Here comes the shuffle

OK — so I was blind as a bat. The cabinet shuffle is on — for Thursday around mid-day. We’re certain of that and one other thing: Rona Ambrose will no longer be Minister of Environment.

Now for the relatively informed speculation — things we  (and when I say we, I mean, the reporters at CTV’s Parliamentary Bureau, who have been busily trying to assemble all of this from various bits and pieces of data) are pretty sure about.

• John Baird leaves his post at Treasury Board to become Minister of the Environment.
• Jim Prentice leaves his portfolio of Indian Affairs to become President of the Treasury Board.
• Peter Van Loan becomes Minister of Indian Affairs (he was in charge of Intergovernmental Affairs.)
• Gerry Ritz is a new addition to cabinet. The Saskatchewan MP will become Minister of State for Tourism.

Now for some slightly less informed speculation:

• Bev Oda’s portfolio is split in two — she remains minister of Heritage but the Communications part of her portfolio goes to a newly created Secretary of State.
• James Moore, currently Parliamentary Secretary to Public Works Minister and Senator Michael Fortier, lightens the load David Emerson has been carrying and becomes Minister for the Olympics.

Now for pure and unadulterated rumours:

• Vic Toews leaves the Justice portfolio behind and becomes Minister of Immigration.
• Monte Solberg leaves Immigration and becomes Minister of State for Communications.
• Diane Ablonczy becomes Minister of State for Communications.
• There will be one more new face at the cabinet table. Choose from the following: Ontario MPs Rick Dykstra or Helena Guergis or Manitoba MP Rod Bruinooge.

I’ll be on the air at 6 am Ottawa time — on Newsnet — going over all of this again. If you’re reading this and you happen to work in the Prime Minister’s Office, please call and let me know which bits I’ve got right!