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One of the Saskatchewan Party’s longest-serving MLAs and cabinet ministers won’t be running in the 2024 provincial election.
Don Morgan – the current minister of labour relations and workplace safety and the minister responsible for Crown corporations – made the announcement in a statement Friday.
“I have had five terms and it is time to pass the torch to someone else,” the Saskatoon Southeast MLA said. “My health is good and Sandy and I would like to travel and to spend some time together.
“I will be 74 at the time of the next election. I think the voters should have an opportunity for a fresh face.”
It has been my privilege to serve Saskatoon Southeast since 2003. I will not be running in 2024. I thank everyone. pic.twitter.com/OfgTNu8A3d
— Don Morgan (@SaskMLA) August 25, 2023
Three other Sask. Party MLAs – including another current cabinet minister and a former minister – joined Morgan in deciding not to run in the 2024 election.
In a statement, the Sask. Party announced Environment Minister Dana Skoropad, former highways minister Fred Bradshaw and Batoche MLA Delbert Kirsch also won’t be running again.
“I want to thank Don, Delbert, Fred and Dana for their many years of service to their constituents and all the people of Saskatchewan,” Premier Scott Moe said in the statement. “I will miss their contribution to our party and our government, but I am also looking forward to working with the new Saskatchewan Party candidates in those constituencies.”
Six Saskatchewan Party MLAs now have announced they won’t be seeking re-election in 2024.
Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit and Kindersley MLA Ken Francis announced in May that they wouldn’t be running in the next election.
Morgan has been the MLA for Saskatoon Southeast since 2003. He has held a number of portfolios in the Sask. Party government, including minister of justice and attorney general, minister of advanced education, minister responsible for SaskTel, and minister of education. He also was deputy premier from 2016 to 2018.
In a statement, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour president Lori Johb said she wasn’t surprised Morgan had decided to retire from politics given what she called “recent developments in Saskatchewan’s political climate.”
“In his historic tenure with the labour portfolio, I have particularly appreciated his dutiful attention to the prevention of workplace harassment and violence,” Johb wrote. “I am hopeful that the next Minister will work closely with our Federation to make meaningful progress for working people.”
Morgan was the justice minister and attorney general when Saskatchewan went to court to challenge the federal carbon tax.
The province took the case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which sided with the federal government.
As minister responsible for Crown corporations, he has been involved in discussions about the development of small modular reactors in Saskatchewan.
Skoropad was first elected as the MLA for Arm River in 2020 and was named the environment minister in 2022.
Bradshaw was first elected to represent the Carrot River Valley constituency in 2007. In addition to highways, he also was minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency and deputy house leader during his career.
Kirsch has represented the Batoche riding since 2003. During his time in the Legislative Assembly, he has served as deputy government house leader and currently is the deputy caucus chair.