Article content continued

Butts, a longtime friend of Trudeau’s from their days at McGill University, worked at Queen’s Park as principal secretary to Premier Dalton McGuinty. In recent years, he has been principal advisor to Trudeau.

Butts is known for his sharpness on policy and political messaging.

In working for Trudeau, they have essentially partnered under a “co-CEO model” said one source. The pair have a strong working relationship and are most certainly in Trudeau’s inner circle.

In an interview with the Citizen earlier this year, Butts praised Telford.

“She is a long-term, multi-move thinker,” he said. “This is a business that’s dominated by people who make quick, and in my view, rash decisions. And that’s what I’ve always appreciated about working with Katie.”

In his victory speech in Montreal on election night, Trudeau paid thanks to them both, who he described as his “good friends.”

“Katie and Gerry are two of the smartest, toughest, hardest-working people you will find anywhere,” said Trudeau.

“They share with me the conviction that politics doesn’t have to be negative and personal to be successful. That you can appeal to the better angels of our nature, and you can win while doing it.”

Trudeau will assume office on Nov. 4 and announce a cabinet that implements the Liberal agenda in coming years. His staffing decisions could also determine the political success of the government.

The PMO acts as a central decision-maker within the federal government and its staff members hold great influence. Appointing the right people could set a tone for the government in its early days.

During the election, Trudeau told the CBC in an interview that he would reverse the centralization of power in the PMO that had been growing since his own father was prime minister.

“I think we’ve reached the endpoint on that,” said Trudeau.

“I believe that we need to trust Canadians. I believe that it’s not just about restoring Canadians’ trust in government by demonstrating trust towards them, I think we get better public policy when it’s done openly and transparently.”

mkennedy@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter/com/Mark_Kennedy_