Canada To Shuffle Cabinet To Polish Environmental Image - (Ambrose To Be Fired) Reuters

[hatrack]

Yep, that's about the size of it.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will shuffle his cabinet on Thursday morning, with Environment Minister Rona Ambrose expected to lose her job as the Conservatives try to recover political ground they lost in the debate on climate change.

The issue, suddenly a dominant one in Canadian politics, has put Harper's minority government on the defensive. Ambrose has faced mounting criticism over Ottawa's plans to control the greenhouse gas emissions that are widely blamed for climate change, and for getting facts wrong.

Harper, elected a year ago, is eager to shore up his team as he prepares for a possible election within months. He particularly needs to improve his standing in Quebec, which was key to the last election and which favors tougher action on climate change. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT), and Harper will make a statement 90 minutes later.

EDIT

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2007-01-04T144356Z_01_TOR001456_RTRIDST_0_CANADA-CABINET-PLANS-COL.XML

[GliderGuider]

1. My reaction is in the linked post

John Baird will be no better.

And watch out for the National Resources Stewardship Project, a Canadian version of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

[hatrack]

2. When do you get to boot these clowns out?

Please say it's soon!

[GliderGuider]

3. The current speculation is someime in the first half of the year

The new Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, looks like a winner, but he needs some time to re-consolidate public opinion behind the party. I suspect he will put off bringing down Harper's minority government until the summer. We all expect a campaign this year - none too soon if you ask me.

Fortunately Dion is a greenie, who understands both Climate Change and Peak Oil. Plus he has the possibility of winning, unlike the NDP or the Greens. I might just break with a 3-generation family progressive tradition and work for the Liberals in my riding this time just to get John Baird (spit) out of there.