SHA, Water Security Agency report losses due to fraud, misappropriation in first quarter

Both the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Water Security Agency reported significant losses due to fraud and misappropriation in the first quarter of the fiscal year.

According to loss reports by the provincial government on Tuesday, the Water Security Agency lost $23,937.25 in March when banking information “was fraudulently changed” by someone impersonating one of the agency’s vendors.

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“As a result, payment to the vendor was redirected to an inappropriate bank account,” the report read.

“The matter was reported to police and is under investigation.”

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Health Authority reported two losses due to misappropriation.

The first incident, which occurred between December of 2024 and February of this year, saw a health authority employee hire his own business to perform work for the organization and approved the related invoices for payment.

“A review found that the business had misappropriated funds for projects that were incomplete or unauthorized resulting in a loss of $65,100,” the report read.

“The full amount has been repaid, and the employee was terminated in 2026.”

The health authority said its management team is putting stronger conflict-of-interest controls and oversight measures into place to mitigate the risk of similar losses down the road.

Additionally, the health authority reported a loss of $2,000 that occurred in April after a donation “was diverted for personal use by an employee.”

The employee was fired, the health authority noted, and the full amount was recovered.

“Management is currently reviewing and strengthening processes for managing donations,” the loss report noted.