Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition is calling for a special investigation by the Provincial Auditor about the Ministry of Social Services’ Linkin information management system. Critic for Social Services and Housing, Meara Conway, says it has been 13 years since the announcement of this program, and the province has spent $60-million over the original cost, and it’s still not fully operational.

The original price tag was $15-million over three years, and as of April of last year, it was at $73.3-million, with an additional over $2-million identified in committee this year. Conway explains that the original project description was that the program would be implemented across the Ministry to meet the business requirements of the Child and Family Services, Income Assistance and Community Living divisions, but the program is only utilized to date by the Child and Family Services division.

The NDP would like the Provincial Auditor to investigate what the Official Opposition calls the growing and ongoing cost overruns related to the Ministry of Social Services Linkin information management system project.