What should our new Cabinet ministers expect?
Call yourself a Minister of the Crown in Ottawa and you instantly have prestige, personal glory, a bigger salary, perks and the ability to make a difference in the lives of Canadians.
You also live in a world of huge responsibility, endless work and remarkable stress, as you grapple with countless time bombs that can embarrass your government and crush your own political career.
On Wednesday, Justin Trudeau unveils the first Liberal federal cabinet in nearly a decade. Some ministers will be political veterans; others will be rookies.
Here’s a primer on what they can expect.
Q How secure is the job?
A You serve “at the pleasure of the prime minister.” Trudeau can drop you from cabinet whenever he wants, for whatever reason. He will give you a “mandate letter” that spells out what he expects you to accomplish. Your future hinges on how you perform.
Q What does the job entail?
A You are in charge of the portfolio assigned by the prime minister. That will mean running a complex department with thousands of public servants who administer a range of programs and policies.
Q What does ministerial responsibility mean?
A Your boss is the prime minister, but you are also accountable to Parliament. Govern yourself accordingly. ( See below).
Q What is ministerial accountability?
A You are obliged to regularly attend the House of Commons and respond to questions and be held accountable for the actions of your department. There was a time when ministers resigned for mistakes made by their own departments. That’s less likely now, although ministers who make mistakes themselves might not be so lucky once the prime minister considers your future.
Q How much do I get paid?
A You’re already being paid $ 167,400 as an MP. You’ll get an extra $ 80,100 for being a cabinet minister.
Q What are the perks?
A For years, the job has come with a car and a driver to shuttle you between endless meetings. If the Liberals continue the tradition ( and there’s no indication they won’t), don’t abuse it. Taxpayers are sensitive to stories about idling limos waiting for ministers.
Q How are cabinet decisions made?
A It’s a unique process. The cabinet room is on the third floor of Parliament’s Centre Block, just down the hall from the prime minister’s corner office. Decision- making is led by the prime minister in the meeting. But there are no votes held. Decisions are made once the prime minister determines there is a “consensus” among ministers.
Q Where is most of the work done?
A Cabinet committees. The membership is smaller than the full cabinet. They focus on more specific areas of government. Once a decision is made there, it’s usually confirmed by the full cabinet.
Q What is cabinet solidarity?
A You can express your misgivings about a planned policy or bill behind closed doors at the cabinet table. But once a decision is made, you must endorse and vote with it publicly. If you publicly disagree, you must quit cabinet.
Q What about cabinet secrecy?
A As minister, you’re responsible for the “security” of your staff and offices, particularly when it comes to cabinet “confidences” — documents and other information related to cabinet decisions — that must remain secret.
Q Who works for me?
A You’ll have two types of staff. Most are public servants, led by a deputy minister who helps you run the department. They are neutral and are there to provide solid advice and implement your policies. Then there’s a small staff of “exempt” or “political” workers who will be unabashedly partisan and will work in your minister’s office.
Q Must I comply with standards of conduct?
A Yes, as an MP you must comply with a Conflict of Interest Code that pertains to everyone in the House of Commons. As a minister, you are also subject to further conditions of the Conflict of Interest Act. You must provide a confidential report to the Ethics Commissioner on assets and liabilities, your former and current activities, and those of your spouse and children. There are rules on how to manage assets and how to divest them. There are limitations on outside activities, accepting gifts, invitations to special events and post- employment activities.
Q What about my expenses?
A Count on the media to keep track of them, especially on trips outside of Ottawa. Staying at fancy, expensive hotels will be difficult to defend. Remember one thing: A $ 16 glass of orange juice led to the political demise of cabinet minister Bev Oda.