Ok, now that the election is over and my boss won her seat I am settling back into life in Ottawa. That means adjusting to the slow sinking realization that we are no longer in government. Such a realization leads to an endless list of yet to be answered questions such as will we have to move offices, will Karen continue to serve as whip, and is there an OLO swichboard? It also means that political hacks the country over are speculating about who will be taking leadership roles in Mr. Harper's new government. Which leads me to the purpose of this long overdue post - Conservative Cabinet Predictions from Babzerz:

My overarching prediction is that Alberta's representation at the table will not be as limited as the pundits predict. That province is still the backbone of the Conservative Party, holds many experienced party-founding MP’s that carry with them Harper’s trust. He will not be afraid to reward these people, and I don’t see him being bullied into over-representing Central Canada for the sake of staying consistent with previous Cabinets (spoken like a true Albertan I’m sure)… I also think Harper will shrink the cabinet size, and combine (or recombine) several ministries as his minority allows.

I needed to get these up before the announcements are made late this week or early next, but will try to add more rationale and maybe make some changes as time allows bfore real decisions are made.

1. Finance - Monte Solberg (AB). He's smart, he's capable, proven effective in the house and in committee, and he's got Harper's trust. Who care's that he's also from Alberta (remember that Alberta is still the backbone of this party)- Harper will want someone he can count on in this post.

2. Health - IF Diane Ablonczy does not get Immigration, she will get this. I can't pick anyone, I don’t like anyone in Harper's caucus for this role. In fact, I would really like to suggest he make Carolyn Bennett Health Minister, but I'm not thinking he's going to be taking my advice. These upper positions are hard to fill... I think that Health will actually have to be someone from Ontario. Diane Finley is probably as good a choice as any... and guaranteed to hold a position of some sway.

3. Foreign Affairs and Deputy PM - Lawrence Cannon (QC) - not that it makes much sense to have your Foreign Affairs Minister be your DPM, but I think this is the post that suits Cannon best. Harper may just make him Deputy PM and not have a department attached to it. In which case there is more hand wringing about who would be Foreign Affairs.

4. Defense - Jean Pierre Blackburn (QC)

5. Public Safety/anti terrorism etc. Stockwell Day (BC) - had to put him somewhere...

6. Justice - Peter Mackay (NS) I agree witht he pundits on this one.

7. Intergovernmental Affairs/Privy Council - Rona Ambrose (AB) And this one. She is probably their brightest star.

8. Immigration - Diane Ablonczy (AB)

9. Fisheries and Oceans - Loyola Hearn (NL)

10. Heritage - Bev Oda (ON)

11. Agriculture - David L. Anderson (SK)

12. Treasury Board - Jim Flaherty (ON)

13. Accountability, Gommery implementation or some incarnation thereof - Scot Reid (ON)

14. Environment - Bob Mills (AB)

15. PWGS - Rob Nicholson (ON)

16. Francophonie (or some incarnation thereof) - Josee Verner (QC)

17. Infrastructure - Garth Turner (ON)

18. House Leader and all things procedural - Jay Hill (BC)

19. Human Resources/Labour - Norman Doyle (NL)

20. Industry - Gary Goodyear (ON)

21. Transport - Stephen Fletcher (MB)

22. Revenue Canada - Jason Kenny (AB)

23. Atlantic Opportunities/development - Greg Thompson (NB)

24. Aboriginal Affairs - Jim Prentice (AB)

25. Veterans Affairs - Gordon O'Connor (ON)

26. International Trade - Gerald Keddy (NS)

27. Sport - James Moore (BC)

28. Some incarnation of Economic Development and Northern Development - Gerry Ritz (SK)

29. CIDA - Helena Guergis (ON)

30. Social Development - ??? Peter Van Loan (ON)

Speaker - Chuck Strahl (BC)

Whip - Dick Harris or John Baird

Also slated for some increased parliamentary responsibility - Rahim Jaffr, James Rajotte, and Vic Toews, but it's hard to say in what capacity.