Conservatives shuffle cabinet; Nicholson to foreign affairs, Kenney to defence

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has picked Rob Nicholson to fill the void left in his cabinet by John Baird’s surprise departure last week.

Nicholson leaves the national defence portfolio to fill Baird’s shoes at Foreign Affairs.

Jason Kenney replaces Nicholson at defence.

Pierre Poilievre picks up Kenney’s former duties at employment and social development.

Poilievre and Kenney will do double duty.

Poilievre hangs on to his previous responsibilities as minister responsible for democratic reform while Kenney will continue to be responsible for multiculturalism.