If there was any particular proof needed that things are indeed changing in the government, the way in which decisions are made is a pretty good place to start, as Susan Delacourt explores over in Policy Options. Gone are the days when all paths lead to the PMO, but rather individual ministers are empowered to make decisions, but at the same time, they are expected to consult with provincial and territorial counterparts. The civil service, having grown used to not being asked to draw up an array of options for shaping policy, is now a “fixer upper,” while the new dynamic makes it possible for anyone to contribute to policy discussions, meaning that the government can draw from a bigger pool of ideas. And the new buzzword of “deliverology” means that goals are being drawn up as tangible things that have knowable results, rather than just abstract dollar figures. (The “guru” of deliverology just met with cabinet at the Kananaskis retreat, where he said that the government has made good progress over the last six months). Commons committees are coming up with policy discussions of their own (not that they’re always going to be taken fully, as the assisted dying legislation shows). We have evidence that the Senate and their legislative agenda is being listened to, with examples like Senator Moore’s bill on restoring parliamentary authority over borrowing being adopted in the government’s budget, and Ralph Goodale talking about how they are considering his bill on CBSA oversight. So yes, it looks like the centre of power is less and less the PMO in this brave new world, which is probably not such a bad thing after all.

Good reads:

• Out of the retreat, Trudeau reiterated forcefully that Canada doesn’t pay ransoms for hostages, as it puts every other Canadian abroad in jeopardy if they do.
• Trudeau also said that he doesn’t think the Great Bear Rainforest is any place for a pipeline, while Enbridge looks at alternate endpoints for Northern Gateway.
• The NEB says their report on Energy East should be ready in March 2018, which means two more years of Conservatives demanding Trudeau make a decision now.
• Bill Blair is rejecting Jodie Emery’s request to be on the marijuana legalisation taskforce.
• The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered that the government immediately implement a policy to keep Aboriginal children’s health and welfare out of red tape.
• It looks like Duffy’s expenses won’t see much more scrutiny from the AG or the Senate, while a senior Mountie thanked investigators for their hard work.
• Kathleen Wynne says she doubts the federal government can come up a deal with the provinces on enhancing CPP.
• Kellie Leitch said that she would re-criminalise marijuana if she became Conservative leader and subsequently Prime Minister.
• Stephen Harper’s lawyer says “nothing to see here” about the ClusterDuff affair.
• Susan Delacourt parses the Environics “CanTrust Index” findings about politics and media.
• My Loonie Politics column shows why the lazier pundits out there are wrong to call for the PM or MPs to supervise Senate spending.

Odds and ends:

Chrystia Freeland has been in Europe trying to convince legislators to sign the Canada-EU trade deal.