Dates set for retrial of former IWK exec accused of fraud

Tracy Kitch, the former CEO of the IWK children's hospital, has once again pleaded not guilty to fraud charges arising from her time as the hospital's chief administrator.

A lawyer for Kitch entered the not guilty pleas during a brief appearance in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on Thursday morning. Kitch wasn't present in court and remains free on conditions.

Her second trial on these charges has been tentatively scheduled to begin in April of next year, although lawyers will return to court next month to see if they can shorten the three-week trial window and find earlier dates.

Kitch was convicted of fraud in February of 2022 for charging thousands of dollars in personal expenses to her corporate credit card. She subsequently repaid all the money. In August of that year she was sentenced to five months in jail, to be followed by a year of probation.

Kitch appealed her conviction and in May of last year, it was overturned by the Court of Appeal in a decision that was highly critical of the trial judge. The Supreme Court of Canada subsequently refused to hear the Crown's appeal of that decision.

Late last year, the Public Prosecution Service announced they will put Kitch on trial again.

This time, she has opted to have her case heard in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. Her original trial was in provincial court.