Cabinet shuffle includes new minister for renamed Sask. community safety ministry
CBC
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety got a new name in conjunction with Thursday's cabinet shuffle.
It is now called the Ministry of Community Safety, and has a new minister at its head: Michael Weger.
He takes over that ministry, as well as responsibility for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, from Tim McLeod, who will stay in cabinet as justice minister.
The public safety agency has been the subject of criticism this year over its handling of the wildfire season, including by one of its own fire supervisors who said he became so frustrated that he quit.
But Premier Scott Moe said McLeod has served "extremely competently" and the change is about balancing the workload.
"It's an extremely large workload when you look at all of the files that [McLeod] has had over the period of the last year, in addition to being house leader as well," Moe told reporters.
Moe said the change in name for the ministry is about expanding the focus from enforcement.
"It will be about ensuring that our communities are safe and ensuring that there are not, you know, people that all too often are struggling with addictions and maybe entering a life of crime, that they are, you know, on the proper path."
At a media event in Saskatoon Thursday criticizing the government's handling of finances, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck was asked about her thoughts on the cabinet shuffle.
She said she's not too concerned with the internal workings of the cabinet, as she's more concerned about "actually delivering" on health care, affordability and financial management.
"He can shuffle cabinet chairs on the Titanic all he wants, but the reality is, after 18 years, this is a government that is out of ideas," Beck said. "Their terrible decisions and planning are coming home to roost."
In addition to Weger in community safety, there are four other new faces in cabinet:
Three people are leaving cabinet: Travis Keisig (former minister of environment), Daryl Harrison (former minister of agriculture) and Colleen Young (former minister of energy and resources).
Four other ministers who are staying in cabinet are taking on different responsibilities:
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