I would first point out that the e-mail to employees went out on December 21 and my appointment took place on January 21. When that decision was made, I was not yet appointed as the chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.
However, upon assuming that responsibility I talked to senior management about the memo, and I'm satisfied that they were following proper procedure, as directed by the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service and the result of a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the proper relationship between management and employees when dealing with a political issue. Where loyalty to government and freedom of speech seem to clash, there are some set guidelines; there's a prescription in place. It's my understanding that the Canadian Grain Commission followed that to a T.