CONTENTS

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

CONDOLENCE MOTIONS

TRANSMITTAL MOTION

APPENDIX

Questions Ordered For Return

SECOND SESSION — THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE

of the

Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

No. 64

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

Presenting Petitions

Petitions of citizens of the province of Saskatchewan were presented and laid upon the Table by the following members: Noor Burki, Matt Love, Don McBean, and Brent Blakley.

Reading and Receiving Petitions

According to order and pursuant to rule 16(7), petitions from residents of the province of Saskatchewan, requesting the following action, were read and received:

To immediately renovate all SHC units that require renovation, make units available and affordable, and ensure that all currently vacant SHC units are made occupied.

(Addendum to sessional paper no. 14)

To immediately provide the support needed to complete and open new joint-use elementary and high schools in east Regina as soon as possible.

(Addendum to sessional paper no. 102)

To immediately make public the full list and map of existing service disruptions.

(Addendum to sessional paper no. 165)

To proclaim October of each year as Islamic Heritage Month.

(Addendum to sessional paper no. 218)

Introduction of Bills

The following bills were introduced, read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time at the next sitting:

Bill No. 625 —	The Members' Conflict of Interest Amendment Act
	(Meara Conway)
Bill No. 626 —	The Lobbyists Transparency Amendment Act
	(Meara Conway)
Bill No. 628 —	The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act
	(Meara Conway)
Bill No. 629 —	The Child and Family Services (Betty's Law) Amendment Act
	(Meara Conway)
Bill No. 630 —	The Public Health Care Transparency and Accountability Act
	(Meara Conway)

Written Questions

The order of the day being called for question nos. 32 to 62, pursuant to rule 21(6), the questions were converted and orders for return were issued. (see appendix)

Condolence Motions

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

That this Assembly records with sorrow and regret the passing of a former member of this Assembly and expresses its grateful appreciation of the contribution he made to his community, his constituency, and to the province.

William (Bill) Allen passed away on January 25, 2026 at the age of 79. He served as a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1975 until 1982, representing the constituency of Regina Rosemont for the New Democratic Party.

Born on August 12, 1946, Bill Allen grew up in Regina, attending school there before transferring to St. Peter’s College in Muenster. After his two terms as an elected member, Bill Allen returned to school and obtained an education degree and a Master of Theology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He taught in several Regina schools and then later in Prince Albert and continued to serve as a substitute teacher for many years after retiring from full-time work.

Outside of politics and the classroom, Bill Allen was active in his community. He coached high school basketball, was a member of numerous unions and co-ops, and served on the boards of St. Peter’s College and the Special Olympics. During retirement, he travelled extensively with his wife.

Bill Allen is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Teresa; children, Mike and Kelsey; step-children, Danica, John, Carla, Joey, and Erica; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

John Comer, who passed away on November 6, 2025 at the age of 80, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1971 until 1975, representing the constituency of Nipawin for the New Democratic Party.

John Comer was born in Pine Falls, Manitoba on November 30, 1944. He attended school in Pointe du Bois, Manitoba and Saskatoon, before pursuing higher education at the University of Saskatchewan. After completing his education, John Comer moved to Carrot River, where he began teaching at Carrot River High School. He worked at the school for many years, first as a teacher and later as principal until his retirement in 1998.

John Comer was deeply dedicated to his community of Carrot River and served as a member of the board of directors of the Carrot River and District Credit Union. He spent many years on the Carrot River Town Council and served as the town’s mayor from 1986 until 1992 and from 1995 until 1998. He was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023 in recognition of his dedication to public service.

John Comer is survived and sadly missed by his loved ones.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Elwood Cowley, who passed away on June 21, 2024 at the age of 79, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1971 until 1982, representing the constituency of Biggar for the New Democratic Party.

During his time in the legislature, Elwood Cowley served on Executive Council as Minister of Finance, Minister of Mineral Resources, and Provincial Secretary.

Born in Saskatoon on August 2, 1944, Elwood Cowley grew up in Kinley, Saskatchewan. He began attending the University of Saskatchewan at 16, and during his time there he served as a member of the Education Student Society Executive, president of the University of Saskatchewan Campus New Democrats, and president of the Saskatchewan Young New Democrats. He earned a Bachelor of Education in 1965 and a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1967.

