Harpauer, Duncan, McMorris and Wyant not running for Sask. Party in 2024

Four long-time Saskatchewan Party MLAs and cabinet ministers won’t be seeking re-election in the 2024 provincial election.

In a statement Tuesday, the party announced Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Donna Harpauer, Government Relations Minister Don McMorris, Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dustin Duncan and Advanced Education Minister Gord Wyant won’t be running again.

The statement didn’t include reasons for the MLAs’ decisions.

Harpauer was first elected as the MLA for Humboldt in 1999 and has been re-elected five times since then.

She has held numerous portfolios in cabinet and, in January, became the longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canadian politics.

Don McMorris. (980 CJME file photo)

McMorris, the MLA for Indian Head-Milestone, was elected for the first time in 1999 and served as a minister in a number of cabinet positions during his career.

In addition to government relations, he currently also is the minister of labour relations and workplace safety, minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs, minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission, and minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board.

Duncan won election for the first time in the Weyburn-Big Muddy constituency in 2006 and has been re-elected four times.

First appointed to cabinet in 2009, his current portfolios also include the minister responsible for all major Crown corporations, minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, and minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Dustin Duncan. (980 CJME file photo)

Wyant was first elected as MLA of Saskatoon Northwest in 2010 and won re-election three times. He also held a number of positions in cabinet, including deputy premier.

“That’s over 80 years of combined political experience and service to the people of Saskatchewan and that’s not easy to replace,” Premier Scott Moe said in the statement.

“But at the same time, every government and every party needs renewal, and I respect the decision that Donna, Don, Dustin and Gord all made – that it’s time for renewal in their constituencies and for a new chapter in each of their lives.”

In May, two Saskatchewan Party MLAs – Greg Ottenbreit and Ken Francis – announced they wouldn’t be running in the 2024 election.

Gord Wyant. (980 CJME file photo)

Then, in August, four more Sask. Party MLAs revealed they wouldn’t be seeking re-election. That group included Don Morgan (who at the time was the minister of labour relations and workplace safety and the minister responsible for Crown corporations) and then-Environment Minister Dana Skoropad.

The release said the Sask. Party had 37 candidates nominated for the 2024 election, including 30 incumbents. Seven more nomination dates have been scheduled.