A contingent of us from the Star bureau are here at Rideau Hall for the so-callled mini-shuffle.
UPDATE: 7, 11:58 a.m. The irrepressible Senator Fortier did manage to say a few words to the media, but he spoke only of what a nice day it was and his vague plans for lunch.
Paradis, new to cabinet, didn't buck the gag order much, saying only he'd "work hard." Moore said he "had a lot of work to do."
I don't think anything uttered here today will be making it into Columbo's Canadian Quotations.
UPDATE: 6, 11:31 a.m. The PMO spokesperson, Dimitri Soudas, is just explaining to reporters why neither the Prime Minister or ministers are talking to reporters after this swearing-in. It has something to do with the fact that it's only a small shuffle.
UPDATE: 5, 11:20 a.m. And here's the official announcement, just handed to us:
Emerson confirmed as Foreign Affairs minister.
Fortier is now Minister of International Trade.
Christian Paradis is Minister of Public Works.
James Moore is secretary of state for the Pacific Gateway, the Olympics and Official Languages.
The press release calls these "small but important changes."
UPDATE: 4, 11:10 I've just been reminded that this is the 15th anniversary of Kim Campbell taking office as Canada's first woman prime minister. And now, 15 years later, women are, uh, actually, nowhere to be found at this shuffle.
UPDATE: 3, 10:59 a.m. And now the Prime Minister has arrived. No sign of his wife, Laureen, and only a couple of communications folks. More evidence of a very low-key shuffle.
UPDATE 2, 10:53 And now Senator Michael Fortier, the unelected minister of public works, has rolled up to Rideau Hall, wife and children in tow. This is looking like a reprise of that first shuffle in February 2006, with Emerson and Fortier in starring roles.
The only thing to report so far is the arrival of James Moore, the B.C. MP who is finally getting a spot in cabinet it seems. Word is that he'll be a junior minister with responsibility for the Vancouver Olympics and the Pacific Gateway.
We also have a protester here carrying a sign protesting David Emerson as a "hypocrite, coward and fraud."
Emerson, who attracted a lot of attention at Harper's first cabinet swearing-in because of his floor crossing, is due to be confirmed today as foreign affairs minister.
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