Share this Story: Rideau Hall and Privy Council Office disputed 'procedural fairness' of workplace review, new documents showRideau Hall and Privy Council Office disputed 'procedural fairness' of workplace review, new documents show The report resulted in the resignation of Payette as governor general, as well as the resignation of her top deputy, Assunta di Lorenzo Photo by Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press; MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault/Rideau HallArticle content OTTAWA — New documents released by the government detail an exchange of letters between the Privy Council Office and lawyers hired by Rideau Hall who raised concerns around the procedural fairness of the third-party review into the workplace environment at the governor general’s office. Gen. Julie Payette’s role during a minority government — a concern strongly rejected by the Privy Council Office. On Saturday night, the government released a new version of the report with some redactions removed after completing third-party consultations. The newly-revealed documents show a lengthy letter from Toronto law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon addressed to both the Privy Council Office (PCO) — the top government department, which serves cabinet and the Prime Minister’s Office — and Quintet Consulting, which was hired by the PCO to do the review. The PCO letter also said Blakes wrongly describes Rideau Hall as “an independent office of government.” “We note as well that you speak to the OSGG’s independence from government,” the PCO letter said.

Source: National Post February 21, 2021 20:48 UTC