Gartner named Saskatchewan Highways Minister in cabinet shuffle

EAGLE STAFF

Kim Gartner, the former Macklin town administrator who won election to the provincial legislature just over a year ago, is one of five new cabinet ministers in Scott Moe’s government.

Gartner, who represents the Kindersley-Biggar constituency, is the hew highways minister. All five new ministers were first elected in November 2024.

"Those members now have more than a year of experience as MLAs and, with today's changes, one-third of cabinet will be new members,” Premier Scott Moe said on Thursday in the statement. “That will give our government a strong balance of experience and fresh perspectives."

Gartner replaces David Marit (Wood River), who returns to the agriculture portfolio he filled for six years.

The realignment includes a name change, as Corrections, Policing and Public Safety becomes Community Safety, headed by new minister Mike Weger (Weyburn-Bengough).

Three veterans - Colleen Young, Travis Keisig and Daryl Harrison, who’d served as agriculture minister - were moved out of cabinet but are to chair legislative committees, according to the statement from the Premier’s Office.

Jim Reiter (Rosetown-Delisle) remains finance minister and deputy premier. Seven other ministers keep their same portfolios and three take on more responsibilities.

The other new ministers and their positions include Darlene Rowden (Batoche), Environment; Sean Wilson (Canora-Pelly), SaskBuilds and Procurement; and Chris Beaudry (Kelvington-Wadena), Energy and Resources.