MPs get plum assignments during Will and Kate’s royal visit to Canada

Could the royal visit by William and Kate give Canadians some insight into Stephen Harper's cabinet pecking order?

Several senior Tories have earned the plum assignment of hosting the couple.

In Ottawa, foreign affairs minister and perennial Harper favourite, John Baird, greeted the couple when they arrived. Reports state Baird is bringing his mother Marianne for the historic visit.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who is credited for bringing the Tories their majority by attracting the ethnic vote, also hosted the couple in Gatineau, Que.

In Prince Edward Island, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield is expected to be at a royal search-and-rescue demonstration in Summerside. Ashfield joined the federal cabinet in 2008 after winning a seat in the Liberal stronghold of Fredericton.

And the most plum job goes to James Moore, heritage minister, who will accompany the royal couple for much of the tour.

You couldn't blame other MPs for being green with envy toward Moore.

It's been an eventful month for the senior minister from B.C. who has had both a trip to the Stanley Cup finals in Boston on the prime minister's private jet, and now a tour with the royals.

(Reuters Photo)