Justin Trudeau's plans revealed in ministers' mandate letters

First, the bad news. JustinTrudeau'smarching orders for his ministers are out, and anyone who voted Liberal hoping that Jason Kenney was right will be disappointed.

In the heat of the election campaign, the former Conservative defence ministerpredicted that a Liberal win would mean pot shops and brothels on every corner.

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"Unlike JustinTrudeau," Kenneythundered on Sept.25,"we don't think marijuana should be sold in convenience stores. He also wants to force communities to establish illegal drug injection sites and the Liberals also support the legalization of prostitution he also wants to force communities to accept brothels."

It's a shock, then, to see thatTrudeau's"mandate letters" are full of cautious legalese, urging ministers to "consult" and "develop plans" and "establish committees" before doing much of anything.

Create a federal-provincial-territorial process first

Instead of pot in convenience stores, the new prime minister urges his Justice Minister JodyWilson-Raybouldto "create a federal-provincial-territorial process that will lead to the legalization and regulation of marijuana."

Afederal-provincial-territorial process? Let's face it, that could take forever.

But that's how it goes in the long and careful series of letters to ministers. Not that there aren't some interesting clues to the prime minister's thinking on the great issues of the day.

For example, the letter to the environment minister, Catherine McKenna, tells her to get together with the provinces and produce some national emissions targets. No surprise there. But she is also told to get together with the U.S. and Mexico to"develop an ambitious North American clean energy and environment agreement."

That sounds like a bid to co-ordinateemissions targets another process which doesn't sound like it's likely to be quick.

Amending C-51, the anti-terror bill

Mostly, though, the letters are tied directly to the Liberals' campaign promises such as, the pledge to amendthe Conservatives' big security bill, C-51. The prime minister instructs RalphGoodale, the public safety minister, to"introduce new legislation that strengthens accountability with respect to national security and better balances collective security with rights and freedoms."

Elsewhere, GovernmentHouse LeaderDominicLeblancis told to arrange a parliamentary committee, with access to classified information, which would oversee the security agencies.

Nothing unclear about that. But other letters are intriguingly vague.

ChrystiaFreeland, for example, as minister of international trade, is told to"develop strategies to implement the Canada-European Trade Agreement (CETA) and consult on Canada's potential participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)."

Interesting. There's a big difference between "implement" and "consult."Trudeauis endorsing the European agreement but not the "potential" Trans-Pacific one. No doubt, he's well aware that the latter may never emerge alive fromthe U.S. Congress.

Bring the planes home, but when?

He's also sticking with his pledge to pull Canada'sCF-18sout of the bombing in Iraq but there's a wrinkle. He tellsHarjit Sajjan, the new defence minister,to go ahead and bring those planes home. But he doesn't say when. He never does. He just says it will be done "responsibly" and in co-ordination with Canada's allies.

Does that mean they could stay until the current mission ends in March of next year? The mandate letter doesn't say yes or no.

There's more wiggle room to be found on the subject of the F-35, thefighter jet whichTrudeausaidduring the election campaignthat he would not buy.

But the mandate letter for Sajjan merely tells him to"launch an open and transparent competition to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft, focusing on options that match Canada's defence needs."

That does not specifically exclude the F-35.If it does not "match Canada's defence needs," then why not say so, as he did during the campaign. Is the door open just a crack? And if the competition is to be "open and transparent," how could it not be "open" to the F-35?

Step away from thesalt!

So the mandate letters present much to chew on. But get ready to have your chewing monitored carefully by the government.

The new health minister is urged byTrudeauto bring in "new restrictions on the commercial marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children." Jane Philpottmust also insist on "tougher regulations to eliminate trans fats and to reduce salt in processed foods."

So at least we're clear on that. Get ready for the war on salt.