informed and will leave the matter in the hands of the Canadian government.
At a news conference outside his residence at Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said everyone deserves a safe and healthy workplace, including employees at Rideau Hall.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday the debacle of Payette’s tenure shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting viceregal appointments.
Trudeau chose the former astronaut to be 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.