Canadians recently received an unprecedented look inside Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration when his chief of staff, Marc-André Blanchard, appeared before a parliamentary committee in late October 2025.
The Power Behind the Throne
During the committee hearing, Blanchard testified alongside Michael Sabia, the clerk of the Privy Council, regarding ethics screens implemented to prevent potential conflicts of interest related to Carney's financial holdings. This rare public appearance highlighted the influential role of political staffers in the current government.
While many Canadians may be unfamiliar with Blanchard, he stands as one of the most powerful figures in Canadian politics. As chief of staff, he oversees the Prime Minister's Office operations and ensures government actions align with Carney's priorities following the spring election.
The Exempt Staff Phenomenon
Political staff supporting the prime minister and cabinet ministers represent a powerful class of government actors. These individuals, known as exempt staff, operate outside standard public service employment rules, granting them significant latitude for partisan activities and making them subject to hiring and dismissal at the government's discretion without merit-based processes.
This exemption creates a fundamental tension within government operations. Public servants, who are bound to provide fearless advice while implementing decisions loyally, must navigate relationships with these political appointees. The arrival of Carney's new administration has required the public service to establish fresh working dynamics with recently appointed staff members.
Clashing Cultures in Governance
The divide between political staff and career public servants represents more than just different roles—it reflects fundamentally contrasting approaches to governance. Exempt staff operate in a high-pressure environment demanding rapid results and political sensitivity, while public servants typically adopt more methodical, evidence-based approaches that prioritize process and risk management.
Academic observers caution that political staff can become overly meddlesome or influential, potentially centralizing decision-making within the Prime Minister's Office. This centralization may sideline the expertise of career public servants, diminish the input of elected Members of Parliament, and even undermine the responsibilities of cabinet ministers.
The question of whether political staff wield excessive power often depends on perspective. Those who have served in such roles typically understand the pressures and necessities of their positions, while many current and former public servants express concerns about the growing influence of partisan actors in the machinery of government.
