Lori Carr's latest ministerial role involves rural health care and more

ESTEVAN - Lori Carr's latest role in the provincial cabinet is a diverse one that will see her keep close tabs on a couple of high-profile projects in the Estevan area.

Premier Scott Moe announced Thursday the MLAs who will be in cabinet posts to start the new four-year term, and Carr, the MLA for Estevan-Big Muddy, was named the minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health.

Carr, who has been a cabinet minister since 2018, said she wasn't surprised that she was shuffled to a new cabinet post, and there were a number of different spots she thought she could have been moved to. She believes her new role is "appropriate" for the region.

"I never expect I'm going to stay there [in cabinet], because obviously other people do get the opportunity to come in, but just with the nature of seniority and all of the new members coming in, I was very hopeful that I would get the opportunity to stay," said Carr in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. "I've worked hard in the portfolios I've been in, and I think I've had success in there."

Moe didn't talk to Carr about her latest appointment before the announcement. Carr recalls that at one time, he had consulted with her to find out her cabinet interests.

Carr has some familiarity with the various components of her new role. She believes mental health and addictions likely impact every person in the province, either directly or indirectly.

"We all probably have a loved one, whether it be a family member or a friend, that is touched by mental health and/or addictions, so I think, really, no matter who you put in that portfolio, you can understand the needs that will be there," said Carr.

Estevan is already "fully immersed" with the addictions field, she said, thanks to the treatment and recovery centre that returned to St. Joseph's Hospital four years ago and has patients from across the province. She said she has had the opportunity to visit with some of the people who work there, and she expects to build on those relationships.

In terms of rural and remote health, she said it's important to build on what is already in place in rural communities and small cities. Carr cited the MRI scanner that will be coming to St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan "within the next year or two", which is expected to reduce wait times not only in the southeast but elsewhere.

"How can rural Saskatchewan help alleviate some of those pressures in the cities, and make it a better patient experience for everybody?" she asked.

The other big project happening in the area that falls within her new portfolio is the construction of a new Estevan regional nursing home. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in September, just before the provincial election was called.

Her appointment to a new cabinet post won't impact the efforts to bring the MRI scanner to St. Joseph's or to bring a new nursing home to Estevan, she said.

"Obviously with me being in this role, I'll maybe be able to keep a closer eye on it if I feel like maybe something is getting held up for whatever reason. It might come to my attention sooner than if I didn't take the portfolio," said Carr. 

Also, Carr wants to focus on ensuring everybody has a practitioner, whether that be a physician, a nurse practitioner or a care team that one has to go to.

"Does it always have to be that doctor in rural Saskatchewan?" she asked. "They're hard to come by, and we've been fighting for them to come. Slowly but surely, we'll get there. In the meantime, how can we serve the people of rural Saskatchewan so that they can get their health-care needs met?"

Carr believes there is added pressure on the ministry given the current challenges. There has been a lot of discussion about emergency room closures and service disruptions in the southeast and elsewhere.

"I know when I was door-knocking, if I would hear something at the door in a negative tone, or people wanted to see improvements, it absolutely was in the health field," said Carr.

The work that they do will have to be focused. Targets will have to be set and measured to meet the levels they want.

Carr said she has not had the chance to talk to her predecessor, Tim McLeod, about the portfolio. She predicted she would be working very closely with Jeremy Cockrill, the new minister of Health.

She was also named the deputy house leader, a role she has held previously. She temporarily moved into the house leader position late in the previous term after Jeremy Harrison was forced to resign from the position after a controversy involving his dealings with former speaker of the legislature Randy Weekes.

Carr's cabinet post before the recent election was minister of Highways and Infrastructure, her second time holding the portfolio. She has also held the posts for Government Relations, Social Services, and SaskBuilds and Procurement, among others. 

Also on Thursday, Moe revealed that Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison is the new minister of Agriculture. It's the first cabinet post for Harrison, who is entering his second term as Cannington's MLA.