Premier Moe Unveils New, Smaller Cabinet for Saskatchewan Following Re-election

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks during the Saskatchewan Party Convention in Regina on Nov. 4, 2023. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

Re-elected Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has sworn in his new cabinet, cutting the total number of ministers down by two.

Moe unveiled his cabinet during a ceremony at Government House in Regina on Nov. 7, with all former ministers moved to new portfolios.

“In the recent election, many people voted to re-elect our government to ensure a strong economy and a bright future, while many others voted for change,” Moe said in a Nov. 7 release. “Our new government will deliver both.”

“We will ensure Saskatchewan’s economy remains strong and growing while addressing the challenges of a growing province like timely access to health care and improved learning opportunities for children in our schools.”

Moe’s Saskatchewan Party won 34 of 61 seats with the provincial NDP taking 27 seats in the Oct. 28 election.

Moe named his longest-serving minister, Jim Reiter, as the deputy premier and minister of finance. Reiter, who moves from the energy portfolio, has been a minister since 2009. He will also take on the labour relations and workplace safety, and immigration and career training portfolios.

Moe appointed 8 MLAs who have previously served as ministers to new roles in his cabinet.

Everett Hindley and Jeremy Cockrill will swap portfolios, with Hindley moving from health to education. Cockrill will move from education to the health ministry.

Lori Carr will take over as the minister of mental health and addictions, and seniors and rural and remote health. Carr has had several ministerial positions, most recently as the minister of highways as well as government House leader. Carr will also be the deputy House leader.

Tim McLeod will serve as Saskatchewan’s newest attorney general and minister of justice, as well as the government House leader. He also takes on the corrections and public safety portfolio. McLeod moves from his previous roles as the minister of mental health and addictions, and seniors and rural and remote health.

Other Ministerial Roles

David Marit takes on the role of minister of highways, SaskBuilds, and procurement. Marit previously served as the minister of agriculture, as well as the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation and the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.

Jeremy Harrison, formerly the minister of trade and export development is now responsible for the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan and the Public Service Commission.

Terry Jenson takes over the ministry of social services, leaving his previous role as the minister of SaskBuilds and procurement.

Moe also named Colleen Young as the minister of energy and resources. She previously served as the minister of advanced education.

The new minister of advanced education will be Ken Cheveldayoff. He is the only MLA elected for the Sask. Party in the urban area of Saskatoon.

Warren Kaeding has been named as the new minister of trade and export development. He has held various roles with the government since 2016.

New Faces

Moe announced four MLAs that will be serving in the cabinet for the first time, including Alana Ross, who will take on the parks, culture and sport portfolio. She will also serve as the minister responsible for the status of women, Tourism Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Daryl Harrison will serve as the minister of agriculture. Travis Keisig has been given the environment portfolio.

Eric Schmalz has been given the position of minister of government relations, and the minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs.

During the ceremony, Moe named Todd Goudy the government whip, and Sean Wilson as the deputy whip. MLA Jamie Martens will take on the role of provincial secretary.

Moe said a date for the Throne Speech will be announced soon and a fall sitting is planned for the legislature.

Campaign Promises

Following his re-election on Oct. 28, Moe has already announced the province will continue its freeze on collecting the federal carbon tax on home heating. It was a move that Moe first made at the beginning of the year in protest of Ottawa’s decision to pause the tax on home heating oil but not other forms of home heating. 

“Starting today, SaskPower will once again be eliminating the carbon tax for about 35,000 customers who used electricity to heat their homes,” Moe said in a Nov. 1 post on the social media platform X. 

“The carbon tax needs to be eliminated on everything for everyone, but until that happens, our government will continue to ensure fairness for Saskatchewan families,” Moe said. 

During the election campaign, Moe said if he was re-elected his government’s first order of business would be to develop a policy restricting access to change rooms in schools to biological gender. He said the directive from the minister of education will say that biological boys will not be permitted in change rooms with biological girls. 

The leader of the official Opposition NDP, Carla Beck, indicated Moe would not have her party’s support on such a move. She said the policy would target vulnerable kids and that it served the Sask. Party’s political interests.