A look at the shuffle’s promotions, demotions and surprises,

Monday’s shuffle — Stephen Harper’s most substantial since becoming prime minister in 2006 — saw some promotions, demotions and a few surprises. MICHAEL WOODS takes a look at four of each.

Ups

Chris Alexander: A former ambassador to Afghanistan elected in 2011 who has since often acted as the government’s spokesman on hot issues. Alexander takes over as minister of citizenship and immigration, a significant promotion for the 44-yearold MP for Ajax-Pickering in Ontario, who was previously a parliamentary secretary to the defence minister.

Shelly Glover: In one of the biggest promotions, Glover, a Winnipeg police officer for 19 years and MP for Saint Boniface since 2008, takes over as minister of Canadian heritage and official languages. The fluently bilingual Glover replaces James Moore, who moves to industry.

Kellie Leitch: Elected as a star candidate in 2011, Leitch, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at CHEO, becomes minister of labour and of status of women. The MP for SimcoeGrey had been parliamentary secretary to the minister of human resources and skills development.

Pierre Poilievre: Poilievre, best known as a leading attack dog in the House of Commons, is now the face of the government’s Senate reform efforts. The 34-yearold MP for Nepean-Carleton takes over as minister of state (democratic reform).

Downs

Steven Fletcher: Fletcher, an MP since 2004 and minister of state (transport) since 2011, was left out, but said he nonetheless intends to run for re-election in 2015.

Peter Kent: Kent telegraphed his exit earlier this month in an unusual Facebook note, saying he would “enthusiastically embrace” his role as a backbencher were he demoted from cabinet and that he intends to run for re-election in 2015.

Gordon O’Connor: O’Connor, 74, was dropped from cabinet after serving as chief whip since 2008. He had stints as minister of defence and minister of national revenue. An MP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, his departure opened the door for Poilievre, whose riding is also in the National Capital Region, to ascend to cabinet.

Christian Paradis: Paradis was moved from industry to international development, a role which some say has been diminished since the Canadian International Development Agency was rolled in with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade earlier this year. Paradis also lost his position as Harper’s Quebec lieutenant to Denis Lebel.

Surprises

Steven Blaney: The former minister of veterans affairs takes over the vital role of public safety minister, replacing Vic Toews.

John Duncan: Duncan resigned as aboriginal affairs minister in February, after admitting to improperly writing a letter to a tax court on behalf of a constituent in 2011. But the 64-year-old was sworn back into cabinet, this time as chief government whip, replacing O’Connor.

Michelle Rempel: Many prognosticators thought Rempel, already a leading face of the government at age 33, would receive a bigger promotion than she ended up with: minister of state for western economic diversification. She’s a Calgary MP, so regional considerations may have squeezed her out of a more prominent gig.

Kevin Sorenson: A wellliked backbench MP who was first elected in 2000, Sorenson replaces Ted Menzies as minister of state (finance). It’s a junior job, but a vital one given the government’s continued focus on the economy.