Sask. premier keeping a close eye on new federal cabinet

Premier Scott Moe seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach before passing judgment on the new federal Liberal cabinet, which was announced Wednesday afternoon.

When asked his opinion on particular appointments, Moe would say a few things about the minister in question but kept coming back to the same message: “It’s not about the people that are in the cabinet, it’s about the decisions that the cabinet makes.”

Moe said his government will be watching those decisions closely and will “call them as (they) see them.”

Moe did congratulate Chrystia Freeland, the new deputy prime minister and intergovernmental affairs minister. Moe said he has worked with Freeland on a number of issues, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations.

“I think that was a display of how we can achieve success when we work together,” said Moe.

According to Moe, his government will be engaging at the appropriate levels with each of the ministers.

He said the Sask. Party has been clear about some of its expectations, but he said — pointing to some of the goals and actions outlined in the growth plan released last week — Saskatchewan has also been clear about looking ahead and turning a page.

“We are going to be taking care of ourselves in the way that Saskatchewan people always do. In Saskatchewan, we take care of our families, we take care of our communities, and we most certainly are going to be taking care of our province in the months ahead,” said Moe.

Jim Carr being appointed as a special representative for the Prairies aside, Moe didn’t seem to have too great a concern about the absence of a Saskatchewan MP in cabinet.

“We have had representation in that room over the course of the last four years and we have been very vocal about our disagreement with many of the policies — not all — but many of the policies that have come from our federal government,” Moe said.

Moe said this is a new cabinet, and he’s going to give its members the opportunity to make their decisions. He said he wants to put the provincial government’s best foot forward and try to work with the new cabinet as best it can.