Outside of politics, Elwood Cowley was a teacher in Assiniboia and Regina and was active in the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. Following his time in politics, he moved to Saskatoon to work as an investment broker, and in 1991 he opened a consulting firm, which he operated until retirement. In 1988, he was appointed to the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform.

Elwood Cowley was active in his community, serving on the board of Great Western Brewery and taking part in the care of Wheatfield Cemetery. He was awarded with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his contributions to society.

Elwood Cowley is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Delores; children, Sherry, Carla, and Scott; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Herb Cox, who passed away on November 16, 2025 at the age of 75, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 2011 until 2020. He represented the constituency of The Battlefords for the Saskatchewan Party. During that time, Herb Cox served on Executive Council as Minister of Environment, Minister of Advanced Education, Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Water Corporation, and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.

Born in Brandon, Manitoba on August 21, 1950, Herb Cox grew up in the village of Justice. After completing high school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Brandon University, then began working with a finance company and moved to North Battleford. Shortly thereafter, Herb Cox began a career in real estate. After more than 35 years in the real estate business, he chose to enter politics.

In his personal life, Herb Cox played and coached hockey. He also rode and trained horses, organizing Terry Fox trail rides. He served on various boards and associations in his community, including the Battlefords Real Estate Board, Saskatchewan Team Penning Association, Canadian Team Penning Association, and Town of Battlefords Industrial Planning Committee. In 2012, Herb Cox was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to his community.

Herb Cox is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Linda; children, Dallin, Carla, and Calvin; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Allan Guy, who passed away on July 12, 2025 at the age of 99, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1960 until 1975. He represented the constituency of Athabasca for the Liberal Party. During his time in office, Allan Guy served on Executive Council as Minister of Public Works, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Minister of Saskatchewan Indian and Métis Department.

Born in the farming community of Senlac, Saskatchewan on May 18, 1926, Allan Guy worked on the family farm prior to attending Saskatoon Teachers’ College at the University of Saskatchewan. After graduation, he taught in Radisson before moving to La Ronge in 1954 and becoming a school principal. Throughout his career, he was active in the La Ronge Chamber of Commerce, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, and the Remote Northern Teachers Association.

Following his time in the legislature, Allan Guy returned to teaching in 1975 and became principal of Prud’Homme Central School. He later worked as a property manager for the Remai family in Saskatoon. In retirement, he travelled extensively with his wife, Marjorie.

He is survived and sadly missed by his children, Marcy, Murray, and Maureen, and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Ralph Katzman, who passed away on June 13, 2025 at the age of 85, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1975 until 1986. He represented the constituency of Rosthern for the Progressive Conservative Party.

Ralph Katzman was born in Prince Albert on May 13, 1940 and moved to Saskatoon in 1946. After attending public school in Saskatoon, he studied at the University of Saskatchewan School of Agriculture. Ralph Katzman eventually moved to an acreage near Dalmeny, where he and his wife Lucille raised their daughters and operated a family farm. Outside of his political career, he worked for the Parks and Recreation department of the City of Saskatoon and after his retirement, he served as the caretaker of the Agudas Israel Cemetery.

A long-time hockey fan, Ralph Katzman played the sport for many years, winning the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association title and the northern Saskatchewan championship in 1957. In addition to his time as a player, he spent many seasons coaching and volunteering, most notably with the Dalmeny Diggers, the Fort Carlton Hockey League, and the Saskatoon Blades Booster Club. He was also a dedicated volunteer, involved with the Saskatchewan Quarter Horse Association, the Saskatoon Exhibition 4-H, and the Saskatoon Optimist Club. In 2002 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

Ralph Katzman is survived and sadly missed by his daughters, Sharon and Gwen, and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Eldon Lautermilch, who passed away on February 9, 2026 at the age of 76, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1986 until 2007. He represented the constituencies of Prince Albert-Duck Lake and Prince Albert Northcote for the New Democratic Party. Eldon Lautermilch served on Executive Council as Minister of the following portfolios: Natural Resources, Rural Development, Energy and Mines, Economic and Co-operative Development, Industry and Resources, Intergovernmental Affairs, Aboriginal Affairs, Highways and Transportation, Property Management, and Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Eldon Lautermilch was born on September 9, 1949 in Lafleche, Saskatchewan. He trained in electronics at Saskatchewan Technical Institute, then moved to Prince Albert in 1970. He worked in radio and television repair before taking over the family business, Old Fashion Foods. After his time in politics, he worked as a realtor in Regina before retiring in 2020.

