REGINA - Premier Scott Moe has unveiled his new post-election cabinet with new ministers in every portfolio.
Moe called it “a new beginning for our government,” as he and his 16 member cabinet were sworn in at Government House Thursday morning.
It is a much-changed cabinet with Moe having to fill numerous holes due to the loss of cabinet ministers both to retirements and election defeats.
While it will be largely an experienced cabinet, every minister appointed will be brand-new to their portfolio, with Moe pointing to the need for a fresh set of eyes in each area.
Moe said that in the recent election, many people voted to re-elect the government to ensure a strong economy and a bright future, while many others voted for change. “Now it’s the task of our re-elected government to deliver both.”
Among the highlights:
Jim Reiter moves from Energy and Resources becomes the new Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, as well as Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and Minister of Immigration and Career Training.
Current ministers taking on new responsibilities are:
Everett Hindley moving from Health to Education;
Jeremy Cockrill moving from Education to Health;
Lori Carr from Highways to Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health;
Tim McLeod from Rural and Remote Health to Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Corrections and Public Safety;
David Marit moves from Agriculture to Minister Highways, Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement;
Jeremy Harrison moves from Trade and Export Development to Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and all of its commercial Crown Corporations, and Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission;
Terry Jenson moves from Minister for SaskBuilds to Minister of Social Services;
Colleen Young moves from Advanced Education to Minister of Energy and Resources.
Re-entering cabinet are:
Ken Cheveldayoff - Minister of Advanced Education, and
Warren Kaeding - Minister of Trade and Export Development.
In cabinet for the first time are:
Alana Ross - Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Tourism Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority;
Daryl Harrison - Minister of Agriculture;
Travis Keisig - Minister of Environment;
Eric Schmalz - Minister of Government Relations, Minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs. Schmalz is also the only member of Cabinet who is a brand new MLA, representing Saskatchewan Rivers.
The House leadership positions are Tim McLeod as Government House Leader, Lori Carr as Deputy House Leader, Todd Goudy as Government Whip; and the new Canora-Pelly MLA Sean Wilson as Deputy Whip. Newly-elected Jamie Martens from Martensville-Blairmore will be the new Provincial Secretary.
Moe speaks about the new cabinet
In speaking to reporters afterwards, Moe explained what he hoped to accomplish by having each of the ministers placed in new roles.
"I would say the focus of the cabinet selection here today was really in that theme of a 'new beginning' and bringing a new face to each and every file," said Moe.
"Not since the appointments of 2007 has there been a new face and a new perspective in each and every file across government. And that was the focus, and I have said on Election Night, and I would say it again, on that evening there was a majority that voted for the platform that we had put forward, which was largely based on making life more affordable in Saskatchewan. There was a number of people that also voted for change, and it is on us, on this cabinet, on us as a governing caucus now to deliver both on behalf of the people that we represent across Saskatchewan, which is everyone."
Moe was also asked about the rationale of switching portfolios for both Hindley and Cockrill, who essentially traded Health and Education ministries.
"Again, new perspective, new face in each and every portfolio, and I think a couple of very hard-working, diligent, competent ministers that I have a lot of faith in, in two of the most significant files in government. And I would say two of the files where you are going to see some of that commitment around a new beginning."
He spoke to what had been heard from people during the campaign. "When they need a primary health care provider, they need to have access to that. And we commit to working towards that, and we commit to providing that in the very near future. People want to have a surgery when it is required in a timely fashion."
"We commit to, and have previously committed to, creating those targets around our surgical wait time initiative, making the investments, and then with a laser-like focus, watching and measuring the outcomes of that investment. We commit to that again, to Saskatchewan people and families having access to a primary health care provider, having access to a timely surgery."
Moe also pledged a "new beginning when it comes to the conversation around education. In particular, I would say around the supports and opportunities that we have in the K-3 education space. Ensure that our children have every opportunity to have all of the opportunities in an educational environment that parents expect them to have, and to give them the opportunity to have a fulsome education right through to grade 12 and beyond if they should so choose." He added there would be more in the Speech from the Throne in the not-too-distant future.
Moe was also asked about placing Cockrill in a new portfolio while he was still under a Conflict of Interest investigation.
"The Conflict of Interest Commissioner is here to assist MLAs to ensure that they are in compliance with the Act, which is my expectation. And so if there is an instance where any MLA is not in compliance with the Act, the expectation is that they would be coming to compliance almost immediately. And that would be the expectation in this scenario as well."
Carla Beck responds
In a statement, Opposition Leader Carla Beck ripped the announcement of the new cabinet.
"This great province needs real change to get us out of last place on healthcare and make life more affordable. Despite this, the Sask. Party has no plan to provide cost-of-living relief until at least 2026, if ever. The Sask. Party’s platform makes no new investments in hospitals or healthcare workers — in fact, their current budget would lead to cuts in healthcare.
Beck added she was "deeply troubled" about Moe’s choice for Minister of Health.
"Relations between teachers and the government hit an all-time low when Jeremy Cockrill was the Minister of Education. Saskatchewan already has the worst rates of healthcare worker retention in Canada, and Cockrill’s confrontational style will make a bad situation worse."
Beck indicated her Saskatchewan NDP MLAs would hold their first in-person caucus meeting Friday, to "discuss how we can push this cabinet for real change on healthcare and the cost of living. We’re ready to get to work on what matters most to the people of Saskatchewan."
