Tory staffers axed in backroom shakeup

The limp-dicked Federal Torys are restaffing behind the scenes as they struggle to put some life into their Party's fortunes. But is this Rose still a Rose?

Party leader Stephen Harper would not discuss the shakeup, saying he never talks publicly about staffing issues. Conservative insiders said the bloodletting was simply a rationalization that had to occur after the employees of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance were merged into one office when the parties joined forces about two years ago. And Deputy Leader Peter MacKay, former leader of the PCs, said it was simply part of a planned organizational restructuring and 'these changes are nothing to be alarmed about.'

But others from his wing of the party said it was a deliberate move to entrench the dominance of the former Alliance. Those who have been fired 'are either people who are dissenting about what Harper is doing or they are former Progressive Conservatives,' said Carol Jamieson, a party organizer in Toronto. 'It looks to me right now that within four weeks, the entire structure will be Canadian Alliance.'"