In this file photo Liberal MP Bill Blair talks with media in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. iPolitics/Matthew Usherwood

The government plans to “split up” responsibilities in different departments to provide former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair with the authority he needs to be a full cabinet minister leading the federal response to irregular immigrants who have flooded into Canada.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale will remain the minister responsible for Canada Border Services Agency despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s designation of Liberal MP Bill Blair as the Minister of Border Security, Trudeau’s office confirmed Thursday.

Questions about the official relationship between Blair and Goodale surfaced following Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle Wednesday, with a Globe and Mail headline stating “Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair takes charge of Canada’s borders.”

With much of the news coverage focused on long-standing animosity between Blair and newly elected Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a PMO release describing Blair’s new responsibilities was broadly worded, in terms of his border responsibilities.

iPolitics learned Thursday that Dan Brien, Goodale’s director of communication since Goodale became Public Safety and Emergency minister in 2015 , has left the post after accepting a position as director of strategic communications and issues management with the RCMP two weeks ago.

Out-of-office emails from Brien and Scott Jordan, Goodale’s senior communications advisor, referred inquiries to Hilary Peirce, another member of Goodale’s staff.

Blair’s full title, in what appears would normally be a minister of state’s position, describes his post as Minister for Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.

But once the departmental responsibilities are split up, Blair will be a full minister, iPolitics has been informed.

“He will work to ensure Canada’s borders are managed in a way that promotes legitimate travel and trade while keeping Canadians safe and treating everyone fairly and in accordance with our laws,” a PMO brief said after the cabinet shuffle.

Trudeau’s PMO clarified the relationship somewhat in a response to questions from iPolitics Thursday.

“Minister Goodale is still responsible for CBSA,” senior press secretary Chantal Gagnon said via email. “They will work in close collaboration.”

Through Parliamentary statutes, the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness is exclusively responsible for the CBSA, the RCMP and sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act dealing with examinations, entry points and enforcement of the act involving arrest, detention and removal from Canada.

Goodale is also responsible for sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act dealing with inadmissibility to Canada on grounds of security, organized criminality or violating human or international rights.

“Minister Goodale retains responsibility for the RCMP,” said Gagnon.

“As Minister for Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, Minister Blair will lead government work on irregular migration, but they will all work in close collaboration,” she said.

Gagnon included immigration, refugees and citizenship minister, Ahmed Hussen, in the mix, noting Hussen remains responsible for his department as well as the Immigration and Refugee Board.