Efficiency secretariat not very efficient, New Democrats say
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | 6:01 PM CT
CBC News
The New Democrats are criticizing the Saskatchewan Party government over its new efficiency secretariat, saying it costs $1 million and doesn't do anything.
NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon asked Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer about the new agency in the legislature on Tuesday, throwing in an insult with the question.
"What exactly is he spending $1 million of taxpayers' dollars on? Or is this just another example of his own ministerial incompetence?" Wotherspoon asked.
Gantefoer replied that the secretariat has just been set up, that the cost mentioned is the annual cost. The seven-person group will help make government more effective and cost-efficient, he said.
Later, however, Gantefoer confirmed the group hasn't made any recommendations yet.
"Well, they haven't done a thing in terms of establishing efficiencies, but I think they've been working on establishing their priorities," he said.
He said he believes that in time, the efficiency secretariat will find the savings it's been told to look for.
"Certainly, from my perspective, if after a year or two of operation of this endeavour, we can't demonstrate that they have more than earned their keep, then there doesn't seem to be a logic to continue," he said. "But we believe that they will do that."
Wotherspoon said he's particularly worried about the secretariat's ability to hire third-party consultants to help with its work.
"Any time we hear third party, that seems to [be a] code word for expensive, fat contracts to Sask. Party insiders and friends. So, we'll certainly be watching that as well," he said.
Gantefoer, who in recent days has been under fire from the Opposition over a projected $1 billion budget deficit, is promising a more austere budget in March.
He said the efficiency secretariat will likely have found some savings by then.
