Premier Scott Moe adds five newly elected MLAs to Saskatchewan cabinet in shuffle

Premier Scott Moe said he was looking to build capacity and out of caucus with his cabinet shuffle on Thursday.

A number of faces stuck around in cabinet, some with a new file, but five MLAs who were first elected just last year were brought in to take on ministerial portfolios for the first time.

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Mike Weger (Weyburn-Bengough) will serve as the newly re-named Minister of Community Safety, previously known as Corrections, Policing and Public Safety.

Moe said the name change for the ministry will help as they shift the ministry to focus specifically on community safety, and said he believes Weger’s background as a lawyer will help with that.

“We need to think differently when it comes to out approach with respect to those poisonous drugs that are hurting our neighbours, our friends and our family members,” said Moe.

Chris Beaudry (Kelvington-Wadena) will take over the Ministry of Energy and Resources, which was previously headed by Colleen Young.

Darlene Rowden (Batoche) will serve as Saskatchewan’s Environment Minister.

Kim Gartner (Kindersley-Biggar) will head the Ministry of Highways, and Sean Wilson (Canora-Pelly) will serve as minister for SaskBuilds & Procurement, both roles previously held by David Marit.

Moe said after the election last year, they reduced the number of seats and several veteran ministers had a number of files under their belts, like Tim McLeod and Jim Reiter. On Thursday, he said he was expanding cabinet again and spreading out the workload.

“Which will give (ministers) the opportunity to have an eye to working on the broader strategy on how we’re positioning ourselves in each of the files as we move forward,” said the premier.

Jim Reiter remains Finance Minister, but Labour Relations and Workplace Safety will go to Ken Cheveldayoff, and Immigration and Career Training will go to Eric Schmalz.

Tim McLeod remains Justice Minister and Government House Leader, but Community Safety and Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency goes to Mike Weger.

The big three keep their portfolios as well: Jeremy Cockrill as Health Minister, Everett Hindley as Education Minister, and Terry Jenson in charge of Social Services.

Lori Carr, Jeremy Harrison and Alana Ross also keep their files: Rural and Remote Health and Mental Health and Addictions, Minister responsible for the various Crowns and CIC, and Parks, Culture and Sport and Status of Women, respectively.

Three MLAs aren’t returning to cabinet: Darryl Harrison from Agriculture, Colleen Young from Energy and Resources, and Travis Keisig from Environment.

Moe said ministers moving in and out will help to build experience across government. He thanked them for their service in cabinet and noted that they are expected to continue to “play vital roles within government.”

David Marit will return to the agriculture portfolio, he’s also Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation.

Cheveldayoff will stay on as Minister of Advanced Education, and will also take on the portfolio for Labour Relations and Workplace Safety .

Eric Schmalz will remain Minister of Government Relations and Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs. Warren Kaeding will serve as minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, while keeping the Trade and Export Development portfolio.

Moe also named eight legislative secretaries on Thursday: James Thorsteinson (agriculture), Keisig (Crown Investments Corporation), Blaine McLeod (community safety), Barret Kropf (education),
Kevin Weedmark (health), Megan Patterson (social services), Brad Crassweller (parks, culture and sport and Saskatchewan-India relations) and Jamie Martens (trade and export development, Saskatchewan-Ukraine relations).

The Official Opposition appeared unimpressed with the shuffle. Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck said it’s going to take more than a cabinet shuffle to get the change people want in this province.

“I am not that concerned with the internal workings of Scott Moe’s cabinet at this point, I am concerned about actually delivering better on health care, affordability, better management of the finances in this province,” said Beck.

She told reporters she didn’t think the Sask. Party has the team to deliver on those things, but she does.