The Leader of the provincial NDP believes the cabinet shuffle indicates a status quo approach to addressing the very challenging issues of affordability and the cost-of-living crisis, health care capacity, cuts to education, and investments in mental health. Ryan Meili says in a statement the Sask Party had the opportunity to show they have been listening to the concerns raised across the province and put in place ministers ready to do the work, but, “instead they’ve maintained the very ministers who take their marching orders and continue to sit on their hands.”

He suggests the most striking example is keeping Paul Merriman on as Minister of Health. Meili says under Merriman’s leadership, Saskatchewan had the worst response to the fourth wave of the pandemic, the highest COVID death rate, and senior health leaders continue to leave the province. The NDP Leader says keeping him as Health Minister sends a clear signal to frontline workers, which will create challenges when it comes to the retention and recruitment of health care workers in this province.