Larry Doke joins cabinet in major shuffle

Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Larry Doke has just received a big promotion from Premier Brad Wall.

Doke has joined the cabinet as Minister of Government Relations and Minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs.

The appointment was announced Wednesday morning at Government House where Doke and the rest of the cabinet was sworn in.

The appointment of Doke to cabinet comes in the wake of Premier Brad Wall’s announcement he would be leaving as Premier in the new year. Five cabinet ministers -- Ken Cheveldayoff, Gordon Wyant, Jeremy Harrison, Tina Beaudry-Mellor and Scott Moe -- have stepped aside from their cabinet positions to run for the leadership, creating a host of vacancies that needed to be filled.   

The result has been a major shakeup that includes four first-time ministers, including Doke, as well as five ministers changing portfolios and one former minister returning to the cabinet.

Perhaps the biggest news in the shuffle involves the five ministers who are changing portfolios. The big surprise is the announcement of a change at Finance.

Donna Harpauer now takes over as minister of Finance from Kevin Doherty, who now becomes minister of Advanced Education.

According to the government’s news release, Don Morgan remains deputy premier but takes on a new role as minister of Justice and attorney general, taking over from Gord Wyant who is running for the leadership. He retains responsibility for Labour and the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Bronwyn Eyre becomes minister of Education (Morgan’s old portfolio) and minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Dustin Duncan moves over from Energy and Resources to become minister of Environment and minister responsible for SaskPower, SaskWater, the Water Security Agency and the Global Transportation Hub.

First-time ministers include Paul Merriman as minister of Social Services and government deputy house leader; Steven Bonk as minister of Economy and minister responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan, Innovation and Trade; and former Saskatchewan Roughrider Gene Makowsky who becomes minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and minister responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Returning to cabinet is Nancy Heppner as minister of Energy and Resources and minister responsible for the Public Service Commission.

Six other ministers will be staying put in their current roles: Lyle Stewart as minister of Agriculture and minister responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance; Jim Reiter as minister of Health; Greg Ottenbreit as minister of Rural and Remote Health; Christine Tell as minister responsible for Central Services and minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission and the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation; Joe Hargrave as minister responsible for Crown Investments Corporation and Saskatchewan Government Insurance while adding responsibility for SaskEnergy and SaskTel; and David Marit as minister of Highways and Infrastructure while adding responsibility for SaskBuilds and Priority Saskatchewan.

For the other roles in the government, Greg Brkich is appointed Government House Leader, and Warren Kaeding becomes legislative secretary to the minister responsible for SaskTel (Cellular and Internet Coverage) in addition to his current duties as legislative secretary to the minister of Agriculture (Irrigation Expansion).