Trudeau speaks to the Queen after resignation of Julie Payette as governor-general

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.

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.

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