Top Saskatchewan ministers Herb Cox and Bill Boyd ask to leave cabinet

Environment Minister Herb Cox and Economy Minister Bill Boyd will both be missing from the Saskatchewan Party cabinet after the upcoming cabinet shuffle.

Cox has asked the premier to leave cabinet while he battles cancer for a second time. The MLA for the Battlefords will be undergoing stem cell treatment for cancer.

“I have gone through this treatment once before a few years back and I know it would make it extremely difficult to continue to perform my duties as a cabinet minister,” Cox said in a news release.

He says while he enjoys serving in cabinet, his health has to come first and the Sask. Party has many other members who deserve the opportunity.

Cox will continue serving as MLA for the Battlefords.

Bill Boyd will also be stepping away from the political limelight after asking the premier to leave him out of cabinet.

Boyd, who was first elected in 1991 and is one of the founding members of the Sask. Party, says he feels it’s time for others to have a chance serve in cabinet.

 The premier also released a statement, saying that it is difficult to lose one of the most experienced ministers and he will miss his strong leadership at the cabinet table but he respects his decision to take on a different role in government at this stage in his political career.

Boyd will continue to serve as MLA for the Kindersley constituency.

Boyd has served in every cabinet since the Wall government was elected in 2007 and he has also figured prominently in some of its biggest controversies.

Most recently, Boyd faced criticism over the government’s purchase of land for the Global Transportation Hub. The auditor found it paid far too much.  

The smart meter fiasco occurred under his watch, with the province rolling back the program due to safety concerns.

 Boyd was also put on the hot seat in the legislature, facing questions over reports suggesting the carbon capture plant was initially working better than it really was.