In nine days the Liberals have mobilized the public service in a way Canadians haven’t seen in years.

Government employees are pulling out the stops to meet Immigration Minister John McCallum’s target of bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada in 45 days; to ensure that Environment Minister Catherine McKenna arrives at the United Nations conference on climate change in 14 days well-briefed to signal a change in direction; to lay the groundwork for Ottawa’s long-awaited inquiry on missing and murdered aboriginal women; and to bring rookie cabinet ministers — some of whom know little about their portfolio — up to speed.

Every transition between governments is well-organized and well-executed. Senior mandarins know how to do it. They’ve had plenty of practice.

But they couldn’t be sure the 250,000-member federal workforce — demoralized by years of job cuts, spending freezes and jibes about tax-sucking bureaucrats — would rise to the occasion. Nor could they be sure government employees, whose policy advice hadn’t been sought in years, would be able to think on their feet.

Canada’s tradition of proud, professional, non-partisan public service had been sorely tested in the last decade. Stephen Harper and his colleagues didn’t want informed counsel; they wanted loyal spear-carriers to implement their policies regardless of the drawbacks. They didn’t want policy-makers; they wanted red-tape cutters, downsizers and cheerleaders.

Those who could move found jobs in the private sector or the provincial bureaucracy. Those who remained grew sullen, resentful and scared.

On his final day as prime minister, Harper released a farewell letter to Canada’s “first-class public service” thanking its members for working closely with his team to improve the “prosperity, security and well-being of Canadians.”

The response from Ottawa’s two big federal public sector unions amounted to bitter laughter.

“It is unfortunate that the Conservative government was not able to recognize the important contribution of public service workers during their mandate,” said Robyn Benson, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “We look forward to building a positive and constructive relationship with the new Liberal government where trust and respect for public service is restored.”

Those sentiments were echoed by the president of the Professional Institution of the Public Service of Canada. “We are of course very glad the prime minister has at least recognized the true value of the public service,” said Debi Daviau. It’s unfortunate it took this long.”

Given all that — plus the fact that thousands of civil servants are locked in tense contract negotiations with the federal treasury board — it wouldn’t have been surprising if federal employees had grumbled about the heavy workload the Liberals brought with them.

But that didn’t happen. They leapt into action. They welcomed the opportunity to serve the new government.

Part of the reason is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers sent the right signals.

A month before the election, Trudeau sent an open letter to public servants, promising to respect their labour rights and treat them as partners. “If real change is to occur after Oct. 19, a valued, independent, and professional public service will be needed to implement it,” the Liberal leader said. “I believe it is time to restore trust in — and respect for — our public servants.”

On election night, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna who on the riding of Ottawa Centre, said her party welcomed “frank and fearless advice.”

After being sworn in, Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains reinstated Canada’s mandatory census. “We need good reliable data,” he said, affirming the value of Statistics Canada.

International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said her first priority was to huddle with her departmental team to get up to speed on the issues she will face, particularly the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

Science Minister Kirsty Duncan told federal scientists they were free to discuss their work with journalists, the public and their international peers.

But one side can’t mend a broken relationship. Public servants responded with cheerful alacrity.

That is not to say the way ahead will be easy. Reaching a contract settlement with unions determined to protect their members’ sick leave and pension benefits will be a challenge. So will shifting public employees from departments beefed up by the Tories to ministries aligned with Liberal priorities.

For the moment, however, the Liberals have hit the ground running and public servants have a spring in their step.

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Carol Goar’s column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Clarification - November 16, 2015: This article was edited from a previous version that omitted Debi Daviau's given name.

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