Canada’s Governor General Julie Payette quits amid bullying scandal
- Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Canada resigned soon after the results of a probe into allegations of workplace harassment were given to senior officials
- The move has no immediate implications for Trudeau and his government, but is still an embarrassment to the PM, who has defended Payette
Canadian Governor General Julie Payette, the representative of the country’s head of state, Queen Elizabeth, quit on Thursday amid allegations of workplace harassment in an embarrassment for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The resignation has no immediate implications for the Liberal government. The governor general has a largely ceremonial job such as swearing in governments and formally signing legislation, but can on rare occasions be asked to settle constitutional questions.
She resigned just hours after senior officials received the results of an independent probe into reports of verbal abuse and bullying by Payette.
“I have come 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 tensions that had arisen with staff.
She was the first governor general to quit under a cloud. Richard Wagner, chief justice of the Supreme Court, will temporarily take over her duties until she is replaced.