Since a whole lot people are going to be beating up on Bill Morneau tonight, I have to say this: he’s one of the nicest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever met.

I got to know him a bit when I was on Trudeau’s economic council. Prior to March 2015, I probably was in a half-dozen meetings with him. That was about it.

A week after Mats was born, a *massive* package showed up on our door. A basket full of kids books and a note from Bill.

I was shocked, partly because it was unexpected, partly because it was such a nice jesture, but mostly because I hadn’t spent all that much time with him prior to that.

I mentioned it to a few mutual friends, and they all said the same thing: “that’s Bill.”

I’ve met so many people in and around politics over the last decade, all with very different personalities. I can’t think of too many others that are just as effortlessly kind and thoughtful as Bill Morneau.