Looking for a sign of election readiness?

How about this: At its pre-session caucus being held in Levis, Quebec the Conservatives are showing a whole new side.

A new, friendlier, more accessible side.

Ministers have been trotted out at regular intervals to scrum with reporters, photo ops inside the caucus room have been organized and even former Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier, who resigned in disgrace back in May, was brought out to speak to reporters.

Now this may sound like what should be expected from a government, but it wasn't.

Last year, reporters were kept at a hotel across the street and were even tossed out of the hotel where the caucus was being held and police were called.

This year, we're in the building, we have a media room and there is even food and drinks provided.

Some attribute the change to the prime minister's new chief of staff, Guy Giorno. Or perhaps, it's the new director of communications, Kory Teneycke. Either way, it is a considerable shift from last year.

Of course, nothing is perfect.

There are still heavy, black curtains hanging around the main caucus rooms and reporters can't see MPs milling around, nor can they just approach and talk to whomever they want.

The Conservatives' tight control may have loosened slightly, but there is still a strict message and steady hand guiding the Conservative government toward the fall and the possibility of an election.