Chretien, who will be 70 next month, led the Liberal Party to three successive general election triumphs since 1993, to establish himself as one of the country's longest-serving prime ministers.

But a government clearout now looms, as Martin is more conservative and doubts are being raised about many of Chretien's policies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister John Manley already knows he will not be retained. The makeup of the new cabinet is being kept secret however until Martin and his ministers are sworn in by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

Martin's transition team has interviewed about 100 of the Liberal Party's 170 members of parliament for jobs in the cabinet and as junior ministers, according to reports.

Each potential minister was asked about any past convictions, any extramarital affairs, any illegal drug usage and even if they had in private life failed to declare some of their income.

Chretien sacked Martin as finance minister in June 2002 because his rival was too openly campaigning for Canada's top post. But once Chretien announced in August 2002 that he would retire, Martin was always the favorite to take over.

Martin and his team will immediately find a lot of unfinished business however. With an election expected in April or May, there is legislation outstanding on same-sex marriages and decriminalizing the possession of marijuana.

The new prime minister must also implement the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, reform the battered health care service, modernize the armed forces and improve relations with the United States.

Martin's commitment to a number of the government's pet projects remains ambiguous. Martin is more conservative than Chretien on a number of issues.

The only certainty appears to be that Martin is determined to retain the tight fiscal policies he stuck to as finance minister.

Two major spending issues loom however.

Martin has publicly stated that improving the health service and reducing hospital waiting lines is a major priority. And he must buy new equipment for the Canadian military and boost recruitment for the undermanned armed forces.

Martin is in danger of finding the coffers nearly bare thanks to a promise by Chretien to hand over to provincial goverments virtually all of this year's anticipated budget surplus of 2.3 billion dollars (1.7 billion US), to finance health care improvements.

But the budget surplus is expected to greater than forecast, especially with Canada enjoying robust economic growth.

Parliament will resume in January with several pieces of key legislation in limbo, including the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana and same-sex marriages. Both face strong opposition from the conservatives within the Liberal Party who were Martin's main supporters in the recent party leadership vote.

Martin supports a recently-introduced bill to authorize the sale of generic drugs normally protected by patent to poor Third World countries.

But he has left everbody guessing about his commitment to implement the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gasses, a project dear to Chretien's heart.

Martin is keen to shore up his Liberal Party's strength in Western Canada, where the party is weakest and where opposition to Kyoto is strongest.

In Western Canada especially, Martin is also being challenged to improve -- or bury -- a law forcing all gun owners to register their weapons. So far, the registry has cost more than a billion dollars (770 million US) to set up and has shown no signs of working.

On the international front, Martin is known to be keen to improve the relationship with the United States, Canada's main trade partner, which deteriorated sharply when Chretien refused to join the Iraq war.

SPACE.WIRE