Beyond that, it was a shuffle with little theme – lots of movement but limited real import, an exercise light on boldness or personality.

When the dust settled from the shift of 12 ministers, dumping of three and addition of four rookies, the one thing that could be safely said is that the face of the McGuinty government looked more than ever like ... him.

The premier trimmed a little of the grey from his team, but did little to alter its profile or direction.

None of the senior money ministers in finance, economic development or revenue, nor the custodian of the big-ticket of health, were moved.

For the most part, changes came at junior levels and promoted were those whose chief attributes are loyalty to the boss, folks who will cheerfully tolerate the short leashes he favours.

The net effect – with appointment of the able but dutiful Scarborough Centre MPP Brad Duguid to energy and infrastructure, and with the premier's former chief of staff Monique Smith moving from tourism to intergovernmental affairs – is an even tighter tugging of control into McGuinty's own office.

It was much as NDP critic Michael Prue observed, that those who prospered are "people who have made a political career out of doing what they're told." Source...