TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty merged two massive ministries with a small cabinet shuffle Friday and put his right-hand man, George Smitherman, atop a new energy and infrastructure "super ministry" that will oversee several key Ontario mega-projects. Former infrastructure minister David Caplan took over the health and long-term care files, while ex-energy minister Gerry Phillips remains in cabinet as chairman and minister without portfolio.

The shuffle, which was leaked to reporters Wednesday as the legislature adjourned for the summer, was prompted by Phillips, McGuinty said.

Phillips, 67, said he asked the premier in March to "throttle down" his workload, which included serving as the government's point man for its $26-billion plan to refurbish and replace its aging nuclear fleet.

McGuinty dismissed suggestions that he combined the energy and infrastructure portfolios to satisfy Smitherman, who served not only as health minister and custodian of one of Canada's largest budgets, but also as deputy premier.

"I think it's a great fit, it's a natural fit," McGuinty said. "And it's an essential part of our plan to grow this economy."

Smitherman's principal challenge will be overseeing the nuclear plan, which includes building two new reactors at the Darlington nuclear generating station in Clarington, Ont., east of Toronto.

Infrastructure Ontario, a provincial Crown agency, is currently responsible for the province's nuclear plan.

Energy isn't always connected to infrastructure but combining the two files seemed like a good idea given the province's ambitious nuclear strategy, McGuinty said.

"It's a big job, but this guy is more than capable of taking on that responsibility," he said.

Smitherman - dubbed Furious George for his aggressive and often abrasive manner in the legislature - is also in charge of billions of dollars in infrastructure programs across the province, including building new schools and hospitals and upgrading roads and transit systems.

The move puts McGuinty's favourite "attack dog" in charge of a file that's sure to generate a huge backlash once taxpayers see the bill for the new reactors, said NDP Leader Howard Hampton.

But it also shows that Smitherman is no longer welcome in health, where he's ignored calls for an independent investigation into C. difficile deaths in hospitals, and failed to improve the lives of nursing home residents who are often forced to sit in soiled diapers for hours on end.

"I think the McGuinty government has realized that Smitherman can't do the job anymore, that simply turning on the Furious George technique has outlived its shelf life," he said.

Others have speculated that the openly gay politician was offered the plum job to stave off his rumoured ambitions to become Toronto's next mayor.

But Smitherman maintained Friday that he's not interested in the job and plans to seek re-election in his Toronto riding in 2011.

Still, the new "super ministry" is far too big of a load for any one minister to carry, said Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory.

"I think it's bound to be the case that something will fall off the table here, and these things are all too important to have any one of them fall off the table," he said.

Caplan's promotion also drew fire from critics, who say the heavy-set former smoker is ill-equipped to handle the health file.

While Tory spoke of the importance of public figures setting a good example, Hampton pulled no punches.

"I simply think there are some really weighty issues facing us in the Ministry of Health," said Hampton.

"And I don't have any confidence based on his past performance that Mr. Caplan's going to be able to handle those."

But Caplan, 43, said he's focused on his new job, rather than what people are saying about his weight.

"My own conversations between me and my doctor are private matters, (as) they are for all of us, and they'll remain private," he said.

"I think as the premier has outlined today, he has the confidence in me based upon the track record that I showed over the course of the last 4 1/2 years and I'm going to fulfil the mandate that Premier McGuinty has set out for me."

Caplan, the son of former Ontario health minister Elinor Caplan, deflected calls for his resignation last year amid a scandal that mired the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., and allegations that retailers were winning a disproportionate number of jackpots.

He also oversaw the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, a provincial cash cow, which was shifted Friday to the Ministry of Finance under Dwight Duncan.

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