REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe shook up his cabinet Thursday, introducing new faces, dropping veterans and mixing and matching job titles.
“The decisions today are about building capacity across the government, allowing as many as possible to spend some time in the cabinet room to serve competently on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan,” Moe said.
Tim McLeod remains government house leader and justice minister but has been relieved of duties as head of public safety. McLeod faced criticism from Denare Beach residents after half the community burned up in a summer wildfire.
Moe said McLeod’s removal from the role had nothing to do with his competency.
“It was a tremendous workload, tremendous workload for a person that is still raising two children,” Moe said.
Moe said he asked McLeod to take on policing and public safety last year on top of his other duties.
“For that I’m grateful, and I’m also grateful for the way in which he approached each of the files.”
Newcomer Mike Weger takes over public safety responsibilities as the head of a new portfolio titled Community Safety.
Weger, who worked as a lawyer for 17 years, said he’s aware of criticism over the wildfire response but has faith in the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
“I have a lot of confidence in what they’ve done,” he told reporters. “I just got sworn in about 10 minutes ago, so obviously there’s some work for me to do to get briefed on all these files.”
Moe’s government has declined calls from Denare Beach village council and residents to hold a public inquiry into the fire. Instead, the province has hired a third-party to do a report looking into what happened.
Provincial auditor Tara Clemett has also said her office will investigate the agency’s wildfire preparedness.
Moe said Thursday the government has stepped up to help Denare Beach following what he called an unprecedented tragedy.
“People can have confidence that they’re doing everything they can as a community with the support of the government,” he said.
As for other newcomers to cabinet, Chris Beaudry joins as the new minister in charge of energy and resources.
There is also Darlene Rowden in environment, Kim Gartner in highways and Sean Wilson, who is now in charge of the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.
Travis Keisig, Daryl Harrison and Colleen Young were dropped.
Moe said they were competent but he had to make difficult choices.
“It’s not as fun when you’re asked to take some time out of that particular room,” he said. “I would say thank you for their service and their continued service as caucus members.”
David Marit is returning to role of agriculture minister, a file he was previously in charge of.
Marit said he’ll work with the federal government to push China to remove its tariffs on canola. “Hopefully we can see some end to all of this and we can continue to do what we do best, and that’s growing the highest quality grains and oilseeds in in the world,” he said.
Jim Reiter remains deputy premier and in charge of finance, Jeremy Cockrill is staying in health, Everett Hindley continues to oversee education and Lori Carr remains in charge of mental health and addictions.
Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck, in a statement, compared the shuffle to “deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Beck said Moe’s government is focused on internal intrigues while the larger problems faced by Saskatchewan residents continue to fester.
“Hardworking families are getting taxed to death, health-care workers are leaving in droves, crime is out of control and the Sask. Party is just shuffling the deck chairs,” Beck said.
“We certainly need change in the province — this isn’t it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2025.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
