Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor-General David Johnston preside over a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall on Jan. 4, 2011.CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
Jason Kenney has invited friends and family to join him for lunch Wednesday - a likely sign he is moving up in Stephen Harper's cabinet. And rookie MP Mark Adler mentioned to friends that he is to be in Ottawa Wednesday - another clue he is in line to join the front benches.
Mr. Adler, the founder of the Economic Club of Canada, beat high-profile Liberal MP and former hockey legend Ken Dryden in the Toronto riding of York Centre on May 2. And since Toronto delivered for Stephen Harper, it's expected he will reward the GTA with a few cabinet posts - including a potential spot for investment dealer Joe Oliver, who defeated Liberal veteran Joe Volpe.
The make-up of this new Conservative cabinet is being kept under tight wraps but expectations are that Mr. Kenney, who has delivered in spades for Mr. Harper as Immigration Minister is in line for a promotion.
He had been rumoured to be going to Foreign Affairs, but The Globe has confirmed that Government House Leader John Baird, another young and trusted adviser to the Prime Minister, is getting the big diplomatic post, replacing Lawrence Cannon who was defeated in the election.
There are six cabinet vacancies, created by the retirements before the campaign and election losses. Those include big posts such as Treasury Board and Transport.
And early morning rumours are running rampant. The fevered speculation just hours before the swearing-in had Industry Minister Tony Clement on the move to the Treasury Board - a vital post, given the government's need to cut programs.
Mr. Clement has also performed well for the Prime Minister over the last five years, first in Health and then tackling some tricky files at Industry including rejecting the controversial $40-billion BHP Billiton bid to takeover Saskatchewan's Potash Corp.
Rumours, too, that Peter Van Loan may be leaving International Trade for Government House leader, job he previously held. Replacing him could be Abbotsford, B.C. veteran Ed Fast.
Rideau Hall, meanwhile, is ready. Television crews have been on the grounds all night laying cable, setting up tents and cameras for the much-anticipated swearing-in of Mr. Harper's first majority cabinet. It is to take place at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Some other names being bandied about early Wednesday morning were Maxime Bernier, who left Foreign Affairs in disgrace. With only five MPs from Quebec, Mr. Harper desperately needs Quebec representation in his cabinet and observers suggest Mr. Bernier, who is hugely popular in his Beauce riding, has served enough time in the penalty box and now will be brought back in.
British Columbia has also lost a number of ministers with the decisions by Stockwell Day and Chuck Strahl to not run again and the defeat of Gary Lunn. Expect to see some new faces from that province, possibly including Cathy McLeod from Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. First elected in 2008, Ms. McLeod is a former nurse and municipal leader who served as parliamentary secretary to the National Revenue minister.
Jack Layton returns to the Hilll
Not to be outdone, NDP Leader Jack Layton will be on Parliament Hill early Wednesday afternoon for his own swearing-in.
He and his wife, Olivia Chow, the NDP MP for Trinity-Spadina, are making a little event of it. The couple will walk from the Centennial Flame to the doors of the Centre Block to allow the media to take pictures. After his swearing-in as an MP - and as he becomes the Leader of the Official Opposition - Mr. Layton will hold a quick press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons.