Cabinet ministers will be in Ottawa Monday meeting with Stephen Harper as the prime minister is set to make some big changes this week.

Throughout Monday, ministers including government House leader Peter Van Loan, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon, and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, met with Harper at 24 Sussex Drive for one-on-one meetings.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper stands with villagers of the Arctic village port of Nanisivik, Nunavut, on Friday.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Twelve or more ministers are expected to be shuffled on Tuesday as Harper puts together the cabinet it's expected he will take into the next election.

No backbenchers will be promoted to cabinet, according to senior government officials, as some current ministers are expected to be given new roles.

But some cabinet ministers could be sent back to the backbench. There are five secretaries of state — junior cabinet ministers — and Harper could promote from there.  

It is believed that Harper wants a team of strong communicators in place for the new session to sell the next priorities of the minority government, which has stalled in public opinion.

"What the government realizes is that it has had a problem getting its message out," CBC's Susan Bonner said.  

It's expected Harper will relaunch Parliament this fall with a throne speech to outline these new priorities, which are believed to focus on foreign policy and crime.

While only a handful of people know who's going where, at the top of the list of ministers rumoured on their way out is Gordon O'Connor, the embattled defence minister.

O'Connor has been pounded by Opposition leaders over his handling of the mission in Afghanistan, specifically his performance in the Afghan detainee affair.

But pundits say Harper does not like to be pressured by the Opposition or critics, meaning O'Connor's job as defence minister could be safe.

If O'Connor is moved, possible replacements include Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, Secretary of State Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day — all considered strong performers.

Makings of 'broad shuffle'

"What the prime minister decides to do with his defence minister could very well dictate how broad this shuffle is," Bonner said. "Once you start looking at the replacements, the dominoes begin to fall.

"The makings are really there for a broad shuffle."

Other moves could include Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. With the summer's spike in gun violence, and an eye on the much-sought-after urban vote, Harper may be looking for a stronger personality in that ministry and move Nicholson to health.

As well, Harper could move Treasury Board president Vic Toews, a former attorney-general in Manitoba with an interest in law and order, to public safety, paving the way for Day to go to defence.

Revenue Minister Carol Skelton will likely be dropped from cabinet as she has already said she won't run in the next election.

But her departure raises the question of how Harper, with only 14 women in his caucus, will address gender balance at the cabinet table.