FREDERICTON (GNB) – Auditor General Paul Martin tabled a report in the legislative assembly today that includes an audit of the government’s hotel accommodations policy.
Martin concluded there was no documented business case to support the decision to discontinue participation in the federal government’s accommodations directory program, which, he said, could have saved the provincial government more than $632,000 per year.
The policy change was not approved by the Treasury Board, and the current policy could be misleading for employees by directing them to continue using government hotel rates, for which they may no longer be eligible.
The audit, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, brought to light hotel expenses as high as $997 per night for one employee to stay in Barcelona.
“The audit concluded that the Department of Finance and Treasury Board’s updated hotel accommodations policy for employee hotel expenses does not reflect prudent fiscal management, nor was due consideration taken prior to the change,” said Martin.
The auditor general provided three recommendations to the Department of Finance and Treasury Board. The report is available online.
10-12-24