The shuffling is done. But the prime minister isn't finished cutting the deck.

Today some senior staff to the recently shuffled cabinet ministers learned they are out of a job. Among them: Michele Austin is gone as chief of staff to Maxime Bernier, the new foreign affairs minister.

Her replacement is Aaron Gairdner who had been chief of staff to former defence minister Gordon O'Connor and who also happens to be married to Stacey Gairdner, executive assistant to Stephen Harper's wife, Laureen.

Austin had been one of the first political staff from the old Reform party to back Harper when he returned to Ottawa, eventually to become the leader of the new Conservative party. But she was also known as one of the few chiefs of staff to resist PMO interventions.

She was offered the job of being O'Connor's chief of staff over at revenue, a pretty drowsy department. She declined.

Also out is Denis Jolette as chief of staff to Josée Verner, now the new heritage minister. And Laurie Throness as chief of staff to Chuck Strahl, now the new Indian affairs minister.

Insiders say the PM is determined to exert more control inside these key departments, a job that begins by putting some longtime senior staff on the outside.