OTTAWA – Multiple sources tell CTV News that federal cabinet ministers are being asked to report directly to Prime Minister Mark Carney this week and next on progress they’ve made in their files, including key performance indicators and what was laid out in their mandate letter. A cabinet retreat is scheduled for the end of next week. A normal pre-budget process would see cabinet ministers write to the finance minister with requests for their departments and the need for funding various projects under their portfolio. But for this budget cycle, ministers are being asked for a progress report made directly to the prime minister. Carney’s mandate letter differs from previous prime ministers in that ministers did not get unique ones; rather, Carney sent one letter to the entirety of cabinet. Seven priorities were outlined, including “building one Canadian economy,” and “bringing down costs for Canadians.” Sources say some ministers are unaccustomed to this type of “report card” metric and are worried about the appearance of a lack of progress, and what implications that may have for their department in the budget, describing the process as “more than a little chaotic.” Two sources close to ministers tell CTV News some staff are “panicked,” and there is a widespread sentiment that this kind of practice is further evidence of the prime minister running government like a CEO. A third source close to a minister said ministerial staff think the progress reports could help inform a cabinet shuffle, though one government source tells CTV News one isn’t planned before next week. Sources also tell CTV News that ministers are expected to face increasing pressure to be able to show a clear measurement of what they are delivering in the lead up to the end of the year.
