Randy Pettapiece, MPP for Perth-Wellington. 
BlackburnNews.com photoRandy Pettapiece, MPP for Perth-Wellington. BlackburnNews.com photo
Midwestern

Perth Wellington MPP Demands Answers From Social Services Minister

Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece isn't getting answers after demanding where the government will get an extra $50-million for the social assistance management computer system.

Pettapiece is the opposition critic to the Minister of Community and social services.

He spoke out this week when the government released a report explaining how it will transition to the new system.

“In March, the minister said she was ‘truly sorry’ for the problems with SAMS. But yesterday’s transition report shows no contrition; it’s nothing but a pat on the back,” says Pettapiece in the legislature.

The project was originally estimated at $242-million.

“An additional $50-million has been spent on the SAMS implementation because the government bungled the process,” says Pettapiece. “That extra $50-million has to come from somewhere, yet the minister refuses to disclose how her government will be covering these expensive mistakes.”

Full implementation is 19 months behind.

Pettapiece says the extra millions need to be spent because the government bungled the process, leaving municipalities and service providers on the hook for at least $20-million in cost overruns..

He says the software has been riddled with serious problems including erroneous cheques sent to Ontario Works and disability Support recipients. He also says with extra costs, it will take over ten years before the government will see the projected $5-million in annual savings.

The government claims that SAMS will save $5-million annually in operating costs over the previous management system (SDMT). However, with the $50-million additional project costs, it will take over ten years for the province to see any savings in the use of SAMS.

“The list of projects this government has mismanaged just continues to grow,” concludes Pettapiece. “It’s unacceptable that we all have to pay for Liberal mistakes.”

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