A rancher from the southeastern corner of Saskatchewan is the province’s new minister of agriculture, as part of a complete cabinet shuffle following last month’s election.
Premier Scott Moe on Thursday named Daryl Harrison, MLA for the riding of Cannington since 2020, as minister of agriculture, replacing David Marit. The shuffle cuts Moe’s cabinet to 16 members, down two from before the election.
The appointment to the cabinet table is a first for Harrison, who previously served in junior roles as legislative secretary for value-added agriculture and livestock engagement and later for energy and resources.
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Marit, the MLA for Wood River since 2016 and ag minister since 2018, was shuffled Thursday back to his previous post as minister of highways and the minister for SaskBuilds and procurement. (SaskBuilds is a provincial Crown corporation overseeing major public infrastructure projects and long-term capital planning.)
Harrison, who farms at Alida, about 100 km northeast of Estevan, worked as an account manager for energy tech firm Baker Hughes before entering provincial politics in the 2020 election.
He also served as a councillor and volunteer firefighter in the RM of Reciprocity, and as a member of the board of directors for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) said in a Facebook post Thursday it “looks forward to working in partnership with Minister Harrison to continue building farm and ranch family success.”
Among other appointments of interest to farmers, Travis Keisig, MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood, enters cabinet as environment minister, replacing Melville-Saltcoats MLA Warren Kaeding, who becomes minister for trade and export development.
Moe’s Saskatchewan Party was re-elected to government on Oct. 28, with preliminary results showing the party elected in 34 ridings, ahead of Carla Beck’s New Democrats in 27. A final vote count is scheduled to begin Saturday (Nov. 9).
The province said Thursday a throne speech is expected to be scheduled “soon” for a fall sitting of the legislature.
