Paul Martin's second Cabinet: Who's in? Who's out?

He's staying in, but who else will make the cut for Team Martin's A-Team?

Posted June 30 - Updated July 20: OTTAWA - Prime Minister Paul Martin -- who repeated on the campaign trail that health care was his No. 1 priority -- appears to have changed his priorities.  

"Putting together a Cabinet is obviously the No. 1 priority," he told reporters at a post-election press conference in late June. 

Martin is not expected to unveil his new Cabinet until all the election results are finalized on July 19. 

In the meantime, Ottawa will become engulfed in a speculative game of who's in, who's out and which Cabinet staffers need to update their resumes. 

Martin's first Cabinet sent shockwaves through Ottawa as he dropped 22 Chretien cabinet ministers.  

It did not include four high-ranking Chretien Cabinet ministers who may have posed a leadership challenge to Martin. Martin Cauchon and Sheila Copps sat as backbenchers, Martin appointed Allan Rock to the post of ambassador to the UN and John Manley announced earlier he was quitting politics. 

But Martin promoted a number of backbench supporters to the Cabinet with mixed results. 

Agriculture Minister Bob Speller was particularly strong when tested with the re-emergence of BSE and the debut of Avian Flu on the west coast. But he won't be coming back.

On the other hand, Treasury Board President Reg Alcock, who had gained a great reputation as chair of the Government Operations and Estimates Committee, disappointed many. At the peak of the Adscam controversy, Alcock cited a non-existent audit of the sponsorship program and later challenged Deputy Conservative Leader  Peter MacKay to step outside the chamber during a heated question period dust up. 

But Martin's first Cabinet was only designed to be an interim pre-election social club to last long enough for the delivery of a Throne Speech, the tabling of a budget and the call of an election.

Martin's grand scheme was to coast to a majority win in the election, with gains in Quebec and Western Canada. His march to victory was to include a number of star candidates who he would then put in Cabinet. 

But a number of factors got in the way of that. 

One possible star candidate, former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna, decided not to run when finding a riding for him to run in became part of a rich tapestry of media coverage about Martin and the PMO overriding the wishes of riding associations. 

And the sponsorship scandal damaged any hopes of Liberal gains in the West and Quebec.

On election night, a number of Martin's star candidates won -- former B.C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh and his Quebec lieutenant Jean Lapierre -- but others were defeated -- former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray and Ottawa's Richard Mahoney. 

But despite being reduced to minority status, Martin only lost a handful of Cabinet ministers and a healthy number of his star candidates were elected. 

Martin will again change the face of his Cabinet to accommodate these stars and to promote some backbenchers and Parliamentary Secretaries who have performed well.

Politicswatch.com presents a look at the Martin Cabinet Vol II: Who's not coming back? Who's out? Who's new? Who's in line for a promotion? And here come the stars.  

NOT COMING BACK

Rey Pagtakhan
The Western Diversification Minister was the victim of riding redistribution and fell to NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis in Manitoba on election night. His defeat and the defeat of Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray ensures Alcock's Manitoba Cabinet position and opens up another Western Canadian seat, probably in B.C. where the Grits made gains.

Stan Keyes

After being a Martin loyalist and a backbencher for 15 years, Stan Keyes finally got the keys to a Cabinet limo in December. But it would not last, as the Revenue Minister  fell victim to a wave of anti-Liberal sentiment in Hamilton fuelled by Copps' bitter nomination battle and defeat, and the McGuinty budget. 

Bob Speller
Like Keyes, the Agriculture Minister  was a 15-year backbencher who was promoted in December and defeated in June. He may not have even seen the Cabinet room as he was travelling the country and the world on a non-stop basis as Canada faced agriculture crisis after agriculture crisis.  

David Pratt
Pratt was an outspoken, defence committee chair who was to put his knowledge to good use inside the Martin Cabinet as Defence Minister. But he fell victim to 25-year-old Pierre Poilievre who took back Pratt's largely conservative Nepean-Carleton riding. 

Helene Scherrer
A female cabinet minister from Quebec, Scherrer lost by 5,000 votes on election night to a Bloc candidate due largely to anger about Adscam. Her defeat opens up the Heritage portfolio and a post in Quebec. 

Gar Knutson
The defeat of the low-profile minister of state for new and emerging markets opens a third cabinet slot for Ontario. 

WHO'S OUT?

Here are the cabinet ministers that could be dropped as Martin shuffles the deck and brings on the stars. 

David Anderson

The Dosanjh-Emerson era will end the Dhaliwal-Anderson era in B.C. and Anderson, who has held a number of portfolios over the past 11 years, may not make the cut. Then again, some predicted he wouldn't make Martin's first cabinet in December and were wrong. Environment could also be opened up for Ontario's John Godfrey. 

Updated July 20: Anderson was replaced by Stephane Dion as Environment Minister.


