Justin Trudeau joyfully mobbed by federal civil servants

Things have transformed. Just two days after Justin Trudeau's cabinet was sworn in, it's becomea different world for a political reporter.

And the civil service is behaving differently too.

Friday morning, CBC Newsheard that there was an orientation meeting for new cabinet ministers in Ottawa. After some snooping around, a crewended up at the Lester B. Pearson Building on Sussex Drive, home to offices for the Foreign Affairs Department.

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Confronted by security, crew members fully anticipated theywould never make it past the gatekeepersand pondered saying they just wanted a muffin from the cafeteria.

Instead, the crewwas truthful, we identified ourselvesas working for CBC News and said wewere going in to wait for a meeting to end.

The security official spoke into his sleeve and then said: "Go ahead in."

We went inside and someone else asked us what our business was.We said confidently that we were there to wait for the meeting to end.We were then directed by a pleasant official to the comfy couches in the lobby.

Soon a friendly bureaucrat approached us, introduced himself and asked if we had everything we needed.

Then two more officials gave ustheir business cards.

This was not the usual reception.

Crowd formed to cheer ministers

But then something truly unexpectedhappened.

Word went out that ministers would be making a statement about U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have carried oil from the Prairies to Gulf Coast refineries. But itwasn't clear who would be doing the talking.

Dozens of staffers lined the conference hall. They were mostly women, all holding theirsmartphonesat the ready.

They were waiting to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Several cabinet ministers left the meeting.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould was hugged as she made her way out.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay andScience Minister Kirsty Duncanleft too.They were all cheered.

Booing for negativequestion

Foreign Affairs MinisterStphane Dion went to the microphoneto answer questions from reporters.

At one point, a reporter asked why some women in cabinet were making less money than their colleagues.

Some in the crowd booed.

Dion said that wasn't the case. "They are full ministers. They will work with us," he said.

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Dion answered a few more questions. Then he left.

The crowd of assembled civil servantswaited some more.

'You've got it'

Suddenly there was a buzz and the crowd moved forward.

Trudeau appeared and began to make his way out of the building. He was swarmed. Many took photos and evenselfies along the way.

The prime minister was hugged. Cheers erupted. He smiled, waved and stopped by the door.

He thanked the crowdfor supportingthe members of his cabinet,who had just left.

Then he continued: "We're going to need every single one of you to give us, as you always do, your absolute best."

They applauded and cheered some more. Some yelled back:"You've got it."

One longtime staffer nearby said he'd never seen anything like it. Not in all of his years.

And it might not be the only instance of a crowd forming to welcomea minister Friday.

On Facebook, a photo circulatedof civil servants at another location waiting to greet Sajjan.