Annual Reports by Subject

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Auditor General Paul Martin tabled a report in the legislative assembly today that included an audit on the child death investigation, inquest and review process.

The Department Justice and Public Safety is responsible for overseeing the process, and, according to Martin, recent public reporting by the Child Death Review Committee has been limited.

“The loss of a child is a profound tragedy and impacts families and communities,” said Martin. “In the wake of such an event, it is crucial that every aspect of the investigation, inquest and subsequent Child Death Review Committee review is conducted with the utmost diligence and integrity.”

The audit highlighted risk areas, including a lack of legislative compliance.

Key specific findings concluded that investigations, inquests and reviews are not always completed in in a timely manner and, according to Martin’s report, “of great concern is that Child Death Review Committee recommendations made to mitigate future risks of child deaths are not being shared with relevant departments, organizations or agencies.”

The auditor general made 28 recommendations to the Department of Justice and Public Safety. The report is available online.

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Auditor General Paul Martin tabled a report in the legislative assembly today that includes an audit of the Department of Health’s responsibility to ensure timely access to addiction and mental health services.

“There are numerous improvements required pertaining to the development of key performance indicators, monitoring and reporting on access wait times, and an updated budgeting mechanism,” said Martin.

Martin concluded that the department lacks mechanisms to ensure timely access to addiction and mental health services; that performance measures, particularly those indicating wait times between referral and assessment, are inadequate; and that wait times for treatment often exceed the department’s established performance measures.

The Mental Health Services Advisory Committee, enacted by legislation, has not met since 2018.

The audit found that the budget for addiction and mental health services is not based on current needs assessments and the department does not monitor how the budget is used within the regional health authorities.

“The findings underscore the need for the Department of Health to implement effective measures to ensure timely access to addiction and mental health services in New Brunswick,” said Martin. “Addressing these recommendations will be crucial to ensuring that New Brunswickers receive the timely and adequate mental health support they need.”

The auditor general provided eight recommendations to the Department of Health. The report is available online.

FREDERICTON (GNB) – In his report tabled today at the legislative assembly, Auditor General Paul Martin examined the implementation rates of recommendations made from 2020 to 2022.

“Providing followup on prior years’ audit recommendations provides an important tool to enable the public accounts committee and New Brunswickers to hold departments accountable,” said Martin.

The auditor general found only 57 per cent of the recommendations from 2020 had been implemented; the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development implemented 100 per cent of the recommendations pertaining to timber royalties, however NB Power implemented neither of two recommendations pertaining to its debt challenges.

Martin said he was extremely pleased to see that departments implemented all of the 2021 audit recommendations.

Government departments and agencies implemented 71 per cent of his audit recommendations made in 2022.

“Ongoing followup will continue to ensure recommendations are being adopted,” said Martin.

The followup audit report is available online.

Auditor General's Comments

Travel Nurse Contracts – Department of Social Development, Horizon Health Network, Vitalité Health Network

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Auditor General Paul Martin tabled a report today in the legislative assembly that includes an audit of the Mental Health Trust Fund.

The audit found that, while the Department of Finance and Treasury Board has effectively fulfilled its obligations pertaining to the trust, the Department of Health has not.

“We found the Department of Health did not have the mechanisms in place to allow for timely use of the trust, as intended,” said Martin.

The trust fund was established in 1977 from a bequest made to the Province of New Brunswick and designated for specific treatment of deserving New Brunswickers.

The Department of Health is to draw funds for treatment, with the responsibility to determine which cases are most deserving based on an individual’s mental health condition and financial resources. The Department of Finance and Treasury Board is responsible for administration of the trust. As of March 31, 2023, the trust’s value was $1,635,256.

The audit found that Department of Health officials had little knowledge of the trust and its history. Martin concluded that the department has not made sufficient effort to give effect to the terms of the Mental Health Trust Fund and fulfil the donor’s wishes.

The auditor general made one recommendation to the Department of Health. The report is available online.

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Auditor General Paul Martin tabled a report today in the legislative assembly that includes an audit of NB Housing Strategy: Housing for All.

The audit found that, while the New Brunswick Housing Corporation established targets and measurable actions within the housing strategy, there are improvements to be made regarding linkages, transparency, and monitoring and reporting on progress.

“The targets are well presented, easy to understand and measurable. However, the strategy does not document what actions are linked to specific targets,” said Martin. “This means that New Brunswickers will not know which actions are driving success.”

The strategy was released on June 29, 2023, and documents a vision, guiding principles, goals, targets and actions for the first three years of the 10-year plan. The strategy highlights 22 actions intended to support and enable the achievement of four targets. While the strategy states it has identified $500 million over three years in new and previously committed funding, Martin noted many actions were missing information on costing.

The audit found public performance reporting mechanisms have not been established and there has been no public reporting on the achievement of the four targets.

The auditor general made a total of seven recommendations to the New Brunswick Housing Corporation. The report is available online.