Sask. Party leadership race spurs cabinet position switch-ups

Premier Brad Wall has had to juggle his cabinet and name a new deputy minister to the premier in the wake of a crowded Saskatchewan Party leadership race.

Wall, who announced his retirement from politics earlier this month, asked all of his cabinet ministers and senior bureaucratsto declare their intentions by Monday. Hereceived six resignations from those seeking to replace him as leader of the party.

• Sask. Party to elect new leader in January 2018
• Sask. Party leadership hopefuls weigh in on Bill Boyd's resignation

Five cabinet ministers have been replacedfor nowin their portfoliosby other cabinet ministers who were their backups.Premier Wall is expected to make an official cabinet shuffle in the near future.

AlannaKoch, the deputy minister to the premier, is also taking a leave of absence to run. She has been replaced by Kent Campbell.

Moe expected to announce candidacy

Scott Moe, MLA forRosthern-Shellbrook, is the only cabinet minister expected to run who has yet to announce his intention to do so.

According to an email from the provincial government on Monday,Moe will make it officiallater this week.

He resigned as Saskatchewan environment minister on Monday.

• Scott Moe resigns as environment minister, expected to make Sask. Party leadership bid

Shuffle expected

Each cabinet minister who is covering for those in the race already has their own portfolio,and is temporarily doing double duty.

At least five Saskatchewan PartyMLAs will move from the backbench and into the cabinet in the upcoming cabinet shuffle.

Wall has said he will stay on as premier until his party electsa new leader.

The Saskatchewan Party is set to elect that leader, who will ultimately become premier, on Jan. 27.

• Ken Cheveldayoff officially joins race to lead Saskatchewan Party
• Deputy minister to premier running for Sask. Party leadership
• Gordon Wyant joins Saskatchewan Party leadership race
• Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison announces Sask. Party leadership run
• Tina Beaudry-Mellor announces Sask. Party leadership bid