Canada’s defence minister Gordon O'Connor was demoted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who began reshuffling his cabinet, a move that is aiming to increase support for the mission in Afghanistan.

The defence minister’s seat was occupied by the former minister for foreign affairs Peter MacKay.

Premier Harper wasn’t pleased with the way O’Connor handled the Afghanistan campaign and latest polls revealed that people do not support Canada’s mission with so much enthusiasm. Thus, Harper decided it is time for a major cabinet shuffle.

“The Afghan mission remains Canada's most important military and foreign affairs commitment in the world,” the prime minister said.

“We know there are challenges there. At the same time, the United Nations wants us there, and we made a commitment to our allies and the Afghan people,” Harper added.

Canada’s mission in Afghanistan consists of 2,500 troops deployed mostly in the southern province of Kandahar. The mission began five years ago and is due to be completed in 2009, Canadian forces suffering 66 losses in this interval.

The former defence minister was heavily criticized in several rows for mishandling some delicate issues. O’Connor, 68, had to apologize in May after reports from Afghanistan revealed that Canadian forces were handing over to Afghan authorities prisoners without supervising the way they are treated. Many detainees complained they are being tortured during detention in Afghan prisons.

The former general said the Canadian troops didn’t have to look after prisoners because the International Committee of the Red Cross was allegedly monitoring them and would have reported any abuses, but the ICRC denied having such a commitment.

Another controversy emerged earlier this year after several families of soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan said they had to support the funeral expenses without any aid from the government.

O’Connor became revenue minister, while MacKay’s seat will be occupied by former industry minister Maxime Bernier. The minister of Indian affairs and northern development Jim Prentice will move in Bernier's place.

Chuck Strahl is due to take over the ministry of Indian affairs, leaving the post of agriculture minister open for Gerry Ritz.