Sask NDP call on Provincial Auditor to investigate partisan appointment process at SHA

REGINA - Today, NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat asked the Provincial Auditor to conduct a special investigation into processes at the Saskatchewan Health Authority that led to the creation of a new Vice President position for a long-time Sask. Party operative.

“The explanations for Scott Livingstone’s departure have not passed the sniff-test since day one. Now it seems that forcing in partisan operatives to SHA leadership drove Mr. Livingstone out,” said Mowat. “It’s the definition of cronyism. We need an investigation from the auditor to get to the bottom of what happened. We already know the Health Minister lied about this - what else is he hiding?”

The Provincial Auditor has the ability to conduct a special investigation under Section 13 of the Provincial Auditor Act into any matters the auditor deems “important and urgent.” Last week’s news that Raynelle Wilson’s installation into a brand new executive role at the SHA contributed to the departure of the former CEO during the middle of a pandemic requires answers. The lasting impacts of political interference in an already stretched health care system is both important and urgent.

“The public needs answers - why in the middle of a health crisis did the Sask Party focus on placing a long-time political operative with zero health experience into the top brass of the SHA? No cost was too much - even losing the long-serving, dedicated CEO,” said Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, Nicole Sarauer. “Now more than ever, we need our government to lead with integrity and transparency, not cronyism and lies. This proves once again that the Sask Party puts politics ahead of public health and people’s lives.”

The Sask. NDP also called for the appointment to be reversed and the position to be eliminated pending external investigation.

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