As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reorganized his front bench Wednesday in a massive federal cabinet shuffle, he also created a single new job: minister of citizensB次元官网网址� services.

But when the minister appointed to the new role was asked what exactly citizensB次元官网网址� services is, he wasnB次元官网网址檛 entirely clear.

B次元官网网址淭his is really where the rubber hits the road in providing services to citizens right across the country,B次元官网网址� newly appointed cabinet minister Terry Beech said Wednesday, less than an hour after he was sworn in.

Some elements of Employment and Social Development Canada will be under his purview, as well as B次元官网网址渁 bit of digital governance,B次元官网网址� he said.

When pressed for details, he admitted he wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure on the specifics.

B次元官网网址淚 met with my deputy minister about five minutes ago. She handed me a piece of paper with a whole bunch of bullet points on it,B次元官网网址� he explained.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 gonna get fully briefed and to provide you much more fulsome answers from here on out.B次元官网网址�

While the parameters of the new role arenB次元官网网址檛 exactly clear, it could have a major impact on the LiberalsB次元官网网址� political prospects, said Jennifer Robson, program director and political management professor at Carleton University.

B次元官网网址淚 actually think that getting stuff done and delivering goods and services to Canadians in ways that actually makes a difference in their lives is really good politics,B次元官网网址� she said.

ItB次元官网网址檚 clear that the new appointment stems, at least in part, from the frustrations and failures in service delivery after the pandemic, she said.

Last year, public frustrations hit a boiling point as the government struggled to issue passports on time, jeopardizing CanadiansB次元官网网址� travel plans and leaving people to camp out in long lines for hours outside their passport offices.

The problems led the prime minister to strike a task force made up of cabinet ministers to address serious delays in passport and immigration applications.

The issue goes beyond those specific frustrations though, Robson said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 this whole of government challenge. Is the government actually set up to deliver services to Canadians in ways that reflect the way that citizens expect to be treated now?B次元官网网址� she said.

In a short statement, the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office said the new role will have a B次元官网网址渃ross-government focus on anything that touches Canadians directly.B次元官网网址�

That includes passports, but also dental care benefit filings and employment insurance.

Conservatives have taken aim at the government for months, alleging that B次元官网网址渆verything is broken,B次元官网网址� and Trudeau and ministers have been quick to dismiss the OppositionB次元官网网址檚 pessimistic view of government.

After his new cabinet was sworn in, Trudeau said his team will offers an optimistic view of the future B次元官网网址渢hat is a clear contrast from the broken-ist philosophy that the leader of the Conservative party continues to put forward.B次元官网网址�

The new post is likely an attempt to thwart that Conservative narrative, said Jeni Armstrong, an instructor in political management at Carleton University.

B次元官网网址淚 think this may be an attempt to say, B次元官网网址楴o, weB次元官网网址檙e on it. We understand there are challenges and weB次元官网网址檙e gonna do our best to fix them,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Armstrong said.

The kinds of files that are likely to fall under BeechB次元官网网址檚 supervision are some of the most tangible interactions people are likely to have with government. Sometimes, those are things that affect peopleB次元官网网址檚 bank accounts, she said.

As an entrepreneur, Beech said he developed a bit of a reputation for excellent customer service in his home community in British Columbia, and heB次元官网网址檚 excited to provide that to Canadians across the country.

The prime minister is expected to release new mandate letters for most of his ministers in the coming weeks, which will clarify exactly what he expects from his new citizensB次元官网网址� services minister.

Whatever it is, it needs to be more than B次元官网网址渏ust rearranging the order of the words B次元官网网址榮ervicesB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榗itizens,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Robson said.

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