PROVINCE ACTS ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF REVIEW

Saskatchewan Health is taking action in response to a review of the governance, management and financial processes of the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Incorporated (MACSI).

The actions are being implemented with the full agreement of, and in co-operation with, The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS).

MACSI's Board of Directors has resigned and will be replaced by a four-person interim board: Ray Laliberte (co-chair); Don Axtell (co-chair); Michael Maurice and Shan Landry. Laliberte is Treasurer of the Board of Governors, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Axtell is Director of Strategic Development, Crown Investments Corporation, Maurice is a Metis elder and Landry is Vice-President of Primary Health, Saskatoon Health Region.

The new board will appoint a professional manager, Dorothea Warren. Warren who is currently the Associate Executive Director of Saskatchewan Community Resources and Employment's Child and Family Sevices Division, will assume management of MACSI.

"The board's first major task will be to implement an independent forensic audit of MACSI's operations," Health Minister John Nilson said. "The appointment of a professional manager and an independent forensic audit are conditions of continued Saskatchewan Health funding to MACSI."

"Upon learning of the report's findings, I agreed with Minister Nilson that the status quo was unacceptable," Interim president of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, Lorna Docken said. "I immediately took steps to meeting the requirements of Saskatchewan Health, and then assured the Minister of Health that the Metis Nation would take all the necessary steps to restore accountability and confidence in MACSI's valuable addictions treatment programs."

The review conducted by consultants Darlene Bessey and Ken Pontikes:

· raised concerns about MACSI's governance, operational and financial
practices;
· questioned whether the true financial position of the organization was
fully reflected in its financial statements;
· indicated that required procedures concerning cash surpluses had not
been properly handled; and
· raised concerns about the non-profit organization's ability to continue its
operations.

The report also recommended improvements to Saskatchewan Health's monitoring of MACSI expenditures and compliance of the contract and ancillary agreements.

"I want people who require recovery services to receive quality care but equally, I want assurance that there is value for the money spent and that there is transparency and accountability for those expenditures," Nilson said. "I have already instructed my department to make the necessary internal improvements and to initiate recovery of surplus funds the province would be owed."

Saskatchewan Health budgeted $2.4 million for MACSI in 2003-04.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083