Trudeau facing questions on choice of Governor General

Questions are being raised if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office knew that Governor General designate JuliePayette had been charged with second-degree assault prior to appointing her.

Payette’s Nov. 24, 2011 assault charge was dropped two weeks later and Payette ultimately had it expunged, from her record.

The assault charge was laid following an incident at the home in Maryland that Payette shared with her then-husband, former Canadian fighter pilot Billie Flynn. The couple later divorced. Flynn is a test pilot for the F-35 fighter jet.

Trudeau announced Payette’s appointment last Thursday. When he was asked by media at  Laval, Que., Trudeau refused to say whether he knew about the assault charge, though he noted that candidates for appointments such as Payette’s are screened in advance.”I know that Madame Payette is going to make an extraordinary Governor General,” Trudeau said. “She represents the very best of Canadian values — openness to the world, curiosity, intellectual rigor and inspiration. She will continue to inspire generations of Canadians as she represents us at the very highest level.”