[4] In these roles Norris oversaw changes to the Graduate Retention Program, implemented a new strategy for immigration, and helped to promote occupational health and safety through the launch of "Mission Zero".

[11] The cut to provincial funding led to the loss of federal grant money as well, ultimately leading to a radical restructuring in order to save the institution.

[12] In June 2010, Norris's responsibilities were reduced in a cabinet shuffle, with the Labour portfolio passing to the Minister of Justice, Don Morgan.

[13] In 2011 he oversaw the approval of $1.2 billion in funding to build a carbon capture and storage facility at SaskPower's Boundary Dam coal-fired generating station.

[15] Norris was re-elected as MLA for Saskatoon-Greystone in the 2011 provincial election, warding off a challenge from Peter Prebble, who had represented the constituency from 1999 to 2007.

[23] In 2015, Busch-Vishniac launched a lawsuit over the dismissal, in which Norris and Premier Brad Wall were named as defendants along with the university and its Board of Governors.

[29] Norris claimed that unnamed organizations were working to recruit him into the race, but he ultimately decided not to run, citing his commitments to the University of Saskatchewan.

[30] In 2019 Norris claimed again that he was being encouraged to run for mayor, and he was openly critical about the direction of the city, citing the need for what he called "a growth agenda.

"[31] After delaying a campaign announcement due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Norris officially launched a bid for the mayoralty in June 2020, challenging incumbent Charlie Clark ahead of a November election.

[32][33] Norris framed his campaign around his experience as a provincial cabinet minister and on the planks of crime, safety and economic growth.

[35][36][37] Norris took aim at a number of high-profile projects that he attributed to Clark, vowing to halt a new downtown library project—which he characterized as "gold plated"[38]—along with a rapid-transit system and a greenhouse gas emissions-reduction plan.

"[43] He further became embroiled in controversy for a Halloween social media post making unsubstantiated accusations about Clark mistreating female board members at the city's modern art gallery.

Although Norris expressed "regret" for the post, he blamed it on campaign manager Dale Richardson, who was ultimately fired over the incident.

[24][25] In 2023, Norris retweeted a transphobic post from Cary Tarasoff, that protested the City of Saskatoon policy that permitted athletic facility users to use the change room consistent with their gender identity.