Philippe Lagasse

As momentous as the death of Queen Elizabeth II may be after her 70 years on the throne, it's pretty much business as usual in terms of Canada's governance.

With Gov. Gen. Julie Payette finding herself the focus of intensifying public scrutiny following reports about expensive personal renovations at Rideau Hall and alleged mistreatment of current and former staff, renewed interest has been sparked into the role of the Governor General in Canada — and what happens if the person holding this office requires discipline or dismissal.

Allegations that Gov. Gen. Julie Payette mistreated staff members prompted calls for investigations of varying stripes on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, with one expert suggesting the matter should be dealt with quietly to preserve the integrity of the office.