UPDATE from August 8,2020 post
January 21,2021 BREAKING NEWS
Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette and her secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, are resigning after an outside workplace review of Rideau Hall found that the pair presided over a toxic work environment.
Last year, an independent consulting firm was hired by the Privy Council Office (PCO) to review reports that Payette was responsible for workplace harassment at Rideau Hall.
Sources who were briefed on the consulting firm’s report told CBC News that its conclusions were damning.
There’s a lady who’s sure
All that glitters is gold
And she’s bought a stairway to Heaven
When she gets there she knows
If the stairs are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Oh oh oh oh and she thinks she’s finding a stairway to Heaven
There’s a sign on the GG’s wall
But she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it really makes me wonder
And it’s whispered that soon, If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn
And the door will be shown
To lead us to a new season of reason
Her head is humming and it won’t go
In case you don’t know
The piper’s calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow?
And did you know
Your stairway is the stairs to enough already enough already!
Cause you bullied your way, to the stairway to HeavenI
Internal documents summarize it was agreed Governor General Payette would move into the private quarters by July 1, 2019 at the latest. Part of the understanding was the NCC would complete a series of projects to make the official residence livable for Payette — including the staircase project.
Early in Payette’s mandate she wanted a door for her cats to be able to exit the living quarters on the second floor and go outside, said sources. The idea then changed into a private exit for Payette.
After $138,654 of completed work, the NCC says Rideau Hall “discontinued” the project in April 2019 before construction started.
The Governor General’s press secretary said it paused the work after learning its total projected cost. The NCC estimated it would cost $271,000.