REGINA – It is back to work for MLAs at the Saskatchewan Legislature this week following Monday’s provincial election.
New and returning members were at the Legislature as they started their preparations for the fall session. On Thursday, the Saskatchewan Party held its first caucus meeting since the election.
The meeting consisted of its reduced caucus of 34 members — down eight since dissolution of the last House — and included 16 brand new MLAs.
Re-elected Premier Scott Moe posted details about it on social media, and in that message on the X platform he gave a hint that he had heard the message from Saskatchewan voters following Monday’s close election result.
“First meeting today of our new caucus, including 16 brand new Saskatchewan Party MLAs. Many Saskatchewan people voted for a strong economy and a bright future with the Saskatchewan Party. Many others voted for change. Our new government will deliver both.”
Opposition Leader Carla Beck was also back at the Legislature on Thursday, following Monday’s result which saw her party elect an increased contingent of 27 MLAs to the Legislature, up 13 from dissolution. Of the 27, the NDP has 15 brand new MLAs, which means over half of all of the MLAs elected – a combined 31 from both parties – are new members of the Legislature.
“Back at it! It’s an honour to get to do this work. Travelling across the province, I got to fall in love with Saskatchewan all over again. We’re ready to do the work to build on our successes and stand up for the priorities of all who call our province home,” Beck posted on the X platform.
Now the next order of business at the Legislature will be for official completion of the counting of remaining mail-in ballots on Nov. 9, with dates still to be set for the announcement of and swearing-in of the new Cabinet. Also still to come is the swearing in of MLAs, and for the official return of the Legislature with the Speech from the Throne.
One piece of important business as soon as the Legislature returns will be the election of a new Speaker, with the departure of Randy Weekes at the end of the previous term.
Picking a cabinet will be a major priority for the government in the coming few days. Considerable change is coming to the composition of Moe’s cabinet, due to retirements from the last House as well as the defeats of five cabinet ministers in Monday’s election.
One of the holes that will have to be filled is the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General with the defeat of Bronwyn Eyre, and there is speculation that Tim McLeod, a lawyer, could be moved from Rural and Remote Health to fill that spot. Other major roles that will need to be filled in cabinet include Deputy Premier and Finance with Donna Harpauer’s retirement, as well as for the Crown Investments Corporation, Corrections Policing and Public Safety, Environment, and Parks Culture and Sport portfolios, among others.