Premier names career civil servant to top post
Premier Scott Moe has tapped the president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to serve as deputy minister to the premier, making him the province’s highest ranking civil servant.
Cam Swan replaces Kent Campbell, who had held the job on an interim basis since August.
Campbell took the position over from Alanna Koch, who had taken a leave of absence to run in the Saskatchewan Party leadership race. She did not return to the position after she lost the race to Moe. She received a severance package worth almost $350,000.
Moe said Swan is a “leader by example” who “builds bridges.”
“That is precisely what we need to lead the public service at this point in time,” he said.
The two worked together during Moe’s tenure as minister of the environment. During that period, Swan was his deputy minister.
Swan said figuring out the public service’s priorities and finding ways to better integrate different departments are early tasks for him to undertake.
“I hope that my background will enable me to do that because I don’t, quite frankly, view myself as an expert technically on anything, I view myself as more of a leader,” he said, noting he has more than 27 years working in the public service.
Sources who work within the public service say Swan is wellrespected and capable of putting out fires in a professional manner.
His appointment officially begins Monday.
Clare Isman, who had been working as a senior adviser to the deputy minister to the premier, is replacing Swan as the president and CEO of SLGA.
Campbell is being shifted over to a position as deputy minister of trade and export.
Moe said he considered two people for the job: Swan and Wes Jickling. Jickling was the CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, but will now serve as deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
“I wanted to bring them both into the premier’s office in some way, shape or form, because I felt they had so much to add with respect to where we are heading with our trade relations,” said Moe.