Wanted: Japanese translators to assist 'Lean' consultants

The Saskatchewan government is looking for a translator to work with Japanese consultants.

It's the latest controversy in the province's ongoing 'Lean' efficency project.

An advertisement, which appeared in newspapers on Tuesday,is offering $600 per day to translators to work withconsultants from Japan, who are being used in hospitals to help cut back on supply purchases.

Opposition NDP leader Cam Broten was critical of the move. He said the government could do without the consultants and the cost of them.

"The workshops themselves are a complete joke also. Looking at inventory, well what, any person who can read and use their brain can figure out when something expires. What a front line worker needs is the time to do this," said Broten.

The government saidJapanese consultants and their translators were part of the contract when it was signed.

"A small part of JBA' (John Black and Associates) work does involve Japanese consultants and we knew that when we signed the contract with JBA. We did want to make adjustments, though, to ensure that where we are spending those dollars, it's minimized as much as possible," said Minister of Health Dustin Duncan.