Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod Appointed To Cabinet

By Robert Thomas

For the first time since the SaskParty took office in 2007 Moose Jaw now has a representative in the provincial cabinet.

On Tuesday Premier Scott Moe announced a cabinet shuffle. As a result of the shuffle Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod has been named the new Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

McLeod was first elected as MLA for Moose Jaw North in October 2020.

McLeod ran under the SaskParty banner after former SaskParty MLA Warren Michelson retired.

The last Moose Jaw MLA to sit at the Cabinet table was Deb Higgins who was appointed by then NDP Premier Lorne Calvert.

Born in Martinsville McLeod is viewed by mini as a moderate in the SaskParty government.

McLeod replaces Everett Hindley who was promoted to the Ministry of Health portfolio.

Moose Jaw’s lack of a representative at the Cabinet table has been attacked in the past by the NDP Opposition as a lack of proper representation for the city. The lack of a Moose Jaw MLA in cabinet had been a local thorn in the side of the SaskParty government.

While the SaskParty responded Moose Jaw’s concerns were well represented at the Cabinet table and Caucus.

In a statement Premier Scott Moe said the cabinet shuffle was due to threats to the province from the federal Liberal government and to work on strengthening the economy.

“The mandate of our new cabinet is to build and protect Saskatchewan - to continue building a strong economy, strong communities and strong families, and to protect all that we have built together from threats like federal intrusion and economic challenges like inflation," Premier Moe said in a statement.

McLeod joins Cabinet in the Mental Health and Addictions portfolio during a time when there is a local, provincial, and national rise in homelessness and crime experts and advocates have tied to the lack of government support for mental health and addictions.

Former embattled Education minister Dustin Duncan was moved to the Crown Investments Corporation and Minister responsible for Criwn corporations.

Duncan had faced months of criticism over his handling of abuse allegations at a private fundamentalist Christian school in Saskatoon, as well as third-party involvement in teaching sexual education in Saskatchewan schools.

Six ministers remain in cabinet but take on new responsibilities:

  • Dustin Duncan becomes Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and Minister responsible for all the major Crowns, including SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel, SGI and SaskWater, as well as Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission;

  • Christine Tell becomes Minister of Environment;

  • Paul Merriman becomes Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and Minister responsible for the Firearms Secretariat;

  • Lori Carr becomes Minister of Highways;

  • Everett Hindley becomes Minister of Health; and

  • Jeremy Cockrill becomes Minister of Education.

Nine ministers retain their current responsibilities:

  • Donna Harpauer remains Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance;

  • Jim Reiter remains Minister of Energy and Resources;

  • Gordon Wyant remains Minister of Advanced Education;

  • Jeremy Harrison remains Minister of Trade and Export Development, Minister of Immigration and Career Training, and Minister responsible for Innovation and Tourism Saskatchewan;

  • David Marit remains Minister of Agriculture and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, and also becomes Minister responsible for the Water Security Agency;

  • Don McMorris remains Minister of Government Relations, Minister responsible for First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission, and also becomes Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, and the Minister responsible for Workers' Compensation Board;

  • Bronwyn Eyre remains Minister of Justice and Attorney General;

  • Gene Makowsky remains Minister of Social Services; and

  • Laura Ross remains Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and Minister responsible for the Status of Women and the Lotteries and Gaming Corporation.

    The size of the cabinet remains at 18 members as two former ministers - Don Morgan and Dana Skoropad - have announced they will not be seeking reelection in the 2024 provincial general election.

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