FIRST REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Third Session Fifty-fifth Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick June 21, 2006 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Mr. Allaby, Chair Mr. Sherwood, Vice-Chair Hon. Mr. Carr Hon. Mr. MacDonald Hon. Mr. Malley Hon. Mr. Williams Mr. Betts Mr. C. LeBlanc Mr. Doucet Mr. Haché Mr. Murphy Mr. Branch

June 21, 2006 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Mr. Speaker: Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts begs leave to submit this, their First Report. The report outlines the activities of the Committee during the Second Session of the Fifty- fifth Legislative Assembly and during the Third Session to date. Your Committee wishes to thank the many government officials who appeared during the public se ssions a nd wishes to acknowledge the ir co operation i n pr oviding foll ow-up information. And your Committee begs leave to make a further report. Eric Allaby, MLA Chairman

2 June 21, 2006 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Mr. Speaker: Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts begs leave to submit this, their First Report. The report outlines the activities of the Committee during the Second Session of the Fifty- fifth Legislative Assembly and during the Third Session to date. Review of 2003-2004 Fiscal Year The Committee commenced its review of the 2003-2004 fiscal year on February 3, 2005. The Committee met with the Auditor General, Daryl Wilson, to review the Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick, 2004, Volumes 1 and 2.

The Committee also met with officials of the Office of the Comptroller. The Comptroller, Michael Ferguson, answered questions with respect to the Public Accounts and Financial Statements of the Province for the fiscal year ended the 31 day of March 2004.st The Committee met in the Legislative Assembly Chamber on February 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25, 2005 to review the activities and financial statements of the various government departments for t he year ending March 31, 2004.

Officials of the fol lowing departments and offices of government appeared before the Committee: February 8, 2005 Department of Finance (including Service of the Public Debt) - John Mallory, Deputy Minister Office of Human Resources - Laura Freeman, Deputy Minister

3 February 9, 2005 Department of Business New Brunswick - Maurice J. Bernier, Deputy Minister Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture - Byron James, Deputy Minister February 10, 2005 Department of Public Safety - Louise Lemon, Deputy Minister Department of Natural Resources - W. David Ferguson, Deputy Minister February 11, 2005 Department of Tourism and Parks - Brian Alexander, Deputy Minister February 15, 2005 Department of Health and Wellness - Nora Kelly, Deputy Minister February 16, 2005 Department of Justice - Yassin Choukri, Deputy Minister

4 Department of Transportation - David Johnstone, Deputy Minister February 17, 2005 Department of Training and Employment Development - Rachel Bard, Deputy Minister Department of Supply and Services - G. Stephenson Wheatley, Deputy Minister February 18, 2005 Department of Education - Roger Doucet, Deputy Minister - John Kershaw, Deputy Minister February 23, 2005 Department of Energy - Bill Thompson, Deputy Minister Maritime Provinces Higher Education Committee - Mireille Duguay, Chief Executive Officer February 24, 2005 Department of Education (continued from February 18, 2005) - Roger Doucet, Deputy Minister - John Kershaw, Deputy Minister

5 Department of Intergovernmental and International Relations - Jim McKay, Deputy Minister February 25, 2005 Department of Family and Community Services - Don Ferguson, Deputy Minister On August 10, 2005, the Committee met in a joint session with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations to receive and review the Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick Volume I, 2005. The Auditor General, Daryl Wilson, briefed Members on the nature of the work undertaken during the year and on the contents and findings of the Report. On behalf of all Members, the Committee Chairs thanked the Auditor General, Mr.

Wilson, for his many years of dedicated service to the Legislative Assembly and the Province of New Brunswick. The Committee met on September 20, 21 and 22, 2005, to continue its consideration of departmental r eports for th e y ear endi ng M arch 31, 2 004.

Officials o f t he foll owing departments and offices of government appeared before the Committee: September 20, 2005 Office of the Premier (including Communications New Brunswick) - Rodney Weston, Chief of Staff Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick - Loredana Catalli Sonier, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly September 21, 2005 Labour and Employment Board - George Filliter, Chairperson

6 Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat - Patrick Francis, Deputy Minister Culture and Sport Secretariat - Sylvie Levesque-Finn, Executive Director New Brunswick Advisory Council on Seniors - Sister Anne Robichaud, Chairperson September 22, 2005 New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women - Rosella Melanson, Executive Director Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons - Randy Dickinson, Executive Director Meeting with CCAF On No vember 2 2, 2 005, in a jo int m eeting wit h t he S tanding Co mmittee o n Cr own Corporations, the Committee met with representatives from CCAF-FCVI Inc., a foundation specializing in public sector governance, management and accountability.

Topics of discussion included exercising leadership; relationships between legislators, legislative auditors, and senior government managers; achieving and demonstrating results; best practices in a jurisdiction; and committee self assessment. On January 10, 2006, the Committee met in a joint session with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations to receive and review the Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick Volume 2, 2005. The Auditor General, Michael Ferguson, briefed Members on the nature of the work undertaken during the year and on the contents and findings of the Report.

Election of Chair On February 7, 2006, the Committee was informed of the r esignation of Mr. Branch as Chair of the Committee.

7 On motion of Mr. Murphy, seconded by Mr. C. LeBlanc, Mr. Allaby was elected Chair of the Committee. Review of 2004-2005 Fiscal Year The Committee met on February 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 21, 22, 23 and March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24, 2006 to review the activities and financial statements of the various government departments for the year ending March 31, 2005. Officials of the following departments and offices appeared before the Committee: February 7, 2006 Office of the Auditor General - Michael Ferguson, Auditor General Office of the Comptroller - Stephen Thompson, Comptroller Department of Supply and Services - G.

Stephenson Wheatley, Deputy Minister February 8, 2006 Department of Natural Resources - W. David Ferguson, Deputy Minister Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture - Byron James, Deputy Minister February 9, 2006 Department of Health and Wellness - Nora Kelly, Deputy Minister

8 February 10, 2006 Department of Tourism and Parks - Brian Alexander, Deputy Minister Department of Intergovernmental and International Relations - Jim McKay, Deputy Minister February 15, 2006 Department of Training and Employment Development - Rachel Bard, Deputy Minister February 21, 2006 Department Education - Roger Doucet, Deputy Minister - John Kershaw, Deputy Minister February 22, 2006 Department of Business New Brunswick - Eloi Duguay, Deputy Minister Office of Human Resources - Laura Freeman, Deputy Minister February 23, 2006 Department of Energy - Bill Thompson, Deputy Minister

9 