Well here is how I did in Cabinet Making.
Paul Martin had 37 spots which I had to work with. I added one correctly and subtracted many correctly and nailed 11 positions right so I got a total score of 17/37 by my math, which was convoluted by the merged/added/dropped posts.
Ones I got correct.
-Leader of Senate – LeBreton
-ACOA – McKay
-Heritage – Oda
-Fisheries – Hearn
-Health – Clement
-Indian Affairs – Prentice
-Industry – Bernier
-Justice – Toews
-La Francophonie – Verner
-Official Languages – Verner
-Defence – O’Connor
-Democratic Reform was added (but I got the Minister wrong)
-I also predicted correctly that State(public health), State(multiculturalism), State(familes/caregivers), Canadian Wheat Board, State (Human Resources), and State(norther development) would be canned.
They threw a curveball at us with Emerson but, despite what the MSM may say in the next few days, this was a good move. It brings in an experienced person from the Vancouver area which needs to be represented and will take little from the Liberals as the Conservative free vote philosophy will let Emerson vote his own way in the house.
The second curveball was the appointment of Michael Fortier to the Public Works portfolio. Not an elected official, Harper will get flack for putting a non elected Senator in the Cabinet against his feelings on unelected officials. It might be the accountability he presents when Fortier is elected and his Senatorship is put on the election block to usher in a new era of elected Senators. Yes, my prediction is this is a well orchestrated chess move thinking two years down the road.
The long and short of it is that Harper has a good, solid, intelligent Cabinet with experience and youth reaching every part of Canada except PEI, which will be covered by Peter McKay.
I think he is off on the right foot.