Saskatchewan.

• Author: Park, Robert
• Position: Legislative Reports

Resignation of Speaker

On January 5, 2018, Corey Tochor resigned as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. In the absence of a Speaker, The Legislative Assembly Act, 2007 assigns the duties of the Speaker to the Deputy Speaker. Consequently, the Deputy Speaker, Glen Hart, assumed interim responsibility for the duties of Speaker including the role of Chair of the Board of Internal Economy until the Assembly elected a new Speaker.

Election of Speaker

The first item of business on the resumption of the second session of the twenty-eighth legislature was the election of Speaker. The election took place on March 12, 2018. The election set a record for the number of candidates and for the first time a Member of the Opposition was a candidate. There were seven candidates:

* Danielle Chartier, MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale

* Mark Docherty, MLA for Regina Coronation Park

* Glen Hart, MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood

* Delbert Kirsch, MLA for Batoche

* Warren Michelson, MLA for Moose Jaw North

* Eric Olauson, MLA for Saskatoon University

* Colleen Young, MLA for Lloydminster.

On the fifth ballot, the members elected Mr. Docherty to serve as Speaker. Mr. Hart will remain in the Deputy Speaker role.

New Leaders of Political Parties

The Saskatchewan Party held their leadership convention on January 27, 2018. Party members chose Scott Moe as the leader of the Saskatchewan Party over five other candidates, on the fifth and final ballot. Mr. Moe was sworn into office as Premier of Saskatchewan on February 2, 2018 at a ceremony at Government House by outgoing Lieutenant Governor, Vaughn Solomon Schofield.

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party held their leadership convention on March 3, 2018 and selected a new Leader of the Opposition. Ryan Meili was selected to lead the party with a victory over Trent Wotherspoon.

New Cabinet

On February 2, 2018, Premier Moe announced the appointment of his first Cabinet. The new cabinet included 17 cabinet posts. Gordon Wyant was appointed as Deputy Premier.

One MLA is entered cabinet for the first time:

* Warren Kaeding, Minister of Government Relations, and Minister of First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs.

Four MLAs are re-entering cabinet:

* Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Minister of Advanced Education, Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan, and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women;

* Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Central Services, Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission, and...