I suppose it depends what the alpha type is looking for. The GG is the recognized Head of State, even if they don’t wield much political power, and as such are involved in a lot of high-profile ceremonial activities. For example, when Obama visited Canada early in his first term, he was met by then-GG Michaëlle Jean, and they hit it off famously:
This sounds like a classic case of a powerful/connected person being an absolute shit, but being protected by a culture of silence. It reminds me of a situation down here in the states with the CEO of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Leslie Berlowitz, back in 2013.
This quote from the CBC article struck me as well, about her assistant: “”[Di Lorenzo is] also a bully," said a source. “When confronted with something she’s unsure of, instead of giving you the benefit of the doubt, she comes at you as a pit bull.”"
I had a boss like that once. The less she knew about a topic, the more aggressive and bullying she became. I was very happy the day I resigned from there.
I had understood that the Queen remains head of state, but that the GG functions as her viceroy and representative, and exercises the functions - largely ceremonial, as you say - that Her Majesty would if she were actually living in Canada.
Your understanding is correct. What I was trying to say (using my words perhaps a little too loosely) is that in their capacity as the representative of the monarch, currently HM QE II in her capacity as the Queen of Canada, the GG has the privilege of participating in many important ceremonial roles representing the Head of State. It’s a pretty high-profile role even if mostly devoid of political power, and also carries with it the opportunity to influence the national culture, somewhat like the better US Vice Presidents and First Ladies have done.
The GG also has actual political powers at times, although they’re usually ceremonial and automatic, but sometimes not. Like the Queen herself does in the UK, for instance, the GG invites the leader of the winning political party to form the next government, and that person doesn’t become PM until this happens. If the leaders of minority parties propose a coalition instead, the GG may have a real choice to make. The GG also rules on the proroguing of Parliament, and must assent to all legislation before it becomes law.
At some point, the idea that the Queen of Canada is the Head of State of Canada becomes an argument just for the sake of arguing that she shouldn’t be the Head of State.
Well said. In addition to the duties that you have listed, the GG awards Orders of Canada to deserving individuals, accepts the credentials of foreign ambassadors, delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government’s goals for the next session; and like the Queen, participates in things like opening hospitals and attending at tree-plantings. It is a high-profile, if largely ceremonial, role.
But the GG does have extraordinary powers, if he or she chose to use them. The power to dissolve Parliament, for example. That follows an established protocol when a government is nearing the end of its term; but technically, the GG could dissolve Parliament at any time for any reason. To do so on a whim would likely trigger a Constitutional crisis.
It’s that Canadian politeness thing again: “Well, if His Majesty wants to use those terms…”
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a fair comment.
The people who run Rideau Hall are unobtrusive perfectionists.
They have to set the stage for when the Queen, the Gov Gen, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and foreign dignitaries like the US President are visiting. It all has to be perfect, and their role is to be invisible while the event is going on. By the nature of their job, they’re dealing with people with big egos, and they need to make it work.
They don’t want any reports of screw-ups when the GovGen is hosting HM and the PM for a state dinner, or when an entire new Cabinet is sworn in, or the new members of the Order of Canada are invested.
And they also have to have the skills to deal with more regular Canadians, like when someone from a small town is awarded a Medal of Bravery and has never even been in Ottawa before, let alone meeting the Queen’s Representative. They have to make sure that the award ceremony is perfect, and the recipient is not intimidated by it all, and gets to enjoy their big day.
It’s not the skill set for budget planners or high level policy developers in the public service, but it is a demanding job.
I can’t find it again. I’m wondering if it was referring to her time at the museum?
She had a history of bad behaviour.
From a CBC News article: PMO failed to check with key former employers before Payette's appointment as Governor General: sources | CBC News
[quote]Payette was given severance of roughly $200,000 when she resigned from the Montreal Science Centre in 2016 following complaints about her treatment of employees, say multiple sources. In 2017, Payette left the Canadian Olympic Committee after two internal investigations into her treatment of staff including verbal harassment, sources said.
[/quote]
If only there had been some way for the PMO to find out about this information. Like, maybe a phone call or two?
I knew David Johnston moderately well (he was principle (= president) of McGill for ten years) and he was an A #1 asshole. What an insignificant jerk!
Anyway, I’m available.
I’m sorry that your relations with him were not the best. I never knew him personally, but his bio suggests that the word “exemplary” is not misplaced. For example:
A special search committee convened by the Prime Minister recommended Johnston for the viceregal position; the group was headed by Sheila-Marie Cook, secretary to the Governor General, and further consisted of Kevin MacLeod, the Canadian Secretary to the Queen, Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada, and parliament’s top protocol officer; Christopher Manfredi, dean of the Faculty of Arts at McGill University; Rainer Knopff, a political scientist at the University of Calgary; Father Jacques Monet, of the Canadian Institute of Jesuit Studies; and Christopher McCreery, historian and private secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. The committee conducted extensive national consultations with over 200 people including academics, sitting and retired political leaders of all political persuasions including provincial premiers, current and former political party leaders, former prime ministers and others in order to develop a short list of candidates for the position. Also on the short list were other distinguished Canadians, including John de Chastelain and John Fraser.
The appointment was widely praised, its announcement garnering positive words from individuals like former University of Toronto president Robert Prichard and columnist Andrew Coyne. Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff stated, “David Johnston’s dedication to learning and innovation… combined with his legal expertise and constitutional knowledge makes him an ideal choice for Governor General.” Johnston’s university colleagues also noted his conciliatory abilities.
I think google would have done it or maybe talk to his now Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau who worked with Payette “Difficult to work with”
What made me chuckle is when he said there was a strenuous vetting process but that the process needs improvement.
That article says that Trudeau appointed Payette after disbanding the search committee that had been established by the previous government, and which is described in my quote in the previous post. I hate to say it because I like Trudeau, but he bears full responsibility for this, with some of the blame also going to Chretien for recommending her. It’s appalling that he would disband such a capable and distinguished committee and just go with his gut instinct in appointing a GG.
I have no insight into the specific facts here, but the cynic in me suggests the committee was disbanded when it became apparent they were going to deliver the “wrong” answer.
That’s certainly a common enough fate for committees of all stripes in all environments.
That’s quite plausible, given that it seems that the young Trudeau has inherited at least some of his father’s famous arrogance. “Committee? I don’t need no steenkin’ committees to tell me how to do my job!”
Are there any medals, honours or awards that the GG may bestow at her or his own discretion, or are they all on advice of the PM or a commission of some kind?
There may be some, but I’m not aware of any. The GG’s position here is again mostly ceremonial. For instance:
Numerous Governor General’s Awards in Sciences and Humanities are presented yearly. Administration and selection of the recipients are under the responsibility of independent organizations such as the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, RAIC College of Fellows, Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s National History Society, Status of Women Canada and the Michener Awards Foundation.
More here:
While I poke fun at the up-tight protocol droids I occasionally deal with in the US government, I agree with you.