The changes come days after Lyle Stewart stepped down from cabinet after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Wood River MLA David Marit leaves his post as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure to take over as agriculture minister. He takes over as the SaskParty’s third agriculture minister following Stewart (2012-2018) and Bob Bjornerud (2007-2012). Marit is a farmer and is also the former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.
Estevan MLA Lori Carr joins cabinet for the first time as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. She previously served as Government Deputy Whip and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
In another cabinet change, Deputy Leader Gordon Wyant adds SaskBuilds to his responsibilities, while staying on as Minister of Education.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Premier Scott Moe spoke to the depth of the SaskParty caucus, adding that choosing cabinet members is one of the most difficult decisions as premier.
“I may be biased but I would put them as one of the strongest cabinet and caucuses in the nation.”
While the cabinet changes were needed to fill Stewart’s critical agriculture role after he left, NDP Leader Ryan Meili was hoping the government would take the opportunity to set a new direction for the next few years.
“People are seeing a government that’s out of ideas, doesn’t have much of a vision for the future,” said Meili.
Meili said based on what he’s hearing while travelling around the province, people and businesses are struggling in a slow economy.
“This cabinet shuffle does nothing to increase the confidence of the public that this government has plans to turn things around,” he said.