Many in Ottawa -- media types, lobbyists, and opposition politicians -- thought that Calgary MP Diane Ablonczy (right) would easily make it to cabinet on Stephen Harper's first go-around with this in February of 2006. But it was only last week - three shuffles later -- that Ablonczy made it in, albeit as a junior minister. Ablonczy had been Parliamentary Secretary to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and did some good work in that role, some caucus and other sources tell me. Today, on CTV's Question Period, my colleague Graham Richardson talked to Ablonczy about her elevation and her new job:    more »

Last week’s cabinet shuffle generated plenty of orders-in-council, including an OIC designating who-does-what in case the Prime Minister or other cabinet ministers are in a coma or otherwise incapacitated.

As it has been since this government was sworn in back in the late winter of 2006, Quebec MP Lawrence Cannon ...   more »