Annual Reports by Subject

Highway Safety

Status of the Implementation of Performance Report Recommendations

FREDERICTON (GNB)- Auditor General Paul Martin released a report today on the Department of Women’s Equality’s implementation of Weaving Our Voices Together, New Brunswick’s plan in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Martin’s office received conflicting information related to the number of completed actions and concluded that no more than 10 percent of the plan’s 39 actions were reported as completed at the time of the audit.

Martin underscored a significant concern regarding the implementation of the Weaving Our Voices Together plan, specifically highlighting the absence of sufficient governance and oversight mechanisms.

During the audit, Martin discovered that the committees originally established to guide the plan’s implementation have not convened since its launch in 2023, and Women’s Equality was not adequately monitoring the status of plan initiatives.

Martin had a strong message for government and said, “It is time for New Brunswick to move beyond commitments and demonstrate tangible progress that honours the intent of the plan and the lives it seeks to protect.”

The Auditor General made 11 recommendations to the Department of Women’s Equality, all of which were accepted by the department.

FREDERICTON (GNB)- Auditor General Paul Martin released a report today on emergency health services in New Brunswick, highlighting significant gaps in the Department of Health’s oversight and reporting mechanisms for timely access to emergency room care.

Martin’s audit found that emergency room wait times consistently exceeded established targets, and that contributing factors were insufficient treatment spaces and a budget that is not based on current need. Martin recommended the department develop a comprehensive strategy to address excessive wait times.

“Our audit found that the Department of Health does not have effective mechanisms in place to ensure timely access to emergency health services,” said Martin. The report also noted there is an opportunity for the department to review emergency room data, to address the risks contributing to untimely service delivery.

The Auditor General made 11 recommendations to the Department of Health, and the department has committed to implementing these recommendations.

FREDERICTON (GNB)- Auditor General Paul Martin released a report today on highway safety in New Brunswick, noting improvements required in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s systems and practices for ensuring the safe movement of people and goods.

The audit found that nearly half of department-operated highways are in poor or very poor condition, and that New Brunswick is reported to have the highest per capita highway fatality rate amongst Canadian provinces.

Martin’s audit found that the department lacks a formalized highway safety strategy and does not consistently address safety concerns in a timely manner. “Of concern, is a noted lack of oversight of public-private partnership (P3) highways, including inconsistent monitoring of contract compliance,” said Martin.

The department lacks target repair times for maintenance on highways it manages, and Martin noted “ There is inadequate documented rationale for changes to asphalt and chipseal projects selected for the departments capital plan”.

The Auditor General made 24 recommendations to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, all of which were accepted by the department.

FREDERICTON (GNB) - In his report tabled today at the legislative assembly, Auditor General Paul Martin discussed the implementation rates of recommendations pertaining to prior years’ performance reports.

“This report is a tool for the Public Accounts Committee and the public to hold government accountable for acting on our recommendations,” said Martin.

This year’s report includes follow up on performance report recommendations from 2021 to 2023.

Martin was “pleased to see that departments have implemented 100 percent of the 2021 recommendations and 83 percent of the 2022 recommendations.”

However, only 32 percent of the 2023 recommendations have been implemented and Martin said, “As many of the outstanding recommendations relate to emergency response preparation, we will continue to follow up to ensure our recommendations are adopted”.