Roundup: The more substantial shuffle

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On the heels of a tiny cabinet shufflette came a much more substantial shakeup in the government’s senior ranks, particularly as it concerns deputy ministers. The Deputy Minister of Defence (a former head of CSIS) is now the PM’s new National Security Advisor, while the DM of Public Works is now an ambassador to OECD in Paris – two portfolios that very much affect our military procurement, and in particular what is going on with the fighter jet replacement programme. The fact that key players in that process are moving on could easily be interpreted as a curious move if one were the suspicious type. More shuffles occurred at Health, International Trade, Environment, Agriculture, and Shared Services. I would also note with some particular curiosity that these moves happened on a Tuesday afternoon, which is almost unheard of lately. Pretty much every time any of these kinds of announcements are made, it’s on a Friday afternoon, usually around 3:30, so We The Media are left scrambling to report something about it. I’m not sure if this is actually indicative of anything, given Harper’s playing nice on Monday, but it is curious nevertheless.

https://twitter.com/pmlagasse/status/552543899257167873

Good reads:

  • Paul Wells writes about why Harper had a change of heart when it comes to meeting with Kathleen Wynne. Wynne, incidentally, described the tone of the meeting as “positive.”
  • Michael Den Tandt suspects that Julian Fantino was turfed from Veterans Affairs because the caucus was getting restive. Erin O’Toole, meanwhile, has a brief window to show he can deliver for veterans.
  • Despite Jason Kenney insisting that appointments were not patronage, one third of those appointed to the Social Security Tribunal were either Conservative donors, candidates, or campaign workers.
  • Neil Macdonald writes about the American government’s hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with Saudi Arabia.
  • Opposition MPs are making hay of Jason Kenney’s comments that falling oil prices could help solve some of Alberta’s labour market woes.

Odds and ends:

Shared Services Canada has removed Blacklock’s Reporter from their blacklist, but claims that the news site was a “security threat” at the time – complete nonsense.