STANDING
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
MINUTE NO. 18
8:30 a.m. — māmawapiwin náyati room
(Room 8)
1. Present: Trent Wotherspoon in the chair and members Terri Bromm, Hugh Gordon, Travis Keisig, Barret Kropf,* Hon. Jamie Martens,* Joan Pratchler, and James Thorsteinson.
Substituting Members
Barret Kropf for Travis Keisig (10:38 a.m. – 3:08 p.m.)
Hon. Jamie Martens for David Chan
Provincial Auditor’s Office
Tara Clemett, Provincial Auditor
Trevor St. John, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Jason Wandy, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Michelle Lindenbach, Principal
Provincial Comptroller’s Office
Brent Hebert, Provincial Comptroller
Gabriel Plosker, Director, Financial Management
2. The following documents were tabled:
Ministry of Education: Report of public losses, June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026
(PAC 103-30)
Ministry of Community Safety: Response to question raised at the October 1, 2026 meeting
(PAC 104-30)
3. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children.
The following Ministry of Social Services officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Blair Wagar, Deputy Minister
Tobie Eberhardt, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Child and Family Programs
Joel Kilbride, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Finance and Corporate Services
Giselle Marcotte, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Disability Programs
Julene Restall, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Income Assistance
David Smith, Executive Director, Child and
Family Programs
Nikia Koster, Acting Executive Director, Income
Assistance
Ksenia Regel, Acting Executive Director,
Finance and Corporate Services
Jaylene Righetti, Acting Executive Director,
Income Assistance
David Langen, Director, Finance and Corporate
Services
Natasha Sebastian, Director, Housing
Michelle Skjerven, Director, Child and Family
Programs
4. The following document was tabled:
Ministry of Social Services: Status update, dated October 13, 2026
(PAC 105-30)
5. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 127 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children:
We recommend the Ministry of Social Services use a risk-based approach for conducting its detailed reviews at group homes caring for children to confirm quality of care provided.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Social Services is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
6. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 130 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children:
We recommend the Ministry of Social Services issue detailed review findings reports to group homes caring for children within a reasonably set timeframe.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Social Services is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
7. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 132 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children:
We recommend the Ministry of Social Services track the implementation status of corrective action plans to confirm group homes caring for children address non-compliance issues identified during detailed reviews.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Social Services is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
8. The committee concurred with recommendation 4 made at page 138 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children:
We recommend the Ministry of Social Services analyze key information (e.g., serious incidents, serious complaints investigated, deficiencies identified during detailed reviews) related to group homes caring for children.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Social Services is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
9. The committee concurred with recommendation 5 made at page 138 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 7, Social Services — Monitoring Group Homes Providing Care to Children:
We recommend the Ministry of Social Services centrally track key information (e.g., licensing, detailed reviews, serious incidents, serious complaints) related to group homes caring for children.
The committee noted that the Ministry of Social Services is making progress towards complying with the recommendation.
The following Ministry of Social Services officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Blair Wagar, Deputy Minister
Tobie Eberhardt, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Child and Family Programs
Joel Kilbride, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Finance and Corporate Services
Giselle Marcotte, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Disability Programs
Julene Restall, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Income Assistance
David Smith, Executive Director, Child and
Family Programs
Nikia Koster, Acting Executive Director, Income
Assistance
Ksenia Regel, Acting Executive Director,
Finance and Corporate Services
Jaylene Righetti, Acting Executive Director,
Income Assistance
David Langen, Director, Finance and Corporate
Services
Natasha Sebastian, Director, Housing
Michelle Skjerven, Director, Child and Family
Programs
11. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 23, Social Services — Delivering the Saskatchewan Income Support Program.
12. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 24, Social Services — Monitoring Foster Families.
The following Ministry of Social Services officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Blair Wagar,
Deputy Minister
Tobie
Eberhardt, Assistant Deputy Minister, Child and Family Programs
Joel Kilbride,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance and Corporate Services
Giselle
Marcotte, Assistant Deputy Minister, Disability Programs
Julene Restall,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Assistance
David Smith,
Executive Director, Child and Family Programs
Nikia Koster,
Acting Executive Director, Income Assistance
Ksenia Regel,
Acting Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services
Jaylene
Righetti, Acting Executive Director, Income Assistance
David Langen,
Director, Finance and Corporate Services
Natasha
Sebastian, Director, Housing
Michelle
Skjerven, Director, Child and Family Programs
13. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 24, Social Services — Monitoring Foster Families.
14. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 7, Social Services.
The following Ministry of Social Services officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Blair Wagar,
Deputy Minister
Tobie
Eberhardt, Assistant Deputy Minister, Child and Family Programs
Joel Kilbride,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance and Corporate Services
Giselle
Marcotte, Assistant Deputy Minister, Disability Programs
Julene Restall,
Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Assistance
David Smith,
Executive Director, Child and Family Programs
Nikia Koster,
Acting Executive Director, Income Assistance
Ksenia Regel,
Acting Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services
Jaylene
Righetti, Acting Executive Director, Income Assistance
David Langen,
Director, Finance and Corporate Services
Natasha
Sebastian, Director, Housing
Michelle
Skjerven, Director, Child and Family Programs
15. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 7, Social Services.
16. The committee recessed from 10:16 a.m. until 10:25 a.m.
17. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 13, Saskatchewan Municipal Board — Providing Timely and Supported Municipal Appeal Decisions.
The following Saskatchewan Municipal Board officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Chad Boyko,
Chairperson
Brandee
Murdoch, Director
18. The following document was tabled:
Saskatchewan Municipal Board: Status update, dated October 13, 2026
(PAC 106-30)
19. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 146 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 13, Saskatchewan Municipal Board — Providing Timely and Supported Municipal Appeal Decisions:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Municipal Board update its appeal guidance to be consistent and fully aligned with legislation.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Municipal Board has complied with the recommendation.
We recommend the Saskatchewan Municipal Board have board members annually review and sign-off on its code of conduct, including declaring any conflicts of interest.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Municipal Board has complied with the recommendation.
21. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 151 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 13, Saskatchewan Municipal Board — Providing Timely and Supported Municipal Appeal Decisions:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Municipal Board monitor and follow up on property assessment and planning and development appeals in case management taking more time than expected.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Municipal Board has complied with the recommendation.
We recommend the Saskatchewan Municipal Board periodically analyze key stages of its property assessment and planning and development appeal process to determine actions needed to address delays.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Municipal Board has complied with the recommendation.
23. The committee concurred with recommendation 5 made at page 159 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 2, chapter 13, Saskatchewan Municipal Board — Providing Timely and Supported Municipal Appeal Decisions:
We recommend the Saskatchewan Municipal Board publicly report information about the status of property assessment appeals.
The committee noted that the Saskatchewan Municipal Board has complied with the recommendation.
24. The committee recessed from 10:49 a.m. until 10:54 a.m.
25. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 13, Government Relations — Providing Safe Drinking Water in Northern Settlements.
The following Ministry of Government Relations officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Drew Wilby,
Deputy Minister
Dan French, Assistant
Deputy Minister, Municipal Relations
26. The following document was tabled:
Ministry of Government Relations: Status update, dated October 13, 2026
(PAC 107-30)
27. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2026 report volume 1, chapter 13, Government Relations — Providing Safe Drinking Water in Northern Settlements.
28. The committee recessed from 11:16 a.m. until 11:22 a.m.
29. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 1, chapter 11, Public Service Commission — Advancing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in Ministries.
The following Public Service Commission officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Brittany Csada,
Chair
Claudia Burke,
Assistant Chair
Kendra LaHaye,
Executive Director, Employee Wellness and Inclusion
Amanda Mullan,
Executive Director, Talent
30. The following document was tabled:
Public Service Commission: Status
update, dated October 13, 2026
(PAC 108-30)
31. The committee concluded consideration of the Provincial Auditor’s 2025 report volume 1, chapter 11, Public Service Commission — Advancing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in Ministries.
32. The committee recessed from 12:11 p.m. until 1:17 p.m.
33. The committee considered the Public Accounts 2025–26 Volume 1.
The following Ministry of Finance officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Tracey Smith, Deputy Minister
Brent Hebert, Provincial Comptroller
Rod Balkwill, Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Treasury Office
Jeff MacDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Treasury Board Secretariat
Cullen Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister, Fiscal Policy
Gabriel Plosker, Director, Financial Management
34. The committee concluded consideration of the Public Accounts 2025–26 Volume 1.
35. It was moved by James Thorsteinson:
That this committee do now adjourn.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
36. The committee adjourned at 3:08 p.m. until Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Trent Wotherspoon, Chair
Miranda Gudereit, Committee Clerk
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