STANDING
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Thursday, January 23, 2025
MINUTE NO. 5
8:31 a.m. — māmawapiwin náyati room
(Room 8)
1. Present: Trent Wotherspoon in the chair and members David Chan, Brad Crassweller, Hugh Gordon, Hon. Daryl Harrison, Joan Pratchler, and Sean Wilson.
Provincial Auditor’s Office
Tara Clemett,
Provincial Auditor
Jason Shaw, Deputy
Provincial Auditor
Jason Wandy,
Deputy Provincial Auditor
Nicole Dressler, Principal
Michelle Lindenbach,
Principal
Provincial Comptroller’s Office
Chris Bayda, Provincial Comptroller
Jane Borland, Assistant Provincial Comptroller
2. The following documents were tabled:
Ministry of Government Relations: Response
to question raised at the January 21, 2025 meeting
(PAC 20-30)
Western Development Museum: Response
to question raised at the January 21, 2025
meeting
(PAC 21-30)
3. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 1, chapter 11, Environment — Regulating Landfills.
The following Ministry of Environment officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kevin France, Deputy Minister
Rebecca Gibbons, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Corporate Services and Policy
Wes Kotyk, Assistant
Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection
Kevin Murphy, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Resource Management
Aaron Wirth, Executive Director, Climate Resilience
4. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 1, chapter 11, Environment — Regulating Landfills.
5. The following document was tabled:
Ministry of
Environment: Status update, dated January 23, 2025
(PAC 22-30)
6. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 16, Environment — Sustainable Fish Population Management.
The following Ministry of Environment officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kevin France, Deputy Minister
Rebecca Gibbons, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Corporate Services and Policy
Wes Kotyk, Assistant
Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection
Kevin Murphy, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Resource Management
Aaron Wirth, Executive Director, Climate Resilience
7. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 16, Environment — Sustainable Fish Population Management.
8. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 11, Environment — Preventing the Entry and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in Saskatchewan.
The following Ministry of Environment officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kevin France,
Deputy Minister
Rebecca
Gibbons, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Policy
Wes Kotyk, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection
Kevin Murphy,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Resource Management
Aaron Wirth,
Executive Director, Climate Resilience
9. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 11, Environment — Preventing the Entry and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in Saskatchewan.
10. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 2, chapter 19, Environment — Regulating Waste Diversion through Recycling.
The following Ministry of Environment officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kevin France,
Deputy Minister
Rebecca Gibbons,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Policy
Wes Kotyk, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection
Kevin Murphy,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Resource Management
Aaron Wirth,
Executive Director, Climate Resilience
11. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 2, chapter 19, Environment — Regulating Waste Diversion through Recycling.
12. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 1, chapter 3, Environment — Regulating Industrial Emitters.
The following Ministry of Environment officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kevin France,
Deputy Minister
Rebecca
Gibbons, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Policy
Wes Kotyk, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection
Kevin Murphy,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Resource Management
Aaron Wirth,
Executive Director, Climate Resilience
13. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 52 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 1, chapter 3, Environment — Regulating Industrial Emitters:
We recommend the Ministry of Environment use sufficient measures to publicly report on the effectiveness of its Output-Based Performance Standards Program.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Environment has complied with the recommendation.
14. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 53 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 1, chapter 3, Environment — Regulating Industrial Emitters:
We recommend the Ministry of Environment implement a robust data management system to efficiently obtain, track, and analyze sufficient greenhouse gas emissions data reported by industrial emitters.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Environment is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
15. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 60 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 1, chapter 3, Environment — Regulating Industrial Emitters:
We recommend the Ministry of Environment document staff guidance for evaluating concerns identified in third-party verifier reports about industrial emitter returns.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Environment has complied with the recommendation.
16. The committee recessed from 9:58 a.m. until 10:10 a.m.
17. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management and 2024 report volume 2, chapter 25, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management.
The following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Ministry of Health
Tracey Smith, Deputy Minister
Ingrid Kirby, Assistant Deputy Minister
Norman O’Neill, Assistant Deputy Minister
Ryan Dobson, Director, Operations and Internal Audit
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Deb Bulych, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Braden Giblett, Chief Financial Officer
Ron Dufresne, Vice-President, Corporate Services
Karen Efthimiou, Vice-President, Population
Health, Quality and Research
Darryl Boehm, Director, Oncology Pharmacy Services
David Tran, Director, Population Health
Jillian Fensom, Provincial Manager, Drug
Strategy and Value
18. The following document was tabled:
Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency: status update, dated January 23, 2025
(PAC 23-30)
19. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 105 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency formally document its processes for updating the approved list of cancer drugs (i.e., formulary) available to treat cancer patients.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has complied with the recommendation.
20. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 106 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency establish a timeframe for making decisions on physician requests for exception cancer drugs.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has complied with the recommendation.
21. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 108 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency set out, in writing, relevant factors it expects staff to consider when deciding to purchase cancer drugs directly rather than using group purchasing methods.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has complied with the recommendation.
22. The committee concurred with recommendation 4 made at page 109 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency document its rationale, and seek approval, when purchasing cancer drugs using the single or sole source purchasing methods.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has complied with the recommendation.
23. The committee concurred with recommendation 5 made at page 110 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2022 report volume 2, chapter 10, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency formally document when and who completed potential supplier evaluations when tendering for cancer drug purchases.
The committee noted that the
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has complied with the recommendation.
24. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 25, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Cancer Drug Supply Management.
25. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 17, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Screening Program for Breast Cancer.
The following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Ministry of Health
Tracey Smith, Deputy Minister
Ingrid Kirby, Assistant Deputy Minister
Norman O’Neill, Assistant Deputy Minister
Ryan Dobson, Director, Operations and Internal Audit
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Deb Bulych, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Braden Giblett, Chief Financial Officer
Ron Dufresne, Vice-President, Corporate Services
Karen Efthimiou, Vice-President, Population
Health, Quality and Research
Darryl Boehm, Director, Oncology Pharmacy Services
David Tran, Director, Population Health
Jillian Fensom, Provincial Manager, Drug
Strategy and Value
26. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 17, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Screening Program for Breast Cancer.
27. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 2, chapter 23, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Delivering the Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer.
The following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Ministry of Health
Tracey Smith, Deputy Minister
Ingrid Kirby, Assistant Deputy Minister
Norman O’Neill, Assistant Deputy Minister
Ryan Dobson, Director, Operations and Internal Audit
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Deb Bulych, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Braden Giblett, Chief Financial Officer
Ron Dufresne, Vice-President, Corporate Services
Karen Efthimiou, Vice-President, Population
Health, Quality and Research
Darryl Boehm, Director, Oncology Pharmacy Services
David Tran, Director, Population Health
Jillian Fensom, Provincial Manager, Drug
Strategy and Value
28. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 2, chapter 23, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Delivering the Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer.
30. It was moved by Sean
Wilson:
That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Procedures Manual be adopted as revised.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
31. It was moved by Brad Crassweller:
That this committee do now adjourn.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
32. The committee adjourned at 12:11 p.m. to the call of the Chair.
Trent Wotherspoon, Chair
Danielle Humble-Selinger, Committee Clerk
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