Vic Toews could be headed out of cabinet and on to Manitoba’s highest court

Stephen Harper may have just found a way to rid himself of another problem-cabinet minister.

On the heels of International Development Minister Bev Oda's resignation last week, unnamed sources have told the Winnipeg Free Press that public safety minister Vic Toews "is destined" for a federal appointment to Manitoba's Court of Appeal.

"There are nine judges on the Manitoba Court of Appeal — one works part time — but one is due to retire shortly when he hits the compulsory retirement age of 75. There is also one opening on the Court of Queen's Bench that needs filling. Sources say Toews is in line for the Court of Appeal opening, but it's an appointment that does not have to be made immediately," reports the Times Colonist.

In an email distributed to media outlets on Tuesday afternoon, Toews' office seem to sidestep the rumours.

"Every year stories come up saying that Minister Toews is retiring from politics and going to the bench, and every year he returns to Parliament to continue working to keep Canadians safe," Toews' spokesperson Julie Carmichael wrote.

"Minister Toews will continue to pursue our government's legislative priorities in the fall session, with a focus on speedy passage of the Enhancing RCMP Accountability Act."

But maybe this would be the best time for Toews, a former Crown attorney, to leave federal politics.

Toews' name has continuously been mentioned in cabinet shuffle rumours since he set off an online firestorm, last year, with his Internet-surveillance legislation and insults to critics, likening them to child pornographers.

The National Post's Jesse Kline says an appointment to the Manitoba courts would save Toews the embarrassment of getting demoted.

"Considering his record in recent months, Mr. Toews will almost surely lose his current position when Mr. Harper does a full cabinet shuffle," Kline wrote.

"Despite his recent record as public safety minister, Mr. Toews has had an impressive, and distinguished, career in politics — holding numerous cabinet positions in Manitoba and the federal government. But public confidence in him was severely diminished following his handling of Bill C-30. This would be a good time for Mr. Toews to make a graceful exit from the political stage, and move on to new things."

Now, if there was only a place to send Peter MacKay.