By Tyler Marr

News Director’s picks for Dec. 10 to 16

Dec 17, 2018 | 9:30 AM

From a business in North Battleford receiving faxes containing confidential patient information from the Saskatchewan Health Authority to a new Indigenous hockey club and tax increases, here is a look at some of the top stories from the battlefordsNOW newsroom for the week of Dec. 10 to 16.

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Privacy commissioner criticizes SHA after more patient records faxed to Kelly’s Computer Works

In his latest probe into misdirected faxes from the Saskatchewan Health Authority to Kelly’s Computer Works in North Battleford, the provincial privacy czar said it is time for the “agency to get this issue addressed once and for all.”

According to Privacy Commissioner Ron Kruzeniski’s latest report,  in each case, the cause has been an employee incorrectly entering the fax number as the number for Kelly’s Computer Works and the file’s intended destination — a physicians office — are one digit apart.

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He is recommending the SHA submit a report and timeline to his office within 6 months on how it plans to eliminate faxing personal health information within the system.

The SHA said it is “working jointly on a project with our health care partners, being led by eHealth Saskatchewan, that will promote the use of electronic alternatives and will reduce or eliminate faxing.”

Store owner Darryl Arnold hopes this is the end of the ordeal.

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North Battleford passes 2019 budget, includes four per cent tax hike

North Battleford city council signed off on the 2019 budget, which includes a four per cent property tax and four-and-a-half per cent utility rate jump.

Mayor Ryan Bater said one of the difficulties for the city going into the new budget was dealing with a significant revenue loss from 2018. 

The city budgeted $1.2 million in revenue from land sales but realized just over $100,000. For 2019 and going forward, the city will no longer budget an amount for estimated land sales revenue.

Adding strain to the 2019 budget include a slowing economy, high-interest costs for past capital projects and property assessment challenges for 2019, Finance Director Steve Brown said in his written report.

Going forward, Bater said administration will focus on finding $500,000 in savings in internal operations.

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New hockey association aims to create positive on-ice experience for youth

This winter marks the inaugural season in the Battlefords Minor Hockey Association for the Moosomin Warriors Atom club.

“They’re excited about the team,” head coach and President of the new Minor Hockey Association in Moosomin, Quenton Swiftwolfe said. “The kids come up to you, and thank you for giving them the opportunity to play the game.”

Moosomin plays their games out of their home arena on the Cree First Nation, just minutes outside of Cochin, which seats more than 300 people. They’ve previously had a senior team, but the minor hockey association was lacking in the community of 1500.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr