'Public money is gone': Sask. coalition calls for auditors report into Communities of Tomorrow project

A coalition of Saskatchewan political parties are calling on the provincial auditor to investigate what exactly happened to $34 million in funding – which was granted to a research group more than two decades ago.

A coalition of Saskatchewan political parties are calling on the provincial auditor to investigate what exactly happened to $34 million in funding – which was granted to a research group more than two decades ago.

Communities of Tomorrow (CoT) was a research group announced in 2003 to provide leading edge research into community infrastructure needs.

Partnered with the National Research Council at the University of Regina – the group produced several papers before disbanding in 2013.

“Communities of Tomorrow was at the heart of investigating asbestos cement water pipes in Canada,” said Naomi Hunter, leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan at a news conference on Monday.

“Communities of Tomorrow is gone. The NRC Research Centre at the University of Regina is gone. At least $34 million of public money is gone.”

The Green Party, the Progressive Conservatives and the Saskatchewan Progress Party want the provincial auditor to investigate how organization’s funding was spent.

“Where is that guidance document on asbestos cement water pipes? It was supposed to be on the SUMA website. Where is it?” Hunter asked.