In 2002, Eldon Lautermilch was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2023, the city of Prince Albert unveiled Eldon Lautermilch Park named in recognition of his community leadership.

Eldon Lautermilch is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Loretta; children, Rae, Stacey, and JoAnne; and his extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Edward (Ted) Malone, who passed away on July 31, 2025 at the age of 88, was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1973 until 1978. He represented the constituency of Regina Lakeview for the Liberal Party and served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1976 to 1978.

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan on July 17, 1937, Ted Malone attended Campion High School before studying law at the University of Saskatchewan. Following his graduation from the College of Law in 1962, he began practising law in Regina, appearing in all Courts of Saskatchewan as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.

After his time in office, Ted Malone resumed his career in law and was appointed a judge of the District Court of Saskatchewan in 1980. In 1981, he was appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench, where he served until his retirement. He also served as a judge of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada.

Ted Malone is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Penny; children, Paul, Sean, Peter, and Nancy; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Anthony (Tony) Merchant, who passed away on October 13, 2025 at the age of 80, served as a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1975 to 1978, representing the constituency of Regina Wascana for the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan.

Born in Yorkton in 1944, Tony Merchant was raised in Saskatoon. In his youth he joined the Naval Cadets and was later commissioned as an officer, serving as a reservist for two decades. He attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he studied arts and law, and later the University of Regina. He was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1968, the Alberta bar in 1976, and the British Columbia bar in 1977.

Tony Merchant practised law for many years and founded Merchant Law Group in Regina. In addition to his legal work, he was active in public affairs and political life, contributing to campaigns at the provincial and federal levels. He also hosted Talk Back, an open-line public affairs radio program on CJME and was a freelance radio commentator for CBC in Regina and Saskatoon.

In 1995, Tony Merchant was appointed Queen’s Counsel. In recognition of his work on behalf of First Nations, he was twice awarded Eagle Feathers and, in 2008, was made an honorary chief by the Blackfoot Confederacy. Over the course of his career, he received several honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilee Medals, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, and the Decoration of Honour in Silver from the Republic of Austria. He was also involved in various community organizations, including the YMCA, the Queen City Track Club, Midwest Karate, the Saskatchewan Civil Liberties Association, and the Austrian Edelweiss Club.

Tony Merchant is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Pana; children, Evatt, Joshua, and Matthew; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

William (Bill) Stodalka passed away on March 6, 2025 at the age of 93. He served as a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1975 until 1978, representing the constituency of Maple Creek for the Liberal Party.

Bill Stodalka was born on November 9, 1931 in the village of Richmound. He spent his early career teaching in Regina and Webb, later returning to Richmound as principal. In the 1960s, Bill Stodalka obtained a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts in educational administration. In 1972, he moved with his wife, Jo, and their children to Maple Creek to become the director of the school division.

In addition to his work as an administrator, Bill Stodalka served as the first president of Saskatchewan’s League of Educational Administrators, Directors, and Superintendents. He worked with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education to improve school division administration across the province, and in 1985 he received a service award from the Canadian Association of School Administrators. In his personal life, Bill Stodalka was a renowned baseball player in the SaskAlta league and was eventually inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bill Stodalka is survived and sadly missed by his children, Tim, John, Murray, and Kathy, and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

William (Bill) Sveinson passed away on December 17, 2020 at the age of 74. He served as a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1982 until 1986, representing the constituency of Regina North West for the Progressive Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Western Canada Concept Party, and as an independent.

Bill Sveinson was born on July 7, 1946 in Wadena. He accepted a hockey scholarship at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario before attending the University of Saskatchewan where he played on the hockey team and obtained a Bachelor of Science in pharmacology.

An entrepreneur, Bill Sveinson owned several businesses throughout his life, including a real estate company in Regina. He was a member of the Downtowners Optimist Club of Regina and Ducks Unlimited. In his personal life, he was an avid golfer and poker player.

