PM has plenty to choose from for 
cabinet shuffle 
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch posted 5:10 p.m. August 8, 2005]

Liberal MP Dominic Leblanc could be among the fresh faces in cabinet.

There are plenty of contenders, but few openings in Prime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet if he plans on shuffling the deck before Parliament returns in September.  
 
Speculation around Ottawa about a possible shuffle has been ongoing since mid-June, but still nothing has happened yet. 

At a press conference in June, the PM denied that a cabinet shuffle was imminent, but wouldn't rule one out either. 

"At some point we may have a cabinet shuffle, but there's nothing planned for the moment," Martin said. 

Since unveiling a new cabinet after the spring election last, Martin has made just three changes to his cabinet. 

Martin has lost two ministers. Immigration Minister Judy Sgro departed in January at the height of a scandal involving immigration permits being given to people or the relatives of people who volunteered on her campaign. And junior minister Joe Comuzzi left cabinet in June to vote against the government's gay marriage legislation. 

The only new person to enter the cabinet wasn't a Liberal backbencher, but Belinda Stronach, who was given the Human Resources file after defecting from the Conservatives in May.

Martin has not replaced Comuzzi so there is still one opening in cabinet. 

Here's a breakdown by region of the options and decisions the Prime Minister will have to make if he were to shuffle the cabinet. 

WESTERN CANADA AND THE NORTH 

Long-time Martin Backers

Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale, Senator Jack Austin and Treasury Board President Reg Alcock are long-time Martin backers and locks to keep their posts. 

Star Power

Industry Minister David Emerson was a star candidate recruited by Martin and will remain. In B.C., the only Martin minister who has been shaky is Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, but Martin is unlikely to replace one of his star candidates who he snatched from the NDP just yet. 

Staying Put

Western Economic Diversification Minister Stephen Owen and Minister of State of Multiculturalism Raymond Chan are likely to hold on to their posts. Northern Development Minister Ethel Blondin-Andrew is also likely to hold on to her job. 

On the Bench

B.C. Liberal MP Keith Martin is a possibility, but one would think if the PM really wanted him in cabinet he would have appointed him after the last election. 

Rookie Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla with Prime Minister Paul Martin.

ONTARIO

The Prime Minister has a tonne of talent to choose from here but very few openings. 

Long-time Martin Backers 

Trade Minister Jim Peterson, Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri, Government House Leader Tony Valeri, Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, Public Health Minister Carolyn Bennett, and junior ministers Joe Fontana and Tony Ianno are long-time Martin supporters who aren't going anywhere. Peterson has been the subject of retirement rumours but his office has vehemently denied them. 

Staying Put

Defence Minister Bill Graham, Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell, International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll, Infrastructure Minister John Godfrey and Deputy Government House Mauril Belanger are ministers not known for their long-time loyalty to Martin but who are all getting along well in their roles and are not likely to move. There were rumours Revenue Minister John McCallum will retire, but a spokesman for McCallum says the minister has been nominated and definitely plans to run in the upcoming federal election. 

Star Power

And Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach and Social Development Minister Ken Dryden are two high-profile Liberal stars who are not about to be dropped from cabinet. 

On the Way Out?

Minister of state Joe Comuzzi left cabinet in June over the gay marriage issue and has yet to be replaced. 

On the Bench

Martin has a large bench of talent to choose from in Ontario and many candidates who could replace the departed Comuzzi. 

John McKay and Dan McTeague are two parliamentary secretaries who have performed their duties well and are worthy of promotion, but could be left out because of their opposition to the government's same-sex marriage bill. 

Three Liberal women also could easily be slipped into cabinet and increase the low female ratio in cabinet - MPs Sarmite Bulte, Paddy Torsney and Liberal whip Karen Redman. Bulte was rumoured to replace Sgro in cabinet last year and Redman performed a difficult job rounding up the Liberal caucus during the numerous confidence votes in the spring. 

And Martin could go with youth by promoting rookie Liberal MPs Ruby Dhalla and Darren McGuinty to cabinet. Both MPs were star candidates and expected to make Martin's cabinet after the last election. 

Rookie Liberal MP Francoise Boivin.

QUEBEC

Long-time Martin Backers Staying Put

Transport Minister Jean Lapierre and Quebec Development Minister Jacques Saada are two Martin loyalists who will likely remain in Cabinet. 

Staying Put

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Lucienne Robillard, Environment Minister Stephane Dion, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler are likely not to be replaced.

On the Way Out?

Heritage Minister Liza Frulla and Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew are both facing possible defeat at the polls in the coming federal election. Rumours persist about Pettigrew leaving politics and his name came up in the spring as being a possible replacement as head of the Organization of American States. 

On the Bench

If Martin wants to put a fresh face on his Quebec team, there are three possible backbenchers that could be promoted. Liberal MPs Francoise Boivin, Elani Bakopanos and Massimo Pacetti are relatively young for the Liberal caucus and could be moved into cabinet. Boivin is the chair of the Liberal women's caucus and Pacetti is chair of the House finance committee. 

ATLANTIC CANADA

Staying Put

Public Works Minister Scott Brison, Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott, Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Minister Joe McGuire are all likely to remain in Cabinet. 

On the Way Out?

Natural Resources Minister John Efford has been experiencing health problems and could be replaced. Also, minister of state Claudette Bradshaw could be out of cabinet as well. 

On the Bench

If Efford and Bradshaw are out of cabinet, that would create openings in Newfoundland and New Brunswick. 

Former Liberal cabinet minister Gerry Byrne would have an inside track on replacing Efford if Martin were to pick someone from Newfoundland. 

In New Brunswick, Liberal MP Dominic Leblanc and Liberal caucus chair Andy Savoy would be the two frontrunners to replace Bradshaw. Both MPs were elected in 2000, but Leblanc has an edge with more experience as a parliamentary secretary. 

As has been said before, the Prime Minister has the power to appoint and disappoint. And with so many experienced and deserving backbench Liberal MPs out there, there will once again be many disappointments if Martin decides to shuffle people in and out of cabinet. 

Martin could also change the face of his cabinet without dropping anyone or adding new bodies, but by simply shuffling ministers to different portfolios. 

Either way, speculation about a cabinet shuffle will likely continue through the summer and possibly up until the PM calls a federal election early next year. 

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