Several veterans were shuffled out of the Saskatchewan cabinet last week, including longtime minister Pat Atkinson.
The Saskatoon MLA had been in cabinet since 1992, serving in education, health and, most recently, highways. She was also responsible for rural revitalization.
“I am a firm believer that people need to know when to go,” she told reporters at the swearing-in ceremony for the new cabinet. “I needed to go now.”
Atkinson didn’t rule out running in the next provincial election, which could be two years away.
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Agriculture minister and deputy premier Clay Serby has assumed the rural revitalization portfolio.
He said this will allow him more opportunity to get out and talk to people in rural Saskatchewan.
“I’m very much involved already,” he said. “You can’t not be part of rural revitalization when you have the ag file.”
Cabinet newcomer Mark Wartman has taken over the highways portfolio.
Wartman, a former United Church minister, is the MLA for Regina-Qu’Appelle Valley. He spent the past few months developing the government’s ethanol strategy, which was recently presented to cabinet.
Other new ministers include Regina South MLA Andrew Thomson (energy and mines) and Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Deb Higgins (labour).
Judy Junor returned as provincial secretary and the minister responsible for seniors and the status of women, after being left out of Calvert’s first cabinet.
Glenn Hagel left post-secondary education to take on social services. Pat Lorje is now post-secondary education minister, while justice minister Chris Axworthy took over Lorje’s aboriginal affairs portfolio.
Kim Trew moved from labour to Saskatchewan Property Management Corp. and remains responsible for gaming.
Buckley Belanger added northern affairs to his environment portfolio.
Former northern affairs minister Keith Goulet stepped down earlier last week, saying he would not run in the next election.
Also gone from cabinet are Harry Van Mulligen, who was social services minister, and Doreen Hamilton, who was responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Liberal MLA Ron Osika assumed responsibility for gaming and stayed on as municipal affairs minister.
All other ministers retained their existing duties.
