Next week’s upcoming Speech from the Throne on Oct. 23 will be the last for several MLAs in the legislature, including Cut Knife-Turtleford’s Larry Doke.
Doke announced on Sept. 17 at his constituency association’s Annual General Meeting in Meota that he will not be seeking re-election in 2020.
He joins another local area MLA, Herb Cox of the Battlefords, in opting to leave office after two terms in the legislature. During his time in the legislature Doke served in cabinet as Minister of Government Relations and First Nations, Metis, and Northern Affairs, and also served on the Treasury and Investment Board, on the Standing Committee on the Economy, on the caucus Economy Policy Committee of which he was Vice-Chair, and legislative secretary to the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, among other roles. Most recently he was president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region.
In a statement, Doke said it was the right time to depart.
“After much consideration, I feel like the time is right for me to move on,” Doke said. “The last number of years since being elected have been a grat honour for me, and I have greatly enjoyed representing the constituents of Cut Knife-Turtleford. I look forward to passing the torch to the next great representative for this part of Saskatchewan.”
Premier Scott Moe also wished Doke well in a statement. “Larry and I were both elected for the first time in 2011, and I have gotten to know him well over our time together as Saskatchewan Party MLAs,” the premier said. “I want to thank Larry and his family for his service, and for the work that he has done on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan.”
The next step for the constituency association will be finding a candidate to replace Doke in the 2020 election. No nomination meeting has been announced as of yet. The next provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2020.
