TORONTO - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty will shuffle his cabinet Wednesday, putting in place the team he wants to lead the Liberals into next year's provincial election.
It's been a rough summer for the Liberal government, which had to retreat on highly unpopular eco fees slapped on products the same day as the equally unpopular harmonized sales tax kicked in.
There was a damaging ombudsman's report about the Liberals' much-maligned local health networks, and wide-spread criticism of a so-called secret law regarding police powers during the G20 summit.
So it's no surprise McGuinty wants to shake up the cabinet, and perhaps bring in some new faces.
Former Winnipeg mayor Glenn Murray and former Ottawa mayor Bob Chiarelli both won byelections for the government earlier this year and are widely considered contenders for cabinet.
Environment Minister John Gerretsen could be forced to take a bullet over the eco fees fiasco, with one source suggesting John Wilkinson could move over from Revenue after successfully handling the HST.
There's been no word yet on other changes McGuinty may be planning in the cabinet, but his office has confirmed "there will be some changes announced" Wednesday.
