Update: The Ministry of Community and Social Services has now said the report will be made public Wednesday.

A preliminary report from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers into the chronic problems of the government's new welfare payments computer system is due this week, but the Liberals aren't committing to making it public.

PwC was hired in early March to look into SAMS (Social Assistance Management System), with instructions to produce a report into how to handle the short-term priorities by the end of the month. At the end of April, a final report is due that will contain "comprehensive recommendations for the future of the system," according to the original request-for-service posting.

Bill Walker, the PC social services critic, asked in Monday's question period whether the preliminary report will be released "in the spirit of government openness and transparency."

The response from Community and Social Services Minister Dr. Helena Jaczek was vague, but she did confirm PwC is expected to deliver the report this week.

"I’m looking forward to hearing those results," she said. "We will certainly be communicating the themes that we hear in that report. It is an interim report."

In a statement release later on Monday, Walker said there is precedence for releasing preliminary recommendations.

"It is not uncommon for progress or preliminary reports to be released, especially if their findings align with what the government has been saying," the statement said.

“The fact that the minister wants to keep it secret signals that she and her government have doubts about the progress they’re making on SAMS,” Walker said.

QP Briefing will provide an update when the PwC report has been submitted to the ministry.

SAMS, meant to bring efficiency to how the government processes and distributes welfare payments to about 570,000 recipients, has never worked properly. Welfare cheques and tax forms have been sent to the wrong people, inaccurate payments have been generated for others, and front-line staff say the system is glitch-filled and difficult to work with.

Last week, the ministry provided another $5 million to municipalities to help manage the extra staffing costs, bringing the total such funding to at least $15 million since SAMS was rolled out in the fall.

Tories call for consultant report on SAMS to be made public

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