Only two of 18 Saskatchewan cabinet ministers retained their existing portfolios after premier Brad Wall announced a large-scale shuffle last week and reorganized ministries.
Seven people were dropped in the May 25 changes, seven were added and nine were moved to different ministries.
Among the changes are three ministries that now have two ministers.
Kindersley MLA Bill Boyd will lead the new ministry of the economy. Within that, Tim McMillan of Lloydminster will be responsible for energy and resources, tourism and trade.
Wall said he considered adding agriculture to the ministry as well, but in the end decided it deserved its own focus.
Read Also
Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research
Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.
The industry has always been key to the province but it’s importance economically has ebbed and flowed over time, he said.
“In a world that wants food security we have these prolific production numbers. We have an increasingly great reputation on the research and development side on agriculture, and I want to continue to capitalize on that.”
At the same time, Wall said he expects agriculture and economy officials to work together.
Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA and former environment minister Dustin Duncan moved to health, where he will be assisted by cabinet rookie Randy Weekes of Biggar. Weekes takes on responsibility for rural and remote health.
The justice ministry will also have two ministers. Saskatoon MLA Gord Wyant takes over as justice minister and attorney general from city colleague Don Morgan. Within that ministry, Christine Tell, a former Regina police officer who has briefly served in cabinet in the past, becomes minister of corrections and policing.
The two ministers who kept their jobs were finance minister and deputy premier Ken Krawetz from Canora-Pelly and social services minister June Draude from Kelvington-Wadena.
Other cabinet changes include:
Don McMorris moves from health to highways and takes on responsibility for a new government agency called SaskBuilds.
Former highways minister Jim Reiter goes from highways to government relations and First Nations, Metis and northern affairs.
Ken Cheveldayoff, who had been at First Nations, is now the environment minister with responsibility for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and SaskWater.
Morgan retained his labour portfolio but added advanced education.
Donna Harpauer moved from education to crown investments.
Rookie MLA Russ Marchuk is the new education minister, while another rookie, Kevin Doherty, takes on parks, culture and sport.
Returning to cabinet are Nancy Heppner as minister of central services and Lyle Stewart of Thunder Creek in agriculture.
The premier retained his responsibility for intergovernmental affairs.
