Political watchers are closely monitoring events in Ottawa this week as Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepares for what is anticipated to be a major cabinet shuffle.
A cabinet shuffle is expected possibly as early as this week to put a fresh face on the Harper government, beset by recent Senate expense scandals.
Already, a number of ministers have indicated plans to remove themselves from cabinet consideration as they announced plans to retire from politics in advance of the shuffle.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Diane Ablonczy announced she would not be seeking re-election in 2015. The minister of state for finance, Ted Menzies, made a similar announcement last week as well.
Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield also removed himself from cabinet consideration as he undergoes treatment for cancer.
Also leaving is the government leader in the Senate, Sen. Majory LeBreton, who announced she would step down from that role.
The latest to depart is Public Safety Minister Vic Toews who announced Monday he is leaving cabinet and resigning his seat in Parliament.
Speculation is swirling as to who the new ministers might be or whether any more top ministers might be shuffled. Names mentioned as possible additions to cabinet include Manitoba MPs Candice Bergen and Shelly Glover, Alberta MP Michelle Rempel, and Ontario MPs Kellie Leitch and Chris Alexander.
Also speculated is whether Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty or Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird could be moved from their roles to other portfolios. Flaherty has been battling a rare skin ailment lately requiring medication, which could be a consideration as the prime minister makes changes to the cabinet.
One question mark is what impact a shuffle might have on Saskatchewan and on longtime federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz.
Ritz also serves as minister for the Canadian Wheat Board and handles the file for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He has been in the Harper cabinet since 2007, starting off as secretary of state for Small Business and Tourism.
A frequent target of opposition attacks due to his high-profile role in the Harper government, Ritz has often been the subject of cabinet shuffle speculation over the years.
However, any change for Ritz would be a major departure from past shuffles, as Ritz has stayed put in his agriculture portfolio through numerous cabinet changes by the prime minister over the past few years.
There has been speculation, though, that other Saskatchewan MPs, such as Regina's Tom Lukiwski, might be promoted to cabinet to fill some of the other positions that have opened up.