Premier Scott Moe stands by house leader, denies allegations amid cabinet shuffle

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is standing by Government House leader Jeremy Harrison amid a storm of allegations made by the Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Speaker Randy Weekes told the chamber on Thursday that Jeremy Harrison (Meadow Lake) had yelled, texted and made threatening gestures toward him.

Weekes also alleged that Harrison had brought a rifle into the legislative building and attempted to get permission to carry a handgun in the legislature.

On Friday, Moe confirmed that Harrison maintains his confidence, and confirmed that Harrison has denied all of the allegations.

"I have been informed that [the allegations] are all unequivocally false," said Moe.

Harrison was not in attendance for the cabinet shuffle. He was set to attend a separate event this morning but was replaced by Environment Minister Christine Tell (Regina-Wascana Plains).

Moe made the comments as he unveiled a minor cabinet shuffle ahead of a provincial election that will likely come this fall.

Moe announced that Colleen Young (Lloydminster) will now serve as the minister of advanced education after Gord Wyant (Saskatoon-Northwest) stepped down from the role.

"I'm honoured to serve the people of Saskatchewan," Young said on Friday. "I think there's a lot that's been already put in place and ongoing. I'm eager to to dive in and learn about where those priorities are at but at this time I haven't had a chance to look at the file."

Young said she attended the University of Saskatchewan and all eight of her children are graduates of the same university.

Colleen Young, Saskatchewan's Minister of Advanced Education, stands beside Premier Scott Moe after Young was sworn in to the new role on May 17, 2024. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)

She has also spent 20 years with the Lloydminister Public School Board, with 16 of those years spent serving as board chair.

Moe thanked Wyant for his service in the role of advanced education minister as well as the other cabinet roles he's held during his time as an MLA.

Wyant has previously confirmed that he would not be running in the upcoming provincial election.

The appointment of new ministers to replace outgoing members of cabinet is a regular practice ahead of a provincial election.

There are now three ministers who have announced they will not seek re-election and whose replacements in cabinet have not been announced: Minister of Crown Investments Corp. Dustin Duncan (Weyburn-Big Muddy), Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris (Indian Head-Milestone), and deputy premier and Minister of Finance Donna Harpauer (Humboldt-Watrous).

On Friday, Moe said he's "very comfortable" with the current cabinet and said he is not planning for any additional changes.

As of Friday, 13 sitting Saskatchewan Party MLAs are not running for re-election. They include:

• Dustin Duncan (Weyburn-Big Muddy).

• Don McMorris (Indian Head-Milestone).

• Gordon Wyant (Saskatoon Northwest).

• Donna Harpauer (Humboldt-Watrous).

• Don Morgan (Saskatoon Southeast).

• Dana Skoropad (Arm River).

• Delbert Kirsch (Batoche).

• Fred Bradshaw (Carrot River Valley).

• Greg Ottenbreit (Yorkton).

• Ken Francis (Kindersley).

• Gary Grewal (Regina Northeast).

• Marv Friesen (Saskatoon Riversdale).

• Hugh Nerlien (Kelvington-Wadena).

Two former Saskatchewan Party MLAs have been sitting as independents.

Greg Lawrence (Moose Jaw-Wakamow) resigned from the party after being charged with assault and assault by choking.

Ryan Domotor (Cut Knife-Turtleford) was removed from the caucus after being charged with communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services in November 2023.

That charge was stayed after Domotor completed a prostitution offender intervention program.

Nadine Wilson (Saskatchewan Rivers) was ousted from the Saskatchewan Party and served as the leader of the Saskatchewan United Party until Thursday.

In total, at least 21 of the Saskatchewan Party MLAs elected in 2020 — 44 per cent of the 48 seat caucus — will not be back on the ballot.