REGINA – Opposition Leader Carla Beck has announced the NDP shadow cabinet and all their MLAs will have a critic role.

The entire expanded caucus of 27 NDP MLAs will be in the shadow cabinet, facing the 16 Sask Party cabinet ministers. In addition to being the Opposition Leader, Beck will take on Agriculture and the Rural Affairs critics roles.

In speaking to reporters Beck explained why she was taking on that role, noting the main reason was to ensure rural Saskatchewan had a voice in the shadow cabinet. She pointed to her background growing up in Lang, Saskatchewan.

“Regardless of whether or not, you voted for us in the last election, let me assure all of those who live in rural Saskatchewan, your voice will be heard and that it will be brought here to the legislature, and that’s a promise I’m making to all people in this province,” said Beck.

“As many of you know, I grew up in rural Saskatchewan. My family still live in rural Saskatchewan.”

Beck said the ag critic role was one she had before and had “enjoyed very much”, and said it was “an important signal” about the priority the NDP team were placing in representing everyone in the province.

The provincial election result had produced a major urban rural split, with the NDP confined to representation from Saskatoon and Regina and from the two northern ridings of Athabasca and Cumberland. On the other hand the Sask Party won only one seat in Saskatoon and were shut out in Regina, while sweeping all ridings outside those cities apart from the two northern ones.

Despite the obvious urban-rural divide in the results, Beck said her party would work to find common ground. She said they heard on the doorsteps that people were tired of pitting one part of the province against the other.

“Much has been made over the last couple of weeks about division, but I know this. If you look for common ground, look for what unites us, you’re going to find it, and you’re going to find that we have a lot more in common than people would think— that there are many are the same priorities, regardless of where you live in this province.”

While many existing Opposition critics from the last Legislature retained their roles including Trent Wotherspoon in Finance, Vicki Mowat in Health, Nicole Sarauer in Justice and Attorney General, and Matt Love in Education, the workload is being spread around to new MLAs. Among those taking on new roles are Brent Blakley as Social Services critic, Darcy Warrington as Parks, Culture and Sport critic, April ChiefCalf as Housing critic, and Sally Housser as Energy and Resources critic.

As for why Beck gave a shadow cabinet role to every member of caucus, she explained there was a lot of work to do.

“This is a team that’s new when it comes to MLAs, but this is a team with a lot of experience, a lot of experience in their communities and a team that’s really eager and to hit the ground running.”

Beck also indicated the NDP intend to show the province they are a government in waiting.

“This is a team that’s ready to dig in and do the work to earn your trust and to bring positive change to the people of Saskatchewan,” Beck said. “That’s what you’ll see this team demonstrate in the coming session and in the coming years. This is indeed a team that is a government in waiting that is focused on the priorities of Saskatchewan people.”

A date has not been set yet for the new session of Legislature and the Speech from the Throne, but the indication from Premier Scott Moe is that a fall sitting will happen. Last Thursday, Moe named his new Cabinet, with every member of Executive Council taking on a new ministry.

Here is the list of Beck’s full Shadow Cabinet:

Carla Beck as Official Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs and Executive Council.

Brent Blakley as Shadow Minister of Social Services.

Bhajan Brar as Shadow Minister of Innovation Saskatchewan, the Provincial Capital Commission.

Kim Breckner as Shadow Minister of Trade and Export Development, Saskatchewan Research Council.

Noor Burki as Shadow Minister of Immigration and Career Training

April ChiefCalf as Shadow Minister of Housing.

Jared Clarke as Shadow Minister of Municipal Affairs, Environment.

Meara Conway as Shadow Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Ethics and Democracy.

Hugh Gordon as Shadow Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, SGI.

Tajinder Grewal as Shadow Minister of Advanced Education.

Sally Housser as Shadow Minister of Energy and Resources, SaskEnergy

Keith Jorgenson as Shadow Minister of Seniors.

Leroy Laliberte as Shadow Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations

Matt Love as Shadow Minister of Education.

Don McBean as Shadow Minister of Tourism, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, SaskGaming.

Jordan McPhail as Shadow Minister of Northern Affairs, Forestry, SaskTel

Vicki Mowat as Shadow Minister of Health.

Betty Nippi-Albright as Shadow Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Joan Pratchler as Shadow Minister of Childcare and Early Learning.

Erika Ritchie as Shadow Minister of Crown Investments Corporation, SaskWater, the Water Security Agency, SaskBuilds and Procurement.

Jacqueline Roy as Shadow Minister of Human Rights, Francophone Affairs.

Nicole Sarauer as Shadow Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety.

Brittney Senger as Shadow Minister of Status of Women, Disabilities and Community-Based Organizations.

Nathaniel Teed as Shadow Minister of Labour.

Darcy Warrington as Shadow Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport.

Trent Wotherspoon as Shadow Minister of Finance, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, Deputy Shadow Minister of Agriculture.

Aleana Young as Shadow Minister of Jobs and Economy, SaskPower.