Premier Scott Moe announced on Tuesday that three cabinet ministers are shifting portfolios: Greg Ottenbreit, Lori Carr and Warren Kaeding.
Ottenbreit, who was the minister responsible for rural and remote health, shifts to the minister of highways and infrastructure and the minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.
Carr was previously the minister of highways and infrastructure. She’s now the minister of government relations, minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs, as well as for the Provincial Capital Commission.
Kaeding is taking on a new role in cabinet—minister responsible for seniors—as well as the minister of rural and remote health. He was the minister of government relations.
The portfolios of 14 other ministers remain the same.
“It’s a small realignment, really, in cabinet. No one in, no one out,” said Moe.
He said the shuffle allows some portfolios more “breathing space.” He said this is why he shifted the Water Security Agency portfolio from the Minister of Environment Dustin Duncan to Ottenbreit.
Duncan is also the minister of SaskPower.
“That particular minister’s office has faced a much larger workload over the last couple of years,” explained Moe.
Moe said without Duncan’s office being responsible for the Water Security Agency, it will now have additional resources and time to make decisions regarding environmental regulations being put forward by the federal government.
The federal government is planning on banning single-use plastics as early as 2021.
He said Ottenbreit has come a long way as the minister of rural and remote health for the past five years. Before then, he said the province didn’t have the health services in rural communities that they do now.
Moe said he never considered switching Joe Hargrave from the minister of crown and investments and the minister of SGI. Hargrave is also the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton.
“It’s not always an easy job that he’s had before him, but he’s done a great job and continues to work hard to not only represent all of the people from the community of Prince Albert, but to represent them at the cabinet table.”
Moe said all cabinet ministers are running in the upcoming 2020 election.
—with files from Jason Kerr
