He worked for SaskEnergy for nearly a decade, and before entering politics was the executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, where he prioritized cutting costs.
Merriman was acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for Saskatoon Sutherland ahead of the 2011 election after incumbent Joceline Schriemer announced that she would not be running again.
[4] In response, Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde wrote Merriman a letter, explaining that he was also an elected representative.
[6] Merriman stated that the reform was meant to reduce bureaucracy, increase independence, and prioritize "motivational interviewing" on the part of social workers.
Although the province's case numbers were rising, Merriman called them "manageable" and downplayed the need for further public health measures, signalling a prioritization of access to vaccines.
[11] In the summer and fall of 2021, Merriman stopped attending press conferences for more than a month, leading to calls for his resignation, although he claimed to have been working with his staff during this absence.