If Julie Payette learned one thing during her first year as Governor General, she says it鈥檚 simple: 鈥淐ommunicate better.鈥�
In a wide-ranging interview with CTV National News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme, Payette addressed recent reports that suggest she dislikes the high-profile role and may be quietly considering a way out.
Payette flatly denied plotting an exit.
鈥淥h God, no,鈥� Payette said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so motivated about continuing the next year and making this mandate something that everybody will be proud of.鈥�
Next Tuesday marks Payette鈥檚 first year on the job. A former astronaut and engineer, Payette has publicly advocated for science and said she plans to prioritize technological innovation and educational outreach in year two.
Payette admits that being an astronaut is 鈥渧ery different鈥� from her new job and that -- unlike the world of science -- working as Governor General 鈥渟tarts right off the starting block with no instruction manual.鈥�
A string of recent reports have called into question Payette鈥檚 happiness with the job. One report, published in the National Post, included unnamed senior government officials who suggested that Payette has become frustrated by last-minute schedule changes and said she regularly challenges long-held traditions linked to the role.
For example, Payette has not yet moved into the Governor General鈥檚 official residence, Rideau Hall. She has not presided over several key events connected to her office, including the Governor General鈥檚 Medals in Architecture.
The report also referenced senior government officials who wondered whether Payette secretly wants to leave.
鈥淭he perception we have to address,鈥� Payette said. 鈥淚 welcome comments. I think criticism can be very constructive and can help further. I mean there鈥檚 no perfect perfection anywhere. There鈥檚 no perfect picture. I don鈥檛 pretend to be perfect.
鈥淚 started this job and I learned and I had missteps and those missteps I corrected and I will continue to do that, because they鈥檒l come again. It鈥檚 human nature. It is important for me to move ahead and to look forward to do that. I鈥檓 so motivated. I really feel that after the first year where we鈥檝e crisscrossed Canada, where we鈥檝e planned, we鈥檝e looked forward on where we want to go.鈥�
Cannabis bill uncertainty
The Post reported that Payette initially pushed back against signing the Liberal government鈥檚 landmark cannabis bill at a royal assent ceremony in June because she wasn鈥檛 happy to have her schedule changed on a whim.
鈥淎t the last minute, I was asked to move the date. We did and we signed it,鈥� Payette told CTV News.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very, very rigorous on this here at Rideau Hall to ensure that every single step of the constitutional role never delays the good functioning of the government and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e done ... There鈥檚 a lot of back-and-forth, scheduling is complicated, but we don鈥檛 miss a beat and we don鈥檛 miss a deadline.鈥�
As for why she hasn鈥檛 moved into Rideau Hall after 12 months on the job, Payette said the reason has to do with ongoing renovations to the mansion鈥檚 ballroom.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to happen. For sure I鈥檓 going to come here. But before that we鈥檙e going to do the right things. We鈥檙e going to do the renovations. We鈥檙e going to refurbish the ballroom. It鈥檚 the most important room in this residence,鈥� she said.
She added that she already works out of Rideau Hall every day: 鈥淚 sort of live here.鈥�
A large-scale review
Under Payette, all programming, travel and patronages connected to Rideau Hall were reportedly put under review. The move has left some non-profit organizations in the dark and raised questions about which events the governor general would attend.
Asked about the sweeping review, Payette said she wishes she could say yes to everything, but that鈥檚 鈥渋mpossible.鈥�
鈥淲e are working the schedule with the partners all the time. There are times when I鈥檓 not in the country because at the request of the government, I may have to travel. We are always working with them. It鈥檚 happened in the past with my predecessors that sometimes it just doesn鈥檛 add up but most of the time we try to make it work.鈥�
The review is now complete, Payette said, adding that the results will be out soon.
鈥淲e just have a few more partners to touch base with before we can release completely to the public.鈥�
Addressing 2011: 鈥楢 very difficult year鈥�
Since taking office, Payette鈥檚 past has made headlines.
In the summer of 2011, Payette was involved in a fatal car accident in which a visually impaired pedestrian jay-walked in front of her car.
The case was closed without charges in 2012. Payette sent a heartfelt letter to the victim鈥檚 family after the accident, saying she will 鈥渓ive for the rest of my life with the sorrow of having hurt another human being."
Payette admitted that 2011 was 鈥渁 very difficult year for me -- that鈥檚 probably even an understatement.鈥�
鈥淓very event, whether they鈥檙e positive or negative, shapes us. And sometimes events happen that we couldn鈥檛 even fathom 鈥ut it鈥檚 behind me. I鈥檝e moved forward. I鈥檓 an optimist.鈥�
鈥楩ailure is not an option鈥�
Payette spoke about her dream of becoming an astronaut as a little girl and her hopes to inspire young people to follow their dreams.
But becoming governor general was never on her radar -- even when she got a call to meet Trudeau. She thought the prime minister wanted to discuss the selection of Canada鈥檚 two new astronauts.
When Trudeau asked her to consider taking the high-profile role, Payette said she was 鈥渇loored.鈥�
鈥淚t is the kind of thing you can鈥檛 say no to, so I asked a number of questions and I did talk to a number of people but I didn鈥檛 wait very long. Less than 24 hours. I think it鈥檚 very important. I truly believe that if your country calls, there鈥檚 only one answer possible.鈥�
Asked about what she learned in her first year on the job, Payette said, 鈥淐ommunicate better.鈥�
鈥淎nd the team behind me is doing just that, so that鈥檚 why I would encourage folks to follow us. We鈥檙e on social media. We just launched a new website,鈥� she said.
Going from an astronaut to governor general may seem like a leap, but Payette says the two jobs both have something in common: a need for discipline.
鈥淚 would say it鈥檚 very similar. And just like in my other job, using a NASA term, failure is not an option. Failure is not an option here. It is important.鈥�
With a report from CTV National News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme
