Besides being saluted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, each new minister sworn in after Monday’s cabinet shuffle also received a ‘transition binder’ which included a list of government’s enemies to be avoided, a leaked e-mail suggests.
The email, obtained by several media outlets, shows a checklist for what should be in the transition binders.
Among expected items such as what to say in question period and what events and meetings to attend, are less usual notes, like who to avoid: bureaucrats that can’t take no (or yes) for an answer and who to engage or avoid: friend and enemy stakeholders.
These briefing notes for new ministers would normally include names of key people on issues, but dividing them into “friend and enemy” categories isn’t common.
“While we don’t comment on internal communications, we are collaborating with our ministers, especially new ministers, to ensure they are fully briefed so they can continue their work on behalf of Canadian taxpayers,” Carl Vallée, a PMO spokesman, said in an emailed response to a request for comment.
With files from CBC.
For more details on the cabinet shuffle:
7 key changes in Harper’s new cabinet
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.