(Facebook/Donna Harpauer, MLA, Humboldt-Watrous Constituency)

By Cam Lee

Milestone for Harpauer

Humboldt MLA becomes longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canadian history

Jan 5, 2024 | 1:00 PM

Humboldt-Watrous MLA and Saskatchewan’s Finance Minister Donna Harpauer has reached a milestone in her lengthy political career.

Premier Scott Moe mentioned on social media on Thursday that she’s now the longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canadian history.

Harpauer told northeastNOW she had no idea about the milestone and also didn’t know that Premier Moe had posted about it on social media.

“I started to get some text messages saying ‘hey, congratulations, that’s awesome’ and I’m looking at my phone thinking ‘what, what, what’, so it was a surprise,” she said. “I’m not sure if it’s an indication of competency or I’m just getting old, I’m going to kind of lean towards hopefully I’m not getting too old.”

Harpauer was first elected in 1999 and joined the provincial cabinet in 2007 as Minister of Social Services.

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Since that time, she’s been Provincial Secretary of Saskatchewan, Minister of Education, Crown Investments, Social Services (for a second time), First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs, Government Relations, and, currently, Minister of Finance.

Harpauer said each portfolio has had unique challenges and opportunities. She added it’s been important to approach each portfolio as an opportunity to learn.

“In every portfolio, I’ve met amazing people, amazing stakeholders, and the one thing that I’m always reminded of is I don’t know all that much until I talk to them,” Harpauer explained.

She also credited the ‘irreplaceable’ teams that have directly worked with her in her various offices, and the support of deputy ministers and the teams in the public service.

“Yes I’m the public front, but by no means am I doing this alone,” Harpauer added.

She hoped that her career in cabinet has served as inspiration for other girls and women, including her own three daughters.

The next provincial election is coming up in the fall and when asked about whether she will run again to lengthen her record, she was coy with her answer.

“Come the fall election it will be 25 years since I’ve been elected because I was first elected in 1999. So very soon I have to make my decision on what I’m going to do in this upcoming election,” she explained.