6 other Harper-era policies Liberals could quickly reverse

Stephen Harper’s policies restricting government scientists aren’t the only ones that could get a Liberal overhaul.

The new governing party has already signalled its intentions to quickly change some of the policies of the previous Conservative government, and several others were part of the Liberal’s campaign platform.

A promised change in the rules about media interactions for public servants is already well underway. Here are some other Conservative policies Justin Trudeau promised to change, and when those shifts might happen.

Long-form census: The Liberal government — via Navdeep Bains, the new minister of innovation, science and development — has already announced its intentions to bring back the long-form census, which was scrapped by the Conservatives and replaced with a voluntary household survey in 2010. The long-form census should return for 2016.

Freedom for diplomats: Earlier this week, Trudeau sent a letter to senior diplomats telling them that they’d play a vital role in a “new role” in Canada’s foreign relations. He specified that the expertise and first-hand knowledge of diplomats would play a role in the country’s foreign policy agenda. It’s a marked contrast from the top-down style of Harper’s government, where messaging was tightly controlled by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Door-to-door delivery: Canada Post has halted its community mailbox program, created as part of its planned phase-out of door-to-door delivery across the country. The Liberals promised while campaigning to provide funding to the Crown corporation that would cover the cost of door-to-door delivery.

Air operations against ISIS: Trudeau has indicated that Canada will pull out from air combat in the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, focusing on humanitarian aid and training missions. A 12-month extension to the mission was approved by the last Parliament in March.

Tax cuts: “A Liberal government will introduce, as its very first bill in Parliament, a tax cut for the middle class,” Trudeau said at a campaign stop in early October. The first session of the 42nd Parliament will open on Dec. 3, so Trudeau will get his chance then to keep that promise. He also promised to restore funding to Parks Canada and cancel income splitting for younger families.

Freedom for ministers: Trudeau’s first slate of cabinet ministers is the most diverse the country’s ever had, and they could also be the most autonomous in a while. The new prime minister said he hopes to rely on the expertise of the ministers he’s chosen to direct their departments. The ministers have also apparently been freed up to speak directly to the press, whereas under Harper lower-ranking staffers were often available to media instead of the ministers themselves.