Mike McNair, executive director for policy in the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, told staff Thursday morning he’d be leaving at year’s end, according to an email obtained by The Logic. His replacement will reportedly be Marci Surkes, who was in charge of policy announcements for the Liberal Party during the fall election campaign and was formerly chief of staff to defeated cabinet minister Ralph Goodale. (The Logic)

Talking point: McNair’s email said he had discussed his departure with Trudeau’s chief of staff before the election, in which the Liberals were reduced to minority status. He had been with Trudeau since 2012, and is credited with being one of the architects of the Liberals’ efforts to bolster the middle class, particularly the Canada Child Benefit. He leaves a PMO in the midst of a post-election reset after the spring resignation of principal secretary Gerald Butts and retirement of Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick, both of whom departed in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin scandal.