How does a new minister know where to start?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: June 25, 1998

A little over a year ago, Ontario MP and former farmer Lyle Vanclief achieved his ambition. He was plucked off the back bench to become Canada’s new agriculture minister.

Within days, Vanclief received a thick memo from his deputy minister, Frank Claydon, setting the tone for the minister’s life for the next three months.

“The attached document outlines key agenda items for you over the next three months,” said the June 1997 memo.

There followed a rundown on reporters he should talk to, farm leaders he should call, provincial ministers he should contact and issues he should consider, along with what he should think about them.

Read Also

editorial cartoon

Proactive approach best bet with looming catastrophes

The Pan-Canadian Action Plan on African swine fever has been developed to avoid the worst case scenario — a total loss ofmarket access.

On the ideas on media, the memo said hopefully: “These proposals would give you profile across the country and with various parts of the sector.”

Briefing notes to the minister were obtained by Freedom of Information specialist Ken Rubin.

From those who have been there, the advice to new ministers tends to relate to time management. They might also offer advice on the need to develop a good relationship with the bureaucrats who support the politicians – a relationship which allows the minister to trust the advice and information he receives without becoming its captive.

The strength of the relationship between minister and bureaucrats, including the issue of who really sets the agenda and the policy direction, is a key ingredient of how effective a minister is.

In recent decades, there have been extremes. Eugene Whelan often was at odds with his more conservative officials. In turn, they occasionally worked to thwart some of his policy objectives.

By contrast, Whelan’s successor John Wise was widely considered a politician more willing to accept the advice of his bureaucratic advisers.

So what sort of advice would a new minister receive from his key bureaucrats?

Well, Vanclief was told that during his first few weeks, he should make a handful of introductory telephone calls – to select reporters, to folks like Lorne Hehn at the Canadian Wheat Board, Donald Black at the Farm Credit Corporation and Cynthia Currie at National Farm Products Council.

The three provincial ministers on the “A” list for telephone calls were Quebec’s Guy Julien, Manitoba’s Harry Enns and Ontario’s Noble Villeneuve.

Then came the policy pitch, in the document called “Transition ’97: opportunities for the new mandate.”

The basic message was: despite government cuts and farmer complaints, good times are here.

“Our overall forecast for the next four years is for a period of extraordinary opportunities for growth and prosperity. We foresee exceptional export market opportunities, good potential to increase agri-food investment in Canada and generally strengthening prices for our agricultural products.”

True, there will be farmer pressure for increased safety-net funding.

But the land is strong. Agriculture will prosper, create jobs and “build the confidence of Canadians in the federal government.” Amen.

explore

Stories from our other publications