Dalton McGuinty walked over to Elinor Caplan after today’s mini cabinet shuffle at Queen’s Park and said, “Sometimes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that’s a good thing.” The premier was referring to the fact that he’d just given the toughest job in his cabinet --- minister of health --- to David Caplan, whose mother Elinor had the same job during the late 1980’s when the Peterson government was in power.

How did the former Minister Caplan take the news?

“She was really thrilled,” said the second Health Minister named Caplan, at a news conference at the legislature this morning.

“It’s historic and unusual. I can only aspire to be the second best health minister ever.”

I’ve asked numerous people around the legislature and none of us can recall a parent and a child having the same portfolio ever before.

While David Caplan’s promotion is certainly a feel-good story for the Caplan family, it does raise some interesting questions for the opposition parties. Will the new Minister Caplan be influenced by the old Minister Caplan? Will this appointment affect the former Minister Caplan’s ability to earn a living, since she has been doing some health care consulting in recent years?

I asked the premier about this, this morning.

“David Caplan is his own guy,” McGuinty insisted. “He’s demonstrated that in the past. He’s held his own ground. He’s proven to be very successful. David will take the best from his parents and move on from that.”

Caplan was Ontario’s first ever Minister for Infrastructure Renewal, in charge of moving the government’s 10-year, $60 billion program forward.

Today’s shuffle was prompted by a conversation former Energy Minister Gerry Phillips had with the premier back on St. Patrick’s Day.

Phillips, who will be 68 in September, said he wanted to “throttle back a little,” yet still contribute to the government. His shuffle out of Energy to minister without portfolio and chairman of cabinet seems to do just that.

There’s been a ton of speculation that George Smitherman, the former health minister, was going to leave provincial politics and run for mayor in 2010. Today’s shuffle appears to put those rumors to bed.

Smitherman has a new super-ministry, combining energy and infrastructure renewal. The combination means Smitherman is now in charge of not only regular infrastructure file, but also the government’s $40 billion plan to renew Ontario’s nuclear capacity.

“I’m not running for mayor,” Smitherman said. “I’m with Dalton McGuinty. I'm going to serve him loyally and run again in Toronto Centre.”

The opposition’s take: Outgoing NDP leader Howard Hampton made a crack about David Caplan’s carrying a few too many extra pounds.

“There are now some ‘weighty’ issues in the ministry of health,” Hampton said.

Jokes aside, Caplan is now responsible for helping solve the C difficile crisis in many Ontario hospitals.

And when Caplan told reporters he had no intention of calling an independent inquiry into the C difficile situation, John Tory, the PC leader responded with this:

“It’s an abdication of leadership on Day One,” he said.

“And George Smitherman leaves behind a C difficile scandal that smells worse every day.”

Premier Dalton McGuinty explains his cabinet shuffle at a news conference at Queen’s Park Friday morning.

George Smitherman, the new Energy and Infrastructure Minister, and Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Gerry Phillips explains his desire to "throttle back a little."

George Smitherman, David Caplan, and Gerry Phillips await the swearing-in.

PC Party Leader John Tory offers his take on the McGuinty cabinet shuffle.

OTHER NOTES:

A Close Call

Premier Dalton McGuinty and his entourage had a harrowing experience returning from Los Angeles. Their flight had mechanical problems, resulting in a 13,000-foot loss of altitude in 10 seconds.

Because dropping the fuel was apparently illegal, the plane had to circle for three hours to use up its fuel supply, before emergency landing in Las Vegas.

“All's well that ends well,” the premier said. “It was quite an adventure.”

To celebrate surviving the ordeal, the Air Canada crew had their picture taken with the premier.

Stepping Down

A week ago, Howard Hampton announced he was stepping down as Ontario NDP leader after 12 years on the job.

I asked him today how the decision was sitting with him.

“I feel like I’ve lost 20 pounds,” Hampton said. “I don’t have to be nice to everyone anymore.”

What did that mean, I wondered?

“It doesn’t matter whether you have a caucus of 70 or 10. You’re constantly dealing with egos. Now, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

For years, the NDP caucus at the legislature has been known as one of the most dysfunctional, least cohesive units. Hampton essentially confirmed that with his answer.

He also confirmed he will serve out the rest of this term, then run for re-election in 2011 in his Kenora-Rainy River riding.

Howard Hampton at Queen's Park this morning, discusses the relief of stepping down as NDP leader, effective next spring.

Tory and the Economy

John Tory, the PC Leader, spoke to the Rotary Club of Toronto today about his five-point plan for improving the economy.

I’ll blog about that on Monday. Meantime, enjoy tonight’s program with Economic Development minister Sandra Pupatello on branding Ontario, and the greening of the Ontario auto industry.

Incidentally, all pictures in this blogpost were taken by Teddy Paikin, age 10, a real political aficionado.