As you’ve likely heard:

Stephen Harper has appointed Toronto MP Peter Kent as Environment Minister, giving the former TV broadcaster the task of selling the Conservatives’ controversial approach to fighting climate change.

He’s also given former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Julian Fantino a junior cabinet post, making him minister of state for seniors.

Diane Ablonczy, formerly the seniors minister, becomes Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs).

And Ted Menzies, formerly parliamentary secretary to the Finance Minister, is appointed Minister of State (Finance).

Kent gets promoted and Fantino gets a cabinet spot (setting up Rick Mercer for a great “Fantino – Tough on Seniors” tweet). This is being interpreted as Harper courting GTA voters.

Ablonczy and Menzies get in, which is good for Alberta and good for anyone holding a “Z” tile in Cabinet Minister Scrabble leagues. This has not been interpreted as Harper courting Alberta voters.

On the whole, it’s hard to find much fault with these selections – those getting promoted are either competent or stars. My suspicion is that none of them will ever fall in the intersection of that Venn Diagram, but we shall see.