4 new faces join Sask. cabinet

Some of the Saskatchewan Party's most outspoken backbenchers are among four new people who were elevated to cabinet on Friday — while the man who was in charge during a series of jail controversies last year is now out of cabinet.

Newcomers Dustin Duncan, Jeremy Harrison and Yogi Huyghebaert, all known for strongly worded attacks on the NDP in the legislature, got the nod from Premier Brad Wall in his first cabinet shuffle.

The fourth newcomer is Rosetown-Elrose's Jim Reiter, the MLA who was involved in a major review of education property taxes last year.

No women were added to the cabinet.

Four are out of cabinet:

• Lyle Stewart, Enterprise.
• Darryl Hickie, Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.
• Dan D'Autremont, Government Services.
• Wayne Elhard, Highways.

Duncan, the MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy, becomes the minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sports, while Reiter takes the Highways portfolio.

Harrison is the new Municipal Affairs minister. Huyghebaert, who represents the Wood River constituency, takes over Hickie's portfolio to become minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.

Weathering controversy

Hickie weathered a series of problems in his department last year, including jail breaks and the mistaken release of several prisoners. He also came under fire from the NDP for saying there was no gang problem in Saskatchewan's jails, but he later retreated from the comment.

Elhard, Stewart and D'Autremont are all longtime MLAs who ran their departments without major slipups.

Wall said he wanted to "build capacity" in his government by adding new faces.

The cabinet remains with 18 members.

Many of the major portfolios remain unchanged.

Rod Gantefoer remains Finance minister. Ken Krawetz remains deputy premier and Saskatchewan Education minister. Bob Bjornerud still oversees the Ministry of Agriculture

Other cabinet members who stayed have received new responsibilities.

The swearing-in ceremony began 10 a.m. at Government House in Regina.