Astro - NOT!

Screenshot | Photo by Adrian Wyld / CP

2017

"I assure everyone that there are no issues that arose in the course of that vetting process that would be any reason to expect Mme. Payette to be anything other than the extraordinary governor general that she will be," Trudeau said.​ 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/payette-divorce-documents-1.4258921

2021

“Obviously, the vetting process that was in place was followed, but obviously we’re going to also look at ways we can strengthen and improve the vetting process for high-level appointments,” Trudeau responded.

During his weekly Friday press conference, the prime minister said that there was a “rigorous” vetting process that led to Payette’s nomination, but did not provide any details.

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-refuses-to-apologize-or-acknowledge-any-responsibility-in-decision-to-nominate-now-former-governor-general-payette

The above information reminds us that, for all the talk of working diligently to protect staff, the Trudeau Government failed to live up to its own standards. Instead of attempting to check another box in the political correctness column by appointing someone who conforms to progressive ideology, perhaps Prime Minister Trudeau should insist that personal integrity and appropriate skills be essential qualifications for any and all appointees. Perhaps the Prime Minister isn't able to recognize such things in others because he himself lacks an appreciation of and an ability to demonstrate those qualities. Why insist on standards when he himself is not interested in the stuff of good character? Moral uprightness is so passé.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there was nothing that came up during the vetting of Julie Payette that he saw as a reason she shouldn’t be Canada’s next Governor General.

Trudeau says his officials conducted a thorough background check on Payette(.)

https://www.macleans.ca/politics/trudeau-says-payette-vetting-raised-no-issues-to-disqualify-her-as-gg/

Given the extensive coverage of Julie Payette's departure, the result of an "independent investigation into workplace harassment allegations against her [...] and the details of the report were 'damaging'."

 

Smokescreen

At the time Julie Payette was being considered for the position of Governor General, a writer at Chatelaine threw up the usual cacophony of attempts to defend Payette and the vetting process, and concluded her article with a question that really should have been answered in a timely manner, thus sparing the office of Governor General and the staff from abuse.

But Payette isn’t asking for a free pass on her appointment. She’s held up her entire professional life to scrutiny and, over the last 30 years, she’s distinguished herself as an astronaut, scientist, artist, academic and a representative of Canada in various international arenas. What more do we really need to know?

We're entitled to know whether or not she, being the driven individual she appears to be, places more emphasis on control and her own success than on the well being and fair treatment of those with whom she is required to work. Payette would not be the first person to dominate and bully others while hiding behind a well-crafted reputation that, to state the obvious, neither excuses nor shields someone from personal culpability and accountability for serious failure. Those subject to workplace politics know full well the likely consequences of challenging an abusive boss or senior colleague. There is no need for a bully to silence a threat to her power when she has created a climate of fear and intimidation that suppresses dissent. Of course, Prime Minister Trudeau, himself knows how to manufacture conformity through manipulation and intimidation.