Coderre has been demoted too. I don't like him one bit.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080331/dion_coderre_080331/20080331?hub=TopStories
"Dion demotes Coderre in bid to restore discipline
Updated Mon. Mar. 31 2008 12:29 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Liberal MP Denis Coderre has been demoted from his position as defence critic in a move seen as a bid by leader Stephane Dion to restore discipline in his party's caucus.
Coderre is being shuffled to the position of heritage critic, a portfolio with a lower profile. He has been replaced by Bryon Wilfert, a Dion loyalist and one of the first supporters of his bid for the party leadership.
"Stephane Dion is trying to take control of his caucus, believing he's being undermined by people like Mr. Coderre and Michael Ignatieff, and so the knives are out," CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife told Canada AM.
The outspoken Coderre was a key supporter of Ignatieff during his bid for the leadership of the Liberal party, a contest that was eventually won by Dion, who beat out Ignatieff, along with Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findlay.
Dion's leadership ability has come under fire in recent weeks, with many within the party looking to Ignatieff to take over. Fife said the Dion camp has even contemplated dropping Ignatieff from his position as deputy leader and demoting him to immigration critic.
New MPs
The shuffle comes as Rae, Hall Findlay and Joyce Murray take their seats in the House of Commons for the first time since being elected in recent byelections.
Rae remains in his position as foreign affairs critic, which he held despite not having been elected, and Hall Findlay becomes associate finance critic.
Gerard Kennedy, another unsuccessful leadership candidate, is the new critic for intergovernmental affairs, though he has not yet run for election.
Fife said the new MPs will be hard to miss in the House of Commons but Ignatieff's role will likely be scaled back.
"As time goes on you'll see Mr. Ignatieff will be playing less of a role in question period and that will go to people like Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findlay who are coming into the House today as legitimate stars."
Shuffle details
According to a Liberal news release, the following changes were made within the opposition ranks:
* In addition to continuing as foreign affairs critic, Rae will join the Priorities and Planning Committee;
* In addition to becoming associate finance critic, Hall Findlay will also join the Priorities and Planning Committee;
* Murray becomes Vice-Chair of the Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability;
* Geoff Regan replaces John Godfrey as Chair of the Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability;
* Coderre becomes the Liberal Critic for Canadian Heritage, la Francophonie and Official Languages;
* Wilfert, formerly Associate Foreign Affairs Critic, moves to the Defence file;
* Kennedy becomes Critic for Intergovernmental Affairs; and
* Senator James Cowan and Dr. Bernard Party join the Priorities and Planning Committee. "