May 16, 1996
(Social Services)

Ten New Special Investigators

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Social Services, today announced that the department will hire 10 new special investigators to help reduce or eliminate abuse and fraud in the system. Over the last fiscal year there were 1,392 investigations conducted by departmental investigators resulting in $3.5 million in savings. While the overall number of persons abusing the system is not high the savings are significant. The new investigators will address a backlog of referrals which have been received from workers and people within the community.

The minister said that although social assistance recipients defrauding the government are in the minority the cost of abuse to taxpayers is in the millions of dollars. "We have always believed that the high majority of social assistance recipients are honest people who, for a variety of reasons, need income support," said the minister. "These investigations are not only proving that theory, but they are also resulting in significant savings of tax dollars which government can use to maintain services to those who legitimately need it."

The minister said the new investigators will provide support to the 17 investigators now working for the department and will improve a program which has been very successful since its inception two years ago.

Bob Clouter, director of internal audit, explained that of the 1,392 cases investigated last year 524 were suspended for reasons like clients receiving benefits when ineligible. Clients who were overpaid in these cases have to repay the overpayment. Only 113 of the cases were referred for prosecution. "The numbers are in keeping with national statistics and fairly low considering there are 36,000 cases throughout the province," said Clouter. "The program we have in place helps us detect abuse and also serves as a deterrent to those considering fraud."

Contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Public Relations, 729-4062.