Another Cabinet Vacancy Expected

Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson will announce today that he will quit provincial politics to run for his old job as mayor of Ottawa.

A source tells The Canadian Press that Watson was happy in the McGuinty cabinet but not pleased with the way Ottawa has been run and wanted to help the city get back on its feet.

Watson's move and the earlier resignation of deputy premier George Smitherman, to run for mayor of Toronto, is forcing the premier to shuffle his cabinet.

Government sources say McGuinty does plan some major changes to the cabinet but won't make any moves before next week.

Gerry Phillips, who is temporarily minister of energy and infrastructure, is said to want a lighter workload and is expected to be dropped in the shuffle or return to be minister without portfolio.