4 high-profile Saskatchewan cabinet ministers won't seek re-election: Sask. Party

Four high-profile Saskatchewan cabinet members will not seek re-election during this year's provincial election.

On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Party announced that Dustin Duncan, Don McMorris, Gordon Wyant and Donna Harpauer will not run again.

In a statement, Premier Scott Moe thanked all four of the MLAs for their dedication.

"That's over 80 years of combined political experience and service to the people of Saskatchewan, and that's not easy to replace," Moe said.

"But at the same time, every government and every party needs renewal, and I respect the decision that Donna, Don, Dustin and Gord all made."

Dustin Duncan, minister of the Crown Investments Corp., will not seek re-election. (Cory Herperger/CBC)

Duncan (Weyburn-Big Muddy) was first elected in 2006 at the age of 26, has served as the education minister and is the current minister of Crown Investments Corp., making him responsible for all major Crown corporations, including SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel, SGI and SaskWater.

Don McMorris, government relations minister, was first elected in 1999. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)

McMorris (Indian Head-Milestone) was first elected as an MLA in 1999. He currently serves as government relations minister, labour relations minister and minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and northern affairs.

Harpauer (Humboldt-Watrous) was first elected in 1999. She is the current deputy premier and minister of finance.

The announcement from Wyant (Saskatoon Northwest) appears to be a change of heart. He was first elected as an MLA in 2010 and had already been acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for the riding of Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis in the next election. He is currently the minister of advanced education.

Gord Wyant, minister of advanced education, has decided he will not run for re-election, even though he was acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis in September. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)

The other three MLAs had not confirmed their decision on a political future until Tuesday's announcement.

Number of MLAs not seeking re-election hits 10

Following the Tuesday announcements from the four cabinet ministers, a total of 10 sitting Saskatchewan Party MLAs have confirmed they're not going to seek re-election. The other six are:

• Don Morgan (Saskatoon Southeast).

• Dana Skoropad (Arm River).

• Delbert Kirsch (Batoche).

• Fred Bradshaw (Carrot River Valley).

• Greg Ottenbreit (Yorkton).

• Ken Francis (Kindersley).

Two other MLAs who were elected as Saskatchewan Party candidates but are no longer in the caucus have also announced they will not seek re-election.

Greg Lawrence (Moose Jaw Wakamow) announced last month that he would not run in the next election. He resigned as a member of the Saskatchewan Party shortly before he was charged with assault and assault by choking.

Ryan Domotor (Cut Knife-Turtleford) was removed from the Saskatchewan Party 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.

Domotor had been acclaimed as a candidate for the Saskatchewan Party in July 2023, but that appears to no longer be the case.

Lawrence and Domotor will sit as Independents when the legislature returns next month.

The Saskatchewan Party says it has nominated 37 candidates for the 2024 election. Thirty are incumbents and seven are new candidates.

There are seven more nomination dates scheduled, the party said.

Elsewhere, NDP MLAs Doyle Vermette (Cumberland) and Jennifer Bowes (Saskatoon University) have confirmed they will not seek re-election.