OTTAWA – The talk of Ottawa this summer is the impending shuffle of the federal cabinet. With the resignation of a number of ministers, the latest of which is public safety minister Vic Toews on Monday, everyone with a political interest who work in telecom and TV in Ottawa and beyond is guessing who might be going where.
Of course, the fates of the ministers who oversee the cable, radio, television and telecom industries, Heritage Minister James Moore and Industry Minister Christian Paradis, are also being bandied about as two men about to face new port folios by many who think they know which way the federal government is leaning.
However, as we’ve noted before, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office is not exactly known for leaks (unless on purpose…), so take all of this with a huge grain of salt. The shuffle is apparently coming rather soon, however.
We talked to a few sources who work on Parliament Hill who seem sure that both ministers we mentioned will be moving on to other portfolios, with perhaps even Moore moving from Heritage to Industry. Other potential Industry Ministers, say our sources, could be Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose.
While Moore is widely regarded on all sides (from the big broadcasters and cablecos through to the independent producers) to have done an excellent job as Minister of Heritage and Official Languages since he was originally appointed in 2008. Paradis, in his position since May of 2011, does not carry the same reputation among those working in the wireless, new media and telecom businesses.
There have been few ideas as to who may become Heritage Minister beyond some vague guesses that it might be time for a Quebecker to take that gig. However, there are but five Conservative MPs from Quebec right now, none of whom have backgrounds in any cultural industries.
There will be more to come when the shuffle is made official.
– Greg O’Brien
