NDP leader Carla Beck made Prince Albert a priority during the 2024 provincial election campaign, and she said that won’t change when MLAs head back to the legislature.
Beck announced her shadow cabinet on Wednesday, and said members would make reaching out a priority. That’s especially true in parts of the province with new mayors, new city councillors, and new school boards, Beck said.
“I’ve always made a point of travelling up to PA, and I know our shadow cabinet will be continuing to do that work as well connecting on the issues that are most important,” Beck said the day after naming her new shadow cabinet.
“We’ve really focused on outreach over the last number of years, and the people of this province can continue to expect that from us.
All 27 NDP MLAs will have a role in the new shadow cabinet. The list includes new northern MLAs Leroy Laliberte, who will serve as Shadow Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations, and Jordan McPhail as Shadow Minister of Northern Affairs, Forestry, and SaskTel.
Beck said she wanted every MLA to have a roll in the shadow cabinet so they can take part in the outreach and relationship building the NDP will need to form the next government.
“This is a team that is not content to sit in a chair and take their place in the legislature,” she said. “This is a team that really wants to dig in and connect with people right across this province, and they’ve already hit the ground running.”
MLAs are scheduled to return to Regina for a fall sitting starting on Nov. 25. Beck said her party will continue to focus on the issues they put front and centre during their campaign: jobs, cost of living, healthcare, crime, and education.
“You will see this team focus there, but also focus in their critic roles on outreach and continuing to be out and about in the province and connecting with people in every corner of this province,” Beck said. “This is a team that’s going to hit the ground running. Over the next few years, we are going to show ourselves to be the government in waiting in this province.”
The NDP added 15 new members to their ranks following the most recent provincial election. That brings the number of opposition MLAs to 27, just seven behind the Saskatchewan Party’s 34.
The NDP Shadow Cabinet:
- • Carla Beck as Official Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs and Executive Council
- • Brent Blakley as Shadow Minister of Social Services
- • Bhajan Brar as Shadow Minister of Innovation Saskatchewan, the Provincial Capital Commission
- • Kim Breckner as Shadow Minister of Trade and Export Development, Saskatchewan Research Council
- • Noor Burki as Shadow Minister of Immigration and Career Training
- • April ChiefCalf as Shadow Minister of Housing
- • Jared Clarke as Shadow Minister of Municipal Affairs, Environment
- • Meara Conway as Shadow Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Ethics and Democracy
- • Hugh Gordon as Shadow Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, SGI
- • Tajinder Grewal as Shadow Minister of Advanced Education
- • Sally Housser as Shadow Minister of Energy and Resources, SaskEnergy
- • Keith Jorgenson as Shadow Minister of Seniors
- • Leroy Laliberte as Shadow Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations
- • Matt Love as Shadow Minister of Education
- • Don McBean as Shadow Minister of Tourism, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, SaskGaming
- • Jordan McPhail as Shadow Minister of Northern Affairs, Forestry, SaskTel
- • Vicki Mowat as Shadow Minister of Health
- • Betty Nippi-Albright as Shadow Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
- • Joan Pratchler as Shadow Minister of Childcare and Early Learning
- • Erika Ritchie as Shadow Minister of Crown Investments Corporation, SaskWater, the Water Security Agency, SaskBuilds and Procurement
- • Jacqueline Roy as Shadow Minister of Human Rights, Francophone Affairs
- • Nicole Sarauer as Shadow Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety
- • Brittney Senger as Shadow Minister of Status of Women, Disabilities and Community-Based Organizations
- • Nathaniel Teed as Shadow Minister of Labour
- • Darcy Warrington as Shadow Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport
- • Trent Wotherspoon as Shadow Minister of Finance, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, Deputy Shadow Minister of Agriculture
- • Aleana Young as Shadow Minister of Jobs and Economy, SaskPower
