John Baird resigns from politics, leaving big shoes to fill

We couldn't start today's show without pondering a political exit. John Baird leaves cabinet and federal politics after a string of high-profile portfolios that has seen him described as everything from a well-liked professional to a pitbull. We convene a panel to discuss where his departure leaves the Harper Government.

Even though the news did leak the night before, it was still hard not to be shocked when John Baird rose yesterday in the House, to officially bow out of politics.

The Conservative M.P., Foreign Affairs Minister, and longtime key player in the Harper government acquired a reputation through his two decades of public service as a tough political operator.

But it was clear from the way his colleagues spoke of him, that John Baird -- the Tory bulldog -- was as well respected and admired as he was feared, by politicians on both sides of the House.

John Baird leaves some big shoes to fill inside the Harper government. For their thoughts on how his departure affects the Prime Minister's strategy, we were joined by three people.

• Susan Delacourt is a political journalist with the Toronto Star, and author of "Shopping for Votes: How Politicians Choose Us and We Choose Them." She was in Ottawa.

• Tasha Kheiriddin is a columnist with the National Post and iPolitics. She was in Whitby, Ontario.

• Gerry Nicholls is an independent political consultant and a columnist with the Ottawa Hill Times. He was in Toronto.

What do you think? How will John Baird's resignation affect the Harper Government?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Sarah Grant and Pacinthe Mattar.