It has been several years since Moose Jaw has been represented by a full-fledged provincial cabinet minister.
Now we have one — Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan Party MLA for Moose Jaw North who took the cabinet oath of office last week and immediately got down to the business of learning the ins and outs of his many new responsibilities.
Certainly Moose Jaw’s Sask. Party MLAs have had other tasks outside the cabinet table and voters in Moose Jaw North and Moose Jaw Wakamow have appreciated the extra work associated with those tasks. But there is nothing more visible than being part of the government’s inner circle around the table, speaking not only for individual constituencies but for the needs and wants of an entire province.
McLeod’s cabinet duties include being Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health. One could be excused for being befuddled about the different aspects of his job and how all those areas fit together. And how does one minister divide his time between so many diverse offices?
Mental health and addictions, we predict, will receive the most immediate attention and McLeod, from his scholastic record has obvious qualifications. He has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and his Juris Doctor in Law. He has also practiced law since 2005 and was chairman of the Prairie South School Board, in addition to learning the duties of an MLA through being the Provincial Secretary and Legislative Secretary to the Premier. As a new minister he is being thrust to the forefront in trying to find ways to effectively deal with the rising number of cases of addictions and mental health concerns.
He, however, needs to be cognizant of the part of the job relating to seniors and the impact the seniors’ voice carries when it comes to elections and provincial policies. McLeod, no doubt, will also get an earful about the concerns of rural residents and the inconsistencies in health services between rural and urban voters.
Congratulations to Minister McLeod and be advised sir, that the eyes of Moose Jaw North voters will be watching closely. Good luck in your new duties.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
