Trudeau speaks to the Queen after Julie Payette resigns as governor general

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he spoke with the Queen by telephone to let her know that Canada’s Chief Justice Richard Wagner is stepping in until Trudeau names a new governor general.

Julie Payette announced her resignation from the role on Thursday, about a week after the government received the damning findings of an independent investigation into allegations that she presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said earlier that the Queen was being kept informed and will leave the matter in the hands of the Canadian government.

At a news conference outside his residence at Rideau Cottage Friday, Trudeau says everyone deserves a safe and healthy workplace, including employees at Rideau Hall.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday the debacle of Payette’s tenure shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting viceregal appointments.

Trudeau chose the former astronaut to be Canada’s 29th governor general in 2017, after disbanding a non-partisan, arm’s-length committee created by the previous Conservative government to recommend worthy nominees for viceregal posts.