BILL NO. 11

(as introduced)

1st Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
66 Elizabeth II, 2017

Private Member's Bill

Auditor General Act
(amended)

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
Cumberland North

First Reading: September 28, 2017

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Clause 1 adds a definition of "Healthcare Outcomes Auditor" and amends the definition of "Office".

Clause 3 establishes the duties and powers of the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor.

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Section 2 of Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2010, the Auditor General Act, as amended by Chapter 30 of the Acts of 2015, is further amended by

(a) adding immediately after clause (h) the following clause:

(ha) "Healthcare Outcomes Auditor" means the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor appointed pursuant to Section 6A;

and

(b) adding ", the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor" immediately after "General" the second time it appears in the second line of clause (j).

2 Chapter 33 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 6 the following Section:

6A (1) On the advice of the Auditor General, the Governor in Council shall appoint a Healthcare Outcomes Auditor who holds office during pleasure.

(2) The Healthcare Outcomes Auditor must be an individual qualified to be a licensed public accountant in a jurisdiction in Canada.

(3) Subject to subsection (6), the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor shall be paid a salary determined by the Auditor General in accordance with the annual salary rates for associate deputy ministers set out in the pay plan for associate deputy ministers together with any other remuneration payable to associate deputy ministers.

(4) Subject to subsection (6), the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor is entitled to all the benefits and privileges provided to employees of the Civil Service under the Civil Service Act and the Public Service Superannuation Act.

(5) In the absence of a Healthcare Outcomes Auditor, the Auditor General may temporarily appoint an Acting Healthcare Outcomes Auditor or may temporarily delegate the powers and duties of the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor to an assistant auditor general.

(6) The money required for the purpose of subsections (3) and (4) must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

3 Chapter 33 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 25 the following Sections:

25A (1) In this Section and Section 25B, "IW K Health Centre" and "provincial health authority" have the same meanings as in the Health Authorities Act.

(2) The duty of the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor is to independently attest to the performance of the IWK Health Centre and the provincial health authority in delivering quality healthcare to persons in the Province.

(3) Where the auditable entity for an audit or investigation under this Act is the IWK Health Centre or the provincial health authority, that audit or investigation shall be conducted by the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor.

(4) For greater certainty, where the auditable entity for an audit or investigation under this Act is not the IWK Health Centre or the provincial health authority, that audit or investigation shall be conducted by the Auditor General.

25B (1) In addition to conducting audits or investigations pursuant to Section 25A, the Healthcare Outcomes Auditor shall oversee standards of care, outcomes and governance with respect to the IWK Health Centre and the provincial health authority.

(2) The Healthcare Outcomes Auditor may survey patients of the IWK Health Centre and the provincial health authority.

(3) The Healthcare Outcomes Auditor may make recommendations respecting standards of care, outcomes and governance to the IWK Health Centre and the provincial health authority.

25C (1) The Healthcare Outcomes Auditor shall make public immediately the results of audits and investigations conducted pursuant to subsection 25A(3) and on any recommendations made pursuant to subsection 25B(3).

(2) The Healthcare Outcomes Auditor shall make public by March 31st of each year an annual report summarizing any audits of investigations conducted or recommendations made in the previous year.

(3) The Auditor General shall report the results of audits and investigations conducted pursuant to subsection 25A(3) and any recommendations made pursuant to subsection 25B(3) to the House of Assembly.