On Aug. 30 Premier Brad Wall shuffled his cabinet, and the two ministers that look after the oil and gas sector are both being changed.
Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan is out as Minister of Energy and Resources, moving over to Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for SaskPower, SaskWater, the Water Security Agency and the Global Transportation Hub.
He will be replaced by Nancy Heppner, who re-enters cabinet as Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission.
The Minister of Economy will now be Steven Bonk. He becomes Minister of Economy and Minister responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan, Innovation and Trade.
Bonk replaces Jeremy Harrison, who left cabinet to pursue the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party.
Premier Brad Wall’s announcement on Aug. 10 that he would be retiring and leaving politics set up this cabinet shuffle. Cabinet ministers wishing to run for the leadership had to resign their positions by Aug. 28. The new leader, and premier, will be chosen on Jan. 27 in Saskatoon.
There are now five candidates for leader of the party, and with it, the position of premier. They include Regina-University MLA Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, Saskatoon-Northwest MLA Gord Wyant. Alana Koch, who had been deputy minister to the premier and the provinces top civil servant (but not a sitting MLA), has also announced her intentions to run. Rosthern-Shellbrook MLA Scott Moe is also expected to make a run for the leadership.
This new cabinet is likely to only last until the end of January 2018, as the new leader and premier will likely wish to choose their own team.Â