Bill Sveinson is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Marilyn; children, Daryl and Sherrie; and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Kim Thorson passed away on January 7, 2026 at the age of 93. He was a member of this Legislative Assembly from 1956 until 1960 and from 1971 until 1975, representing the constituency of Souris-Estevan, first for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and then the New Democratic Party. In his second term, he served as Minister of Mineral Resources and Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Kim Thorson was born in Macoun, Saskatchewan on March 2, 1932. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture economics, he was awarded a World University Service scholarship and travelled to England and Africa. On his return, he undertook post-graduate studies in economics, then was hired as a research economist for the provincial government.

At the time of his election in 1956, Kim Thorson was the youngest legislator in Canada. Following his first term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Kim Thorson returned to university and earned a law degree. He practised law for many years in Estevan, Regina, and Weyburn, including as a partner at Griffin, Beke and Thorson. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1974.

Kim Thorson was an active community member. He served on a number of corporate boards and community organizations, including IPSCO, Cameco, Estevan School Board, Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts, and Weyburn’s Chamber of Commerce, Co-op, Humane Society, United Way, and Hospital Foundation. He was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge and the Rotary Club, and a founding member of the Regina Scandinavian Club. In 2014, he received the Golden Spike Award for his contributions to the community in Weyburn.

Kim Thorson is survived and sadly missed by his children, Eric, Janet, and Vanessa, and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Moved by the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

That this Assembly unite in paying tribute to the memory of the Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield, 21st Lieutenant Governor of the province of Saskatchewan, who died on April 8, 2026.

Born in Regina in 1943, she pursued education at the University of Saskatchewan’s Regina campus before studying fashion merchandising at the Ray-Vogue School in Chicago.

Her Honour dedicated her career to business administration, corporate governance, education, crime prevention, and support for the Canadian Armed Forces. She chaired the Board of Crime Watch throughout the 1980s, helping to establish Crime Watch groups throughout North and South America. She was appointed the Saskatchewan Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council in 2006. She also served as president and CEO of Western Group of Companies, a business real estate organization.

A dedicated volunteer and advocate for civic engagement, Her Honour was involved with many organizations in Regina, holding roles within the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, St. John Ambulance, the Assiniboia Club, and the Royal United Services Institute of Regina. She was also involved with the boards of the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Opera Saskatchewan, Salvation Army, RCMP Heritage Centre, and Regina Airport Authority, among others.

The Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield received numerous honours for her many accomplishments, including the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

On March 22, 2012, Her Honour was sworn in as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. During her tenure, she focused on Canada’s military, creating the Lieutenant Governor’s Military Service Pin, which has been presented to over 8,000 Saskatchewan military members. In 2025 she became the Honorary Colonel of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, a role she previously held for the 10th Field Artillery Regiment and both the 16th and 38th Service Battalions. That same year, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Regina.

The Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield is survived and sadly missed by her children, Whitney and George, and extended family.

In recording its own deep sense of loss and bereavement, this Assembly expresses its most sincere sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

A debate arising and the question being put, it was agreed to.

Transmittal Motion

On motion of the Hon. Scott Moe, by leave of the Assembly:

Ordered, That notwithstanding rule 8(2) of the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, the Speaker on behalf of the Legislative Assembly transmit copies of the official records of the tributes to the bereaved families in memory of the deceased members.

Pursuant to rule 6(7), the Speaker adjourned the Assembly.

The Assembly adjourned at 5:17 p.m. until Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Hon. Todd Goudy

Speaker

APPENDIX

QUESTIONS ORDERED FOR RETURN

The following written questions were converted and orders for return were issued:

Return no. 31 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the total number of income assistance workers per region, (b) the total number of active income assistance cases per region, and (c) the number of income assistance worker vacancies per region, for each of the past four fiscal years.

Return no. 32 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the total number of vacancies currently in the Ministry of Social Services, broken down by department.

Return no. 33 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the data, if any, that was collected from Food Banks of Saskatchewan in exchange for the two-year, $2 million grant; and (b) the funding that will replace the food bank grant, given continued increases in usage province-wide and the absence of any new allocation in the 2026–27 budget.

Return no. 34 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the data the ministry uses to support its claim that Saskatchewan’s income assistance benefits are among the strongest in the country.

Return no. 35 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the evidence the ministry relies on when calculating the rates for benefits for clients to ensure they are sufficient for current food costs.

Return no. 36 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the average length of time a recipient remains on SIS, broken down by service level screening category (SLS 1–4).

Return no. 37 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the specific performance targets and response-time standards for the mobile income assistance outreach team, and (b) the measures being used to measure success.

Return no. 38 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the methods the ministry employs to systematically track housing stability for social assistance clients; (b) the number of social assistance clients who are experiencing housing stability, and (i) the number of SIS clients, (ii) the number of SAID clients, (iii) the number of TEA clients, and (iv) the number of Child and Family Services clients; and (c) the correlation that has been observed between benefit levels and clients’ ability to afford and maintain housing.

Return no. 39 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) who conducted the recent audit of Social Services clients and (i) the scope; (b) the specific policy grounds under which the wide-scale file review/audit was initiated; (c) the criteria used to identify files for review; (d) who was responsible for conducting the province-wide SIS and SAID file review; (e) whether the eligibility review unit was responsible for conducting the province-wide SIS and SAID file review and (i) if so, whether that unit had sufficient capacity to conduct a review of this scale and the timeline over which it was carried out; (f) the justification offered for prioritizing a province-wide audit focused on clawing back benefits from this population; (g) the number of clients who had benefits reduced or discontinued as a result of that audit and (i) the number who lost travel benefits specifically; (h) the number of clients now required to repay overpayments as a result of the audit and (i) the total dollar amount of those overpayments; and (i) the total amount saved by the ministry as a result of the audit.

Return no. 40 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the approval rate for SIS applications; (b) the number of SIS applications that were approved and denied for each month of the past four fiscal years; (c) the process for developing the Order in Council changes to the SIS program manual that took effect April 1st, 2026, and (i) whether there is any written record of the policy development process, including any internal analysis or stakeholder input; and (d) the specific inflation rate or index figure that was used to determine the two per cent benefit rate increase for 2026–27.

Return no. 41 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) for SAID clients living in cities, whether medical travel is now expected to be covered entirely through the general living allowance; (b) the formula that was used to calculate a $70 disability mobility allowance to adequately cover the cost of medical transportation; and (c) the criteria that must now be met to access medical travel benefits.

Return no. 42 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the rationale offered for the ministry changing its approach to supplemental diet benefits so that clients must now either pay upfront and seek reimbursement or arrange direct billing through a pharmacy, and (b) the number of clients who have been affected by this change.

Return no. 43 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the number of clients residing in private care homes who have been assessed overpayments related to the phone benefit and the total dollar value of those overpayments, and (b) the basis on which the ministry has determined that residents of private care homes with a public phone are ineligible for the $30 basic phone benefit.

Return no. 44 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the number of SAID clients the ministry is currently requiring to draw down locked-in retirement accounts (LIRAs) as a condition of eligibility, using the federal post-COVID hardship clause as the basis for doing so; and (b) the number of clients required to draw down a LIRA who have subsequently had the remaining balance as an asset in future eligibility reviews.

Return no. 45 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the confirmed end date for the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement; (b) the alternate programs that existing SRHS clients will be redirected to when the program ends, broken down by number redirected to each program; and (c) the programs to which the funding allocated to the SRHS in the budget will be redirected.

Return no. 46 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the number of trusteeships that are currently active province-wide and (i) the number of those that are involuntary; (b) the total funding flowing to CBO trustees in 2026–27 compared to 2025–26; and (c) the number of trustee spaces that were added in each of the last five years.

Return no. 47 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the breakdown of child deaths in ministry care in 2023–24, by (i) legal status, (ii) placement type, and (iii) location of death; and (b) the scope and timeline of the planned review of the Person of Significant Interest program based on the recommendations of the Child and Youth Advocate.

Return no. 48 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the hotel expenditures in (i) 2024–25 and (ii) 2025–26; and (b) the written hotel use policy in the policy use manual, and (i) when this policy was updated.

Return no. 49 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, (a) the number of SIS and SAID recipients who were previously receiving travel benefits who are now expected to use Access Transit or similar services for medical appointments, and (b) the assessments carried out to assess the capacity of these transit services to absorb these new clients.

Return no. 50 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the metrics that were used to track the improvement in consistently recording and recovering SIS overpayments since the targeted case review and staff training referenced in the 2025–26 estimates, and (a) the amount by which recording and recovery improved.

Return no. 51 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, for each of the last four fiscal years, the total number of income assistance workers, broken down by (a) region, (b) total number of active cases per region, and (c) number of vacancies per region.

Return no. 52 (Erika Ritchie):

To the Minister of Social Services, the number of vacancies that are currently open at the ministry, broken down by department.

Return no. 53 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for each of Regina and Saskatoon’s complex-needs facilities, from July 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024, (a) the total number of unique clients served; (b) the number of clients connected to mental-health and addictions supports in that time, and (i) the specific supports/programs that were utilized; (c) the number of clients connected to housing in the community, and (i) the types of housing placements and (ii) the locations of these housing placements; (d) the number of clients connected to physical-health services, and (i) the specific supports utilized; and (e) the number of clients who could not be connected to required services due to service unavailability, broken down by service type.

Return no. 54 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for each of Regina and Saskatoon’s complex-needs facilities, from July 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024, (a) the nightly occupancy, broken down by date; (b) the breakdown of unique versus repeat clients; and (c) the average length of stay for the top 50 repeat users.

Return no. 55 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for each of Regina and Saskatoon’s complex-needs facilities, from July 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024, (a) the total operational expenditure; (b) the cost per client per night for the same period; and (c) the description of the funding model, including (i) whether funding is per bed (capacity-based) or a fixed contract amount, and (ii) any performance-based funding components tied to outcomes.

Return no. 56 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for each of Regina and Saskatoon’s complex-needs facilities, from July 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024, (a) all outcome indicators, metrics, evaluation frameworks, and success measures used to assess (i) client outcomes, (ii) program effectiveness, and (iii) value for taxpayer investment; and (b) any internal or external evaluations, audits, or performance reports since the applicable start date.

Return no. 57 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for the Willowview Stabilization Program (province-wide), from January 1, 2025 to present, (a) the nightly occupancy, broken down by date; (b) the type of bed (in-patient, out, virtual); (c) the total number of unique clients served; (d) the number of clients who completed treatment; (e) the program’s definition of “completion”; (f) the average length of stay for clients who completed treatment; and (g) the number of clients who did not complete treatment, including (i) recorded reasons for non-completion, (ii) whether follow-up was attempted, (iii) who attempted follow-up, and (iv) the follow-up actions taken.

Return no. 58 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for the Willowview Stabilization Program (province-wide), from January 1, 2025 to present, (a) the number of clients who accessed drop-in treatment services, (b) the number of clients who completed drop-in programming, (c) the number of clients who registered for virtual treatment, and (d) the number of clients who completed virtual treatment.

Return no. 59 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for the Willowview Stabilization Program (province-wide), from January 1, 2025 to present, (a) Willowview or SHA’s post-program process to track clients who complete treatment, including (i) all outcome indicators, success metrics, and evaluation tools used to determine whether clients remain substance-free, (ii) number of clients contacted, (iii) number successfully reached, (iv) length of follow-up period, and (v) reported outcomes (abstinence, relapse, housing stability, service engagement).

Return no. 60 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for the Willowview Stabilization Program (province-wide), from January 1, 2025 to present, (a) Willowview’s documentation describing how they provide culturally appropriate programming, including (i) program descriptions, (ii) staff cultural competencies or qualifications, and (iii) partnerships with Indigenous-led organizations or Elders; and (b) Willowview’s documentation describing how they implement trauma-practiced care (not trauma-informed), including (i) operational policies, (ii) staff training materials, (iii) clinical practice guidelines, and (iv) any internal evaluations or audits of trauma-practiced care delivery.

Return no. 61 (Meara Conway):

To the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for the Willowview Stabilization Program (province-wide), from January 1, 2025 to present, (a) the total operational expenditure; (b) the cost per client per night; (c) the cost per treatment completion; (d) the description of the funding model, including whether funding is per bed (capacity-based) or a fixed contract amount; and (e) any performance-based funding components tied to outcomes.

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