So 'Toxic' In The Workplace, The Governor General Of Canada Resigns

The Governor General of Canada who is also Queen Elizabeth II Representative Julie Payette (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Governor General of Canada and Queen Elizabeth II Representative Julie Payette resigned on Thursday, January 21. The resignation was carried out amid accusations against him, which was deemed to have created a 'toxic' work environment for his staff.

Quoting Reuters, Friday, January 22, his resignation has no direct implications for the Canadian government. The governor-general has ceremonial duties, such as taking oaths in government and officially signing laws.

But sometimes he can be asked to solve constitutional problems. He resigned just hours after senior officials received the results of an independent investigation into reports of verbal abuse and intimidation by Payette.

"I came to the conclusion that a new Governor General should be appointed. Canadians deserve stability in these uncertain times, "Payette said in a statement, adding she was sorry for the tension that had arisen with staff.

Payette is the first governor general to quit because of trouble. Richard Wagner, chairman of the Supreme Court, will temporarily take over his duties until he is replaced.

The 57-year-old woman took office in October 2017 for a five-year term on the recommendation of Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau. Even after the investigation was launched last July, Trudeau is still defending Payette.

In September, Trudeau said that Payette was "a great governor general." Payette was previously the Canadian chief astronaut and the first Canadian to serve on the International Space Station.

In a brief statement, Trudeau said the resignation indicated a workplace problem at the governor general's office that had to be addressed. He didn't thank Payette.

Trudeau was a recognized feminist and liberal officials said at the time that the appointment would advance women's struggles. Potential candidates for the job should have been examined by a special committee, a move Trudeau ignored.

"This is not a constitutional crisis ... There is a system that allows for the continued role," Barbara Messamore, a history professor and constitutional expert at Fraser Valley University, told CBC.

Assunta Di Lorenzo, Ms secretary and a top top bureaucrat, has also reportedly stepped down. "Everyone has the right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances," said Payette, in a written letter to the public.

“It seems that this doesn't always happen at the Secretary General's Office. The tension has arisen in Rideau Hall over the last few months and for that, I apologize. "