Premier Brad Wall today made changes to the provincial cabinet and other MLA duties. Wall said the new cabinet will chart a long term course of growth and improved quality of life in Saskatchewan.Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz has been named the province's new Finance Minister.
"Ken Krawetz has always played a strong leadership role within our government and I know he will continue to do so in his new responsibility of managing our province's finances," Wall said.
Donna Harpauer takes over from Krawetz as Minister of Education and also becomes Provincial Secretary while June Draude replaces Harpauer as Minister of Social Services. Draude also becomes Minister responsible for the Status of Women while maintaining her responsibility as Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Two MLAs enter cabinet for the first time:
Tim McMillan becomes Minister responsible for Crown Investments Corporation (CIC), Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), Information Services Corporation (ISC) and Information Technology Office (ITO); and Laura Ross becomes Minister of Government Services.Darryl Hickie returns to cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs.
"We are continuing to build capacity and experience within our government," Wall said. "Twenty four of the 37 government MLAs have now served in cabinet and the others have all made significant contributions as legislative secretaries, committee chairs or in other leadership roles."
Several Ministers take on new responsibilities:
Ken Cheveldayoff becomes Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations, Minister responsible for Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SCG), while continuing to be the lead Minister for the proposed multi-purpose entertainment facility; Bill Hutchinson becomes Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport and Minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission; Dustin Duncan becomes Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for SaskEnergy and SaskWater; and Jeremy Harrison becomes Minister of Enterprise and Minister responsible for Trade.Three Ministers maintain their current portfolios and take on new responsibilities: Don Morgan becomes Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) in addition to being Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Rob Norris becomes Minister responsible for SaskPower and Minister responsible for Innovation in addition to being Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration; and Bill Boyd becomes Minister responsible for SaskTel in addition to being Minister of Energy and Resources.The remaining cabinet members retain their current responsibilities: Don McMorris - Minister of Health; Bob Bjornerud - Minister of Agriculture; D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert - Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing; and Jim Reiter - Minister of Highways and Infrastructure.
"This new cabinet is a strong team that will keep Saskatchewan moving forward and address the challenges and opportunities of a growing, vibrant province," Wall said.
Wall also named Greg Ottenbreit as Legislative Secretary to the Premier for Vulnerable Youth. Wayne Elhard has been tasked with co-ordinating the multi-faceted and long term infrastructure needs of the province as Legislative Secretary to the Premier for Ready for the Growth Provincial Infrastructure Initiative.
Delbert Kirsch will become the new Chair of the Legislature's Standing Policy Committee on Crowns and Central Agencies and Lyle Stewart will become the new Chair of the Standing Policy on the Economy.
