Doke ready to get to work as Minister of Government Relations

It has been a hectic week for new cabinet minister Larry Doke.

The Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA was sworn in Wednesday to the cabinet as Minister of Government Relations and minister responsible for First Nation/Metis and Northern Affairs.

Doke said he was offered the cabinet role Tuesday afternoon, and he was sworn in Wednesday morning along with the rest of the re-shuffled Cabinet. 

“On the Tuesday, ironic as it may be, it was my birthday,” said Doke, adding “I don’t know if it was a gift or not.”

All kidding aside, Doke said he was “very honoured and humbled” to be asked by Premier Brad Wall to take on the position in cabinet.

“Ever since I’ve been elected I told the Premier I wasn’t necessarily interested in a cabinet position. I just wanted him to put me to work,” said Doke. “I’ll do anything.”

Doke has been on the public accounts committee and most recently served on the crime committee chaired by Herb Cox, which recently reported back. 

The ministry Doke takes on is one with broad scope. Government Relations is the one that will be dealing with the broad range of issues between the provincial government and the municipal governments in the province, representing cities, towns and villages.  

Doke feels this cabinet role is “a bit of a fit for me”, pointing to his 20 years of experience at the municipal level. Doke served a term as a North Battleford councillor and then an even longer council stint in Metinota before provincial politics.

He points to two issues that will be important in his new role: one will be revenue sharing and the revenue-sharing formula with municipalities, as well as grants-in-lieu. “I would say those are the two issues right at the moment that we will be looking at immediately,” said Doke.

Doke also plans to get well-versed on the First Nations and Metis issues in the coming days as well, as he settles into his new position.

The immediate priority this week for Doke after taking over his cabinet portfolio has been simply moving and cleaning out of old offices and setting up phones and so on in the new one.  

After that Doke planned to get up to speed on his file, but he has also been in contact on one issue already: the evacuations from Pelican Narrows due to the wildfire situation in the area.

“I’m being kept abreast of what’s going on by my Chief of Staff,” said Doke, adding “the people in charge are doing a great job as usual and looking after it.”

Doke’s appointment was part of a major cabinet shuffle this past week by Premier Wall. The shuffle was prompted by a leadership race that has seen five ministers step aside from their roles in cabinet to run in that contest.

While there are a few newcomers, Doke says most of the  ministers in the new cabinet have had experience in cabinet before. He believes the Premier was looking to maintain some stability in terms of carrying out policy.  

“I think he wants to see what we started fulfilled and just steady as we go,” said Doke, and “have a good look at this spring’s budget and see what’s working and take a good view on everything. I think the Premier would like to leave everything well intact.”

Doke admits it was a surprise when Wall did announce he was stepping down as Premier. He said Wall broke the news to them at the very end of their annual caucus retreat this August.

“I could say that you could hear a pin drop in the room. It was a very emotional time for both the Premier and for all of us as MLAs.”

Doke is now looking forward to the leadership race and was happy to see a large field of candidates, saying it would be a “hard choice”.

“I think it’s very healthy when you have that many people,” said Doke. “I think you’re going to hear a lot of different policy and a lot of different platform ideas.”

Doke was also asked about the departure of Kindersley MLA Bill Boyd, who departed the Saskatchewan Party caucus this past week after he was ruled in conflict of interest over his business activities.

“His lack of judgment here towards the end on what he’s done, is, you know, I personally feel sorry for him because that’s how it’ll be reflected. It won’t be on the job he did, it’ll be on what happened now,” said Doke.

“I guess the only thing I would say is none of this stuff was under the government; he did it himself,” said Doke. “He’s going to have to figure out what happens now.”