Meara Conway, NDP critic for Social Services and Housing, held a press conference to raise the alarm on the Linkin information management system, which is $50 million over budget..“We’re now 13 years since the announcement of this program, $50 million dollars over the original cost for this program, and it’s still not fully operational,” said Conway..“Ministry’s outcomes are not improving in this area … if anything they’re getting worse.” .Conway called for the provincial auditor to conduct a special investigation into the “egregious cost overruns.”.In 2009, former Social Services Minister and current Finance Minister Donna Harpauer put a price tag of $15 million over three years for the information management system..“The development of an efficient single new information management system for social services will help ensure the health and safety of all children and youth who are in the ministry’s care,” said Harpauer in 2009..”There is no greater priority than our children, and this $15-million investment will provide the province’s child welfare workers with the technology they need to best serve the children and youth who are currently in care in Saskatchewan.".The original project description said the program would be implemented across the ministry of Social Services to “meet the business requirements of the Child and Family Services, Income Assistance, and Community Living divisions.”.The program’s implementation was limited to just Child and Family Services with the cost for the system ballooning to $73.3 million as of April 2021, far above the original $15 million estimated price tag..“Governing is about priorities. As families struggle with the high cost of living, we have a Saskatchewan Party government that has still yet to provide any relief to the people of Saskatchewan. Yet we see example after example of reckless spending and a government that prioritizes their own $8,000 flights,” said Conway. .“It’s no wonder this Saskatchewan Party government has tripled Saskatchewan’s debt and hasn’t balanced a budget since 2015. We need an audit to determine how this project ballooned to five times its original budget.”.Conway and the official opposition requested the provincial auditor open a “special investigation pursuant to Section 13 of the Provincial Auditor Act to investigate the growing and ongoing cost overruns related to the Ministry of Social Services Linkin information management system.”.The Saskatchewan Party government did not respond to the NDP’s call for a special investigation.
