STANDING
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Thursday, October 1, 2026
MINUTE NO. 17
9:01 p.m. — māmawapiwin náyati room
(Room 8)
1. Present: Trent Wotherspoon in the chair and members Terri Bromm, David Chan, Hugh Gordon, Travis Keisig, Joan Pratchler, and James Thorsteinson.
Provincial Auditor’s Office
Tara Clemett, Provincial Auditor
Jason Shaw, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Trevor St. John, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Carolyn O’Quinn, Assistant Provincial Auditor
Nicole Dressler, Principal
Melanie Heebner, Principal
Tara Kucher, Principal
Michelle Lindenbach, Principal
Provincial Comptroller’s Office
Brent Hebert, Provincial Comptroller
Donica Smart, Assistant Provincial Comptroller
2. The following documents were tabled:
Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan: Correspondence regarding SPSA
audit, dated June 23, 2026
(PAC 95-30)
Ministry of Education: Report of public losses, March 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026
(PAC 96-30)
Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan: First quarter financial forecast
for the three months ending June 30, 2026
(PAC 97-30)
Ministry of Advanced Education: Report of public losses, April 1,
2026 to June 30, 2026
(PAC 98-30)
Ministry of Finance: Report of public losses, April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026
(PAC 99-30)
Ministry of Finance: Government response to second report of the
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, dated August 18, 2026
(PAC 100-30)
3. The Chair advised that pursuant to rule 142(2), the following documents were committed to the committee:
Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan: 2026 report volume 1
(Sessional paper no. 238)
Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan: Annual report on operations for
the year ended March 31, 2026
(Sessional paper no. 255)
Government of Saskatchewan: 2025–26 public accounts volume 1,
summary financial statements
(Sessional paper no. 258)
4.
It was moved by Hugh Gordon:
That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, pursuant to subsection 16(1) of The Provincial Auditor Act, requests that the Provincial Auditor perform a special assignment investigation to examine expenses claimed by Legislative Secretaries in the pursuit of their duties.
The question being put, it was defeated on the following recorded division:
Yeas — 2
Hugh Gordon, Joan Pratchler
Nays — 4
Terri Bromm, David Chan, Travis Keisig, James Thorsteinson
5. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers.
The following Ministry of Community Safety officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Kimberly
Kratzig, Deputy Minister
Scott
Harron, Assistant Deputy Minister, Custody Services
Mark
McFadyen, Executive Director, Custody Services
Ed
Renauld, Executive Director, Workforce Planning and Development
Shannon
Janzen, Director, Occupational Health and Safety
Victoria Zhang, Manager, Internal Audit
6. The following document was tabled:
Ministry of Community Safety: Status update, dated October 1,
2026
(PAC 101-30)
7. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 69 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers:
We recommend the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety enhance the staff survey it uses to assess the effectiveness of mental health supports it provides to its correctional workers.
The committee noted that the Ministry
of Community Safety has complied with the recommendation.
8. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 70 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers:
We recommend the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety provide clear guidance on when to use the Critical Incident Stress Management program to support correctional workers’ mental health.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Community Safety has complied with the recommendation.
9. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 71 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers:
We recommend the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety consistently track, analyze, and report on the usage of its Critical Incident Stress Management program by correctional workers.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Community Safety has complied with the recommendation.
10. The committee concurred with recommendation 4 made at page 72 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers:
We recommend the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety establish clear expectations for contacting correctional workers on mental health leave.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Community Safety has complied with the recommendation.
11. The committee concurred with recommendation 5 made at page 74 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 9, Corrections, Policing and Public Safety — Supporting the Mental Health of Correctional Workers:
We recommend the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety specifically analyze key information (e.g., performance measures, mental health injury data) to assess the effectiveness of mental health supports provided to correctional workers.
The committee noted that the Ministry
of Community Safety is making progress towards complying with the
recommendation.
12. The committee recessed from 10:06 a.m. until 10:12 a.m.
13. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 1, chapter 21, Water Security Agency — Ensuring Dam Safety.
The following Water Security Agency officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Cam
Swan, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
John
Fahlman, Vice-President, Infrastructure
Thon
Phommavong, Vice-President, Science and Licensing
Jenna
Boyko, Executive Director, Compliance Promotion
Leah
Clark, Executive Director, Irrigation and Economic Development
Aaron Schweitzer, Director, Water and Wastewater Approvals
14. The following document was tabled:
Water Security Agency: Status update,
dated October 1, 2026
(PAC 102-30)
15. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 1, chapter 21, Water Security Agency — Ensuring Dam Safety.
The following Water Security Agency officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Cam
Swan, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
John
Fahlman, Vice-President, Infrastructure
Thon
Phommavong, Vice-President, Science and Licensing
Jenna
Boyko, Executive Director, Compliance Promotion
Leah
Clark, Executive Director, Irrigation and Economic Development
Aaron Schweitzer, Director, Water and Wastewater Approvals
17. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 25, Water Security Agency — Regulating Water Use.
18. The committee recessed from 11:07 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.
19. It was moved by James Thorsteinson:
That the committee do now meet in camera and that Tara Clemett, Trevor St. John, Carolyn O’Quinn, Melanie Heebner, Michelle Lindenbach, Brent Hebert, and Donica Smart be permitted to remain in attendance.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
20. The committee met in camera from 11:16 a.m. until 12:17 p.m.
21. The committee recessed from 12:17 p.m. until 1:03 p.m.
22. It was moved by James Thorsteinson:
That the committee do now meet in camera and that Tara Clemett, Trevor St. John, Carolyn O’Quinn, Brent Hebert, and Donica Smart be permitted to remain in attendance.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
23. The committee met in camera from 1:04 p.m. until 1:49 p.m.
24. It was moved by James Thorsteinson:
That this committee do now adjourn.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
25. The committee adjourned at 1:49 p.m. until Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Trent Wotherspoon, Chair
Jessica Start, Committee Clerk
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