Premier appoints new agriculture, highways ministers in small cabinet shuffle

Premier Scott Moe has appointed David Marit the new agriculture minister, after former minister Lyle Stewart stepped down. 

Moe said the change came with mixed emotions, as Stewart left his position to focus on fighting cancer. 

• Lyle Stewart resigns as agriculture minister to wage 2nd battle against cancer

Marit called the move humbling and said he was honoured to take on the agriculture ministry. 

"I am a farmer. Farmed all my life. Agriculture has been my life," he said. 

Marit was formerly highways and infrastructure minister.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions that any premier has: The opportunity — and I say that it is an opportunity — to make on who do you invite to serve in executive council," Moe said.

The premier chose Estevan MLA Lori Carr to move into the highways position. She was elected in the 2016 provincial ballot. 

Carr is new to cabinet. She previously served as legislative secretary to the minister of finance and government deputy whip. 

Moe said she's "very, very competent and deserving of this honour," and said the decision speaks to the "depth" of caucus. 

Carr said at the moment she's focused on "nothing specifically as a priority other than safety. [It] is so important so you know, everything starts there and just go out from there."

"There's a lot of information I'm going to have to find out, be briefed by my new staff and go from there," she said. 

The small cabinet shuffle was announced Wednesday at Government House. Moe said there isn't a larger one in the works, at the moment. 

• Why prime ministers and premiers shuffle their cabinet

"We made a minor move here today. There's no moves in the immediate future." 

Deputy Premier Gord Wyant has taken on SaskBuilds, in addition to his role as the education minister.