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When you’re crusading against the forces of evil, everything is black and white. Whatever the bad guys do is, by definition, malevolent; your every move in fighting them is noble and pure.

It’s the prevailing dynamic in modern politics. But in the current climate in Ottawa, after a divisive and rhetorical election, it’s particularly pronounced. Swept to power on a campaign of anti-Harper sentiment, Justin Trudeau and his advisers have picked up some easy wins by doing exactly the opposite of the previous administration.

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The contrast in style and action has been noted in several articles about the new tone in Ottawa. Many public servants feel liberated and environmentalists are cheering the new government’s efforts to fight climate change. But in a few instances, undoing whatever Stephen Harper did has been more troublesome and problematic.

Friday, for example, is the deadline for several senior executives to reply to the government’s written request that they resign. The Liberals were hoping to reverse a series of appointments and reappointments made by Harper in the past year, assuming that any hire by the previous government must be a bad one.