Launching your second mandate

[ * ] An asterisk appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

Overview

Your first mandate launched with an ambitious change agenda and high expectations to implement a wide-ranging set of transformational initiatives to help the middle class, advance reconciliation, strengthen diversity and inclusion, protect and conserve the environment, and show more open and transparent government. Your second mandate presents a unique opportunity to continue to implement key priorities from your last mandate while advancing new commitments made in your electoral platform.

As you move to implement your new commitments - including more money for middle class families, real action to address the climate crisis and stronger gun control - your early actions and decisions will shape the pace, expectations and tone of the upcoming mandate.

This document serves as a quick start guide to support you in launching your second mandate. It provides a high-level overview and considerations on the key decisions that will need to be made, pointing to other documents and proposed briefings for more in-depth information.

First weeks

Over the next few weeks, the Clerk of the Privy Council (the Clerk), supported by senior officials within Privy Council Office (PCO) and deputy ministers of departments across government, will support you in early actions, including advising on key decisions and actions required, such as:

• Cabinet formation and timing of the swearing-in of the new Ministry
• Timing of the opening of Parliament
• Delivering on platform commitments and responding to challenges over the course of the mandate
• Specific and urgent files facing the Government
• Upcoming international travel, including your participation at international summits
• Timing of the Fall Economic Statement and the Budget

To support you in making these decisions, PCO proposes a number of key briefings through to the swearing-in ceremony, including on topics such as:

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As soon as possible after the election, the Clerk will want to meet with you to propose a forward plan for upcoming actions, decisions and briefings.

Support is also available to your Transition Team as they prepare for the launch of the new mandate. Services available include processing security clearances and providing security briefings, providing office space and technical support as needed, conducting orientations, and assisting in the vetting of new ministers. Once the needs of the Transition Team are established, PCO will be available 24/7 to offer Concierge Services in both official languages.

• A refresher guide has been prepared for your Chief of Staff that includes considerations on security, human resource management, official residences, finances and operations of your office.
• We will also provide your Chief of Staff with an overview of your role as Prime Minister, as well as an overview of PCO, including the role of the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and PCO Deputy Secretaries.

Timing of swearing-in and opening of Parliament

While there is flexibility on dates for the swearing-in of the Ministry and opening of Parliament, your decision to participate in domestic (e.g., the Remembrance Day ceremony) and international events will have a bearing on these decisions. There are a number of upcoming international events, at which your attendance would normally be expected, including:

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• November 16-17, 2019, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Santiago, Chile; and December 3-4, 2019, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders’ Summit in London, United Kingdom
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Confirmation of your participation in these events and decisions about program elements, such as bilateral meetings, will be required as soon as possible to allow for the development of programs, liaisons with hosts and security, and logistics and planning.

• The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book includes additional considerations around key international travel in the coming weeks.

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The Government has some latitude in whether to open Parliament in fall or early 2020. [ * ]

• The Preparing for a New Parliament book outlines additional considerations surrounding opening of Parliament in the fall versus in early 2020, timing for election of the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Speech from the Throne, other decisions required before opening Parliament and strategies for managing the Government’s agenda in Parliament.

To support you in your decisions on timing of the swearing-in and opening of Parliament, below is a planning calendar highlighting key events from now until March 2020.

Assembling a Cabinet and launching your Ministry

A new mandate allows for the reconsideration of the members of the Ministry and how they work together to achieve results. There will be key early decisions to be made, including potential portfolio changes, whether to create new ministerial positions, and whether to name a Deputy Prime Minister.

Mandate letters can be a useful tool in mobilizing and guiding your expectations for how ministers will discharge their individual and collective responsibilities, approach their parliamentary and Cabinet duties, work with colleagues and the public service, and operate with a high and rigorous standard of conduct. [ * ]

As the Ministry begins to take shape, you will need to consider how best to structure Cabinet, its committees and processes. PCO will be briefing you in the coming days to provide advice on Cabinet structure and machinery of government considerations to reflect your platform commitments [ * ] as well as a number of proposals we believe may be of interest to you as they align with your commitments and agenda.

• The Portfolio Profiles book, provided as reference material, includes missions and structures of departmental portfolios, which could be used to support your decisions on choosing ministers and considering machinery changes.

Implementing and managing your agenda

One of the most important roles of the public service is to support the Government in advancing its commitments through the effective implementation of the Government’s agenda. PCO, with input from other federal organizations, has prepared considerations and advice on advancing the Government’s mandate.

These considerations will help form the foundation for discussions and decisions on early actions. They will also help inform the development of ministerial mandate letters, as well as the Cabinet and legislative program forward agendas.

• The Implementing your Agenda book provides an overview of your key priorities, as well as early actions and decisions required as you launch your second mandate.
• The Urgent Decisions and Pressure Issues book includes briefings on the issues that will require an early decision or where the Government could be pressured to make a decision.

Appointments to make

A number of key appointments, that are your prerogative as Prime Minister, require decisions in the coming months. There are currently over 220 vacant positions and over 360 positions expiring before December 31, 2020. These include 51 leadership positions [ * ]

• The Governor in Council Appointments book provides a complete list of key appointments requiring early decisions or actions.

Communicating your agenda

Speech from the Throne

Beyond laying out the priorities of the Government, it provides an opportunity to set the tone and style of your Government’s approach to its second mandate.

Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2020

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Managing your agenda

The legislative program

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• The Preparing for a New Parliament book includes additional considerations on preparing and managing the legislative program.

Minority government considerations

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• The Preparing for a New Parliament book outlines additional considerations on governing in a minority context.

The Senate

As a result of the changes you made during your last mandate, 50 senators were appointed under the understanding they would be called upon to play their role independent of partisan influence. If there are no early retirements, changes in affiliation, or expulsions, the Independent Senators Group will continue to hold the majority of seats in the Senate for the duration of the next mandate.

Your platform committed to updating the Parliament of Canada Act to reflect the Senate’s new, non-partisan role. [ * ]

• The Preparing for a New Parliament book provides additional considerations on the Senate, including upcoming Senate vacancies.

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Managing your domestic and international relationships

Relations with premiers

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• The Calls with Premiers book includes suggested key messages, as well as profiles of each province and territory.
• The Managing the Federation book outlines additional context on provinces and territories, as well as challenges and opportunities for managing the federation.
• The Urgent Decisions and Pressures Issues book includes additional considerations on holding a First Ministers’ Meeting.

Relations with leaders of National Indigenous Organizations

There has been increasing expectation from Indigenous leaders to participate directly with the federal government in a nation-to-nation relationship, including advocating for direct funding to Indigenous Organizations.

You have committed to hosting a First Ministers’ Meeting on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation priorities, and continuing to advance meaningful inclusion of Indigenous partners in federal and intergovernmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests. [ * ]

• The Calls with National Indigenous Organizations book includes key considerations and suggested messages.

Relations with international leaders

World dynamics are evolving rapidly, where international relations are increasingly unstable, with established institutions, alliances, and practices being challenged by a shifting balance of power, new technological, economic and social forces, and ideological competition. In this context, it will be important to position Canada for prosperity and security by forging new partnerships and strengthening existing alliances with diverse international stakeholders.

Following your election, it is expected that many international leaders will write letters of congratulation, while others will call to congratulate you. [ * ]

• The Calls with International Leaders book presents background material on key countries/organizations, including state of the relationship, key bilateral issues, suggested talking points, and a biography for the leader.
• The State of the World book includes additional context and background material on countries, as well as key international issues facing Canada.