Lucienne Robillard x
Martin will do some renovations to his cabinet in Quebec and the Industry minister could wind up on the wrong side. However, Robillard could surprise as she did in December when no one predicted she would be named Industry minister. 

Updated July 20: Robillard moves to Intergovernmental Affairs.

Claudette Bradshaw x
Why the PM had room for two ministers from New Brunswick in his first Cabinet is mind boggling. There may not be a slot for the Labour minister this time around, as Nova Scotia could get an extra seat at the table. 

Updated July 20: Remains in Cabinet as minister of state for human resources.
Denis Paradis
After almost losing his stronghold riding of Brome-Missisquoi on election night, Paradis got a second chance to be an MP. But the Minister of State for Financial Institutions may not get a second chance to be in Cabinet, as he could be shuffled to make room for worthy backbenchers and star candidates from Quebec. 

Jean Augustine
The PM has more loyalists to draw from in Ontario this time and Augustine, the Minister of State for Multiculturalism, may be shuffled out in a numbers game.

Joe McGuire x
McGuire's been a long-time Martin supporter, but it may be hard for him to ignore the talent of P.E.I.'s only MP not to be in Cabinet, Shawn Murphy.

Updated July 20: Keeps his Cabinet job heading up ACOA.

WHO'S STAYING

Here's are list of the five Cabinet ministers most likely to remain on.

Ralph Goodale
Goodale will stay in Cabinet and it's not because Martin needs a warm body from Saskatchewan. Goodale gets things done in a manner that is best explained by Warren Kinsella in his rules to leadership. "Hand the messes to solid, dull, factual, unflappable guys to answer all of the questions, until people get bored and start playing bridge again. After all, that's why God invented Ralph Goodale and Herb Gray."

Updated July 20: After all the talk about him becoming House Leader, Goodale remains at Finance.

Anne McLellan
Unlike Goodale, McLellan is not the damage control equivalent of a special ops team. Since being deputy PM, she has contradicted committee testimony of the head of CSIS and one day, while subbing for the PM in question period, decided the best way to answer Opposition questions about Adscam was to repeat "We have nothing to hide" dozens of times. Still she'll be in Cabinet and will probably return as Martin's No. 2.

Updated July 20: No change in portfolio.
Pierre Pettigrew
Holding the portfolios of Health and Intergovernmental Affairs, Pettigrew was a key minister in Martin's first Cabinet. There's no reason to believe he won't be in the second Martin Cabinet. 

Updated July 20: Moves from Intergovernmental Affairs and Health to Foreign Affairs.
Jim Peterson
After a brief hiatus, Martin brought Peterson back to Cabinet in the senior portfolio as Trade Minister in December and he really seemed to enjoy the role. He may not have solved the softwood dispute, but neither did Pettigrew. It's hard to see Martin dropping the affable Peterson.  

Joe Volpe
Long-time Martin loyalist Joe Volpe will get to stay in Cabinet and keep his role as Human Resources minister. However, he will no longer be "minister for helping Dennis (Mills)," as he described himself earlier this year after making a funding announcement for the Toronto waterfront.  

ALSO STAYING IN

Atlantic Canada
John Efford, Newfoundland and Labrador

Geoff Regan, Nova Scotia
Updated July 20: The talk about Regan moving to Defence was wrong. He will remain at Fisheries.
Andy Scott, New Brunswick
Updated July 20: Promoted to Indian Affairs Minister.

Quebec
Denis Coderre x
Updated July 19: The Canadian Press reports that Coderre's past associations with ad execs involved in Adscam could cost him a Cabinet post. "That history could lead to Coderre being called as witness in the public inquiry into the affair that opens in September, a political embarrassment Martin could do without," CP explained. 

Jacques Saada
Updated July 20: Stays in but surrenders House Leader's job to Tony Valeri.

Liza Frulla
Updated July 12: The Globe and Mail reports Frulla is one of two MPs being considered to replace Helene Scherrer at Heritage. "There seems to be a consensus that the Prime Minister probably is trying to decide between two candidates," the Globe explained. "One is Liza Frulla, who won her Montreal riding of Jeanne-Le Ber last month by only 35 votes, the other is Toronto-based Sarmite (Sam) Bulte, who was re-elected for her third stint as the representative of Parkdale-High Park."

Irwin Cotler

Ontario
Tony Valeri
Updated July 20: Valeri, not Goodale, will lead the Government in the House in the minority Parliament.
John McCallum
Updated July 20: He doesen't get Defence, but he stays in Cabinet as Revenue minister.
Albina Guarnieri
Updated July 20: Replaces McCallum at Veterans Affairs.
Mauril Belanger
Carolyn Bennett
Joe Comuzzi
Judy Sgro

Bill Graham 
Updated July 20: Graham winds up at Defence, something few predicted.


Andy Mitchell
Updated July 20: Replaces the defeated Bob Speller as Agriculture Minister.
Aileen Carroll

West and North
Reg Alcock, Manitoba

Stephen Owen, B.C.
Updated July 20: Stays in, but loses the Public Works job to Scott Brison.
Sen. Jack Austin, B.C.

Ethel Blondin-Andrew ?
Updated July 20: Cabinet status pending a judicial recount in her riding.

DUE FOR A PROMOTION

Stephane Dion
The last time the Cabinet was picked, Dion, the father of the Clarity Act, was left out. But unlike other former Chretien Cabinet ministers, Dion persevered and decided to run again and stay in Ottawa, even if he was destined to sit on the backbenches for an unknown amount of time. Dion campaigned hard for the Liberals across the country in the election and his return to Cabinet would send a strong signal to alienated Chretienites. 

Updated July 20: Dion is back in and replaces David Anderson as Environment Minister.
Scott Brison
Nova Scotia should get two Cabinet ministers this time out and Brison should be one of them. His mere presence in Cabinet would also serve as a reminder that not all Progressive Conservatives decided to join up with the new Conservative Party. 

Updated July 20: Brison gets a big promotion, landing the Public Works portfolio.

John Godfrey
The PM's point man on cities was left out of Cabinet last time out, but he should be in this time, possibly replacing Anderson as Environment minister.

Updated July 12: The Toronto Star reports Martin may create a special "communities" ministry and appoint Godfrey to be the minister.  

Dan McTeague x
Also left out of Cabinet last time out, McTeague has been effective as the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs with special emphasis on Canadians abroad. He also remained vocal on consumer issues in the last session, especially rising gas prices. 

Updated July 20: Overlooked again, but keeps his Parliamentary Secretary post
Shawn Murphy x
As a member of the Public Accounts committee investigating Adscam, Murphy asked some of the best questions from the Liberal side. His higher profile should land him the Cabinet slot for P.E.I.

Updated July 20: Maybe next time.
Marlene Jennings x
Point of order. For her work on the Liberal side during the Adscam hearings, the vice-chair of the Public Accounts committee should be rewarded with a Cabinet post for Quebec. 

Updated July 20: One of five Liberal MPs on the Public Accounts committee to be named a Parliamentary Secretary. Two others lost in the election. And the remaining two will remain backbenchers.

MARTIN'S STARS COME TO TOWN

Ujjal Dosanjh
This former NDP premier of B.C. should land a Cabinet slot and a special role working with his former NDP colleagues in the minority Parliament. 

Updated July 20: Replaces Pettigrew at Health.
Ken Dryden
Don't think he left the dream job of being president of the Toronto Maple Leafs to ask softball questions of the Minister of Infrastructure on Thursday afternoon near the end of question period. Dryden won't be shut out and he's the goalie for Team Martin. 

Updated July 20: Canada's new Social Development minister.

David Emerson
A former forestry executive with Canfor, Emerson's presence will create a log jam, so to speak, in B.C. and may force Anderson out of Cabinet.

Updated July 20: Another B.C. rookie MP with a big job -- Industry minister.

Jean Lapierre
His status has fallen, but this former co-founder of the Bloc is still a likely Cabinet contender. Martin has also stated publicly that he is standing behind Lapierre as his Quebec lieutenant despite the loss of Liberal seats in Quebec.

Updated July 20: Transport Minister.
David McGuinty x
The brother of the Ontario premier will replace David Pratt as one of the Ottawa-area Liberals in Cabinet.
Ruby Dhalla x
This doctor/actress/model can add another slash to her name -- Cabinet minister.
Mario Silva x
A former Toronto city councillor, Martin allowed Silva to challenge the nomination of Charles Caccia, who had been the MP for the Davenport riding since the late 60s. There may have been a reason for it.

ON THE WAITING LIST

Here is a list of a few Martin loyalists who were given Parliamentary Secretaries positions last time around and who may be expecting or deserving of promotions.

Roger Gallaway
Gallaway was the Parliamentary Secretary for the Government House Leader with a special emphasis on democratic reform. He also is well known for his opposition to the gun registry . 

Jim Karygiannis
Another loyal Martin soldier who was given the post of Parliamentary Secretary for Transportation. Karygiannis is known for his energetic, on-message scrums with reporters after Liberal caucus meetings. 

Hedy Fry
Fry was a Cabinet minister in the Chretien government but is also a known Martin backer. She is a Parliamentary Secretary to the minister of Immigration with special emphasis on the import issue of foreign credentials. 

Andrew Telegdi
Telegdi was given a prominent role in the Martin sub Cabinet when he was named Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs, a key area of importance for the PM. 

Brenda Chamberlain
A known Martin supporter from caucus during his battles with Chretien, Chamberlain is currently a Parliamentary Secretary for the Queen's Privy Council. 

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