CBC News

When word began circulating that Governor General Julie Payette’s reign might be anything but uncontroversial, CBC journalists Ashley Burke and Kristen Everson reached out to former employees, many fearful of saying anything. Rideau Hall was described as “a house of horrors” with allegations of mistreatment and verbal abuse. Their investigation drew back the official curtain to reveal a toxic work environment, evidence of questionable spending, and a flawed government vetting process. Payette, along with her second-in-command, resigned; a once unimaginable coda for the tenure of a Canadian head of state. The CBC’s investigation was not just about being a public service, it was about basic workplace standards, transparency and accountability. In the end, it held to account those in the nation’s highest constitutional office.