Saskatchewan premier says school change rooms no longer first priority, names cabinet

REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, fresh off a challenging election campaign, announced a new cabinet Thursday while deprioritizing a change room directive he had touted as his first order of business after the vote.

Moe told reporters he misspoke when he said on the campaign trail before the Oct. 28 election that his first job if re-elected would be to ban “biological boys” from using school changing rooms with “biological girls.”

He said he should have promised his first priorities were to meet with the lieutenant-governor, form a cabinet and set a legislative agenda.

“When I was asked a question and provided a response on the change room policy here in the province, I (said) it was going to be the first order of business. I misspoke,” Moe said.

“I would say that this would not be the first order of business.”

The Saskatchewan Party leader made the change room pledge after he said he’d learned of a complaint about two biological boys using a girls locker room at a school in the southeastern part of the province.

Moe said he sometimes speaks before thinking.

“I need to take a breath from time to time and consult with people as well,” said the premier.

He added he would consult with school boards about change room issues after board elections are complete next week.

“I’m not going to preclude where those discussions will land,” Moe said.

“But I think parents across this province can be confident that those discussions are going to happen and they’re going to be supportive of every child.”

A statement from the Opposition NDP said Moe’s change in priorities shows he’ll say anything to get into power.

“He says one thing one day and another thing the next. You can’t trust a word he says,” it said.

“He showed us this election that he will do anything to pander for votes.”

Moe swore in the 16-member cabinet with some new faces around the table and many veterans in different portfolios.

“This day marks a new beginning,” Moe said.

Jim Reiter, the former energy minister and the government’s longest-serving cabinet member, received the biggest promotion. The cabinet member since 2009 was named deputy premier, finance minister and minister of labour relations and workplace safety. He is also minister of immigration and career training.

Jeremy Cockrill and Everett Hindley switched jobs, with Hindley taking over education and Cockrill assuming the health portfolio.

Colleen Young, the former advanced education minister, is in charge of energy and resources. Tim McLeod takes over as minister of justice, corrections and public safety and attorney general.

Jeremy Harrison, who made headlines before the election after admitting to taking a gun into the legislature a decade earlier, is responsible for the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Public Service Commission.

David Marit moves from agriculture to the highways ministry with responsibility for SaskBuilds and procurement.

Veteran legislature member Ken Cheveldayoff returns to cabinet, taking over advanced education.

The Saskatchewan Party won a fifth consecutive majority government, but its seat count was severely reduced.

Moe’s governing caucus was cut to 34 from 42 — enough to remain in charge but with little room to spare in the 61-seat legislature.

The vote reflected a stark urban-rural split, with the Saskatchewan Party shut out in Regina and left clinging to one seat in Saskatoon, which is held by Cheveldayoff.

Moe said Saskatchewan residents voted for a strong economy and bright future but also for some degree of change.

The province is not divided but united and his team will govern on behalf of all, he said.

Moe said he needs to do better to make sure everyone has a family doctor, can access timely surgeries and children are succeeding in classrooms.

“We need to deliver and we need to deliver it using the growth of our economy and growth of opportunities that we have.”

Moe faces a larger Opposition under NDP Leader Carla Beck.

The NDP took the remaining 27 seats in the election. No third parties won seats in the chamber.

Beck congratulated Moe’s new cabinet but said the province needs real change to fix health care and make life more affordable.

She said she’s deeply troubled with Cockrill having the health portfolio.

“Relations between teachers and the government hit an all-time low when Jeremy Cockrill was minister of education,” she said.

Labour negotiations this year saw teachers go on strike, extracurricular activities were cancelled and there were heated exchanges between Cockrill and union leaders.

“Saskatchewan already has the worst rates of health-care worker retention in Canada, and Cockrill’s confrontational style will make a bad situation worse,” Beck said.

Many familiar faces are no longer in the legislature.

Saskatoon cabinet ministers Bronwyn Eyre and Paul Merriman along with Regina’s Laura Ross, Christine Tell and Gene Makowsky went down in defeat.

Stalwarts Donna Harpauer, Don Morgan, Dustin Duncan and Don McMorris did not seek re-election.

Moe’s new caucus includes 16 members elected for the first time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press