Premier Dalton McGuinty is executing one of his rare cabinet shuffles today, handing the tough job of ushering in his controversial harmonized sales tax to a new revenue minister.

The shuffle is unlikely to please the Liberal government's political opposition at Queen's Park who have been calling for the resignation of Health Minister David Caplan over the spending scandal at eHealth Ontario.

"It's mainly because of the resignation of Minister Bryant," a government source said, referring to former economic development minister Michael Bryant, who left in May to head up the city's new Invest Toronto agency.

All the major cabinet portfolios -- health, education, energy and finance -- remain in the same hands.

Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson becomes the new minister of revenue and is tasked with implementing the harmonized GST and PST, which kicks in July 1, 2010.

'MOST IMPORTANT'

"We think it's one of the most important things we can do to make our businesses more competitive," the source said.

Wilkinson's former responsibilities for research and innovation will now fall to Training, Colleges and Universities Minister John Milloy.

"It makes sense that we do it all under one roof," the source said.

The shuffle also focuses the provincial government's efforts to boost the sputtering economy.

Sandra Pupatello, the minister of international trade and development, takes on additional duties for economic development and small business -- all under the new title of minister of economic development and trade.

Small Business Minister Harinder Takhar moves over to government services, while Government Services Minister Ted McMeekin leads the now standalone consumer services ministry.

"McMeekin did really well at government services and he's the kind that fights for the consumer and the little guy," the source said.

Responsibility for the forestry sector is moving from the MNR, led by Donna Cansfield, to northern development and mines, led by Michael Gravelle.