Annual Reports by Subject

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.

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.

(Performance Audit) – This volume presents the results of our performance audits on Travel Nurse Contracts, Pupil Transportation, NB Housing Strategy and Mental Health Trust Fund No.9.

Auditor General's Comments

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