A graduate of Mike Harris’ Queen’s Park school of politics, Derek Vanstone came to Ottawa as chief of staff to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. He’s been PMO deputy chief of staff since 2010. Mr. Vanstone was believed to be in contention for the top job in the PMO when Guy Giorno decided to leave, but the job went to Nigel Wright. Mr. Vanstone has the crucial job of handling political appointments to government jobs. Now that the Tories have their majority, Mr. Vanstone will be in the centre of the drive to remake the senior tiers of the public service, the diplomatic corps, tribunals, regulatory agencies and, to some extent, the judiciary to reflect the ideology and priorities of the Harper government. To handle this job, person must have the complete faith of the Prime Minister. Previous occupants of this office have gone on to the Senate (Leader of the Government in the Senate Marjory LeBreton) and lucrative academic and lobbying work (Penny Collenette).

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