The recent cabinet changes have given Battlefords MLA Herb Cox some new responsibilities.
Cox is the new government whip in the legislature. He was appointed to the role by Premier Brad Wall last week.
Cox now has responsibility for making sure government MLAs are in the legislature during session.
He explained his duties include keeping track of those MLAs who might need to be absent from the legislature to tend to business in their constituency or, in the case of the cabinet, ministerial-related functions.
"They co-ordinate those absences through my office, basically now, through the whip's office, and that's how you ensure attendance during session," he told the Regional Optimist this week
The role also includes helping co-ordinate management of the session with respect to speeches, and slotting people into the various spots, he said.
It's a role that "basically allows you to become part of the leadership and management team for the caucus and the party."
The position is one more step up in responsibility for Cox, who has now relinquished his position as chair of the Crowns and Central Agencies Committee. He remains a provincial delegate to the Pacific North West Economic Region and retains his position on the board for Crown Investments Corporation, as well as on the Caucus Management Committee and New Ideas Committee.
The government whip role opened up when Greg Ottenbreit, MLA from Yorkton, was promoted to Minister of Rural and Remote Health by Premier Brad Wall to replace Tim McMillan. McMillan, MLA for Lloydminster, is leaving politics for a role representing the energy sector.
In a statement Premier Wall said Ottenbreit will be a strong member of cabinet. "This portfolio is about listening to and understanding the concerns of rural communities, patients and health care providers," said Wall. "I know Greg will be a tireless worker when it comes to meeting with those individuals and bringing their health care concerns to the cabinet table."
The Battlefords MLA expects a smooth transition and made clear government priorities remain the same.
"We're going to maintain what our focus has been. We're going to continue on our growth agenda, and continue on handling the challenges of growth," said Cox, who added the "challenges of growth are better than the challenges of decline."
He was planning to head to Regina this week to learn more details of his new role and responsibilities.
Cox also looks ahead with interest to the arrival of Christine Tell, provincial minister of Corrections and Policing, for a noon speech at Caleb Village hosted by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Monday, Oct. 6.
"I'm really looking forward to that and hearing about some of the initiatives being worked on at the provincial government level, and can hopefully impact us in the Battlefords as well," said Cox, who said he had been working on those initiatives for some time now.
After that, the fall session of the legislature is not far off, with the first day back being Oct. 22.
