Big changes in cabinet

By Daniel Proussalidis, Parliamentary Bureau

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new majority Conservative government cabinet includes some significant changes.

As expected, John Baird takes over the foreign affairs portfolio from the defeated Lawrence Cannon.

In a surprise move, Ed Fast, who represents the riding of Abbotsford in B.C., becomes international trade minister.

That bumps Peter Van Loan of Newmarket, Ont., back into his old role as House leader.

Julian Fantino is associate minister of defence, working alongside Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who stays put.

Joe Oliver, the rookie MP from Toronto who knocked off Liberal Joe Volpe, gets the job of natural resources minister.

Peter Penashue, an Innu leader from Labrador, is the minister of intergovernmental affairs.

Quebec City-area MP Steven Blaney takes over the veterans' affairs portfolio from Jean-Pierre Blackburn, who lost in his riding on May 2.

Maritime MP Keith Ashfield switches jobs with fellow Maritimer Gail Shea.

Ashfield gets the fisheries post while Shea gets revenue.

Maxime Bernier returns to cabinet as minister of state for small business and tourism.

There are several new faces in junior postings.

Bernard Valcourt from New Brunswick is minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Albertan Tim Uppal becomes minister of state for democratic reform, pushing Manitoban Steven Fletcher to minister of state for transport.

Alice Wong from Richmond, B.C., is minister of state for seniors.

Bramalea-Gore-Malton MP Bal Gossal steps into the role of minister of state for sport.

Former natural resources minister Christian Paradis is now minister of state for agriculture.

Dropped from cabinet are New Brunswick's Rob Moore, who was a junior minister looking after small business and tourism, and former minister of state (transport) Rob Merrifield who is from Alberta.