The provincial cabinet has some new faces as Premier Scott Moe filled holes left after Lyle Stewart stepped down earlier this month to focus on his fight with cancer.
On Thursday, Moe announced that Wood River MLA David Marit will be Saskatchewan’s new Minister of Agriculture, while Estevan MLA Lori Carr takes Marit’s old role as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. Current Education Minister Gord Wyant will also take on responsibility for SaskBuilds.
Moe told reporters that cabinet picks are never easy decisions, but added he’s certain Marit and Carr will excel in their new roles.
“I am confident that both Dave and Lori will bring an important perspective to their new portfolios,” he said. “I look forward to working with them as we stand up for Saskatchewan.”
This is the first cabinet post for Carr, who was elected in 2016 after 20 years as a licensed assistant in a financial planning office. Moe said he had chances to serve with her on the Treasury Board, and was looking forward to having her in cabinet.
“She’s very, very competent, and deserving of this honour, to serve in executive council on behalf of, not just the people of Estevan, but the people of this province,” he said.
Marit is a former rural municipality councillor who was also first elected in 2016. Moe lauded him for his work in his previous portfolio, and said he would help build strong relationships in rural Saskatchewan.
“I’m sure that he can carry on with the great relations with the stakeholders across the province that we have had in our agriculture industry.”
Marit is only the third Minister of Agriculture to serve since the Saskatchewan Party was formed government in 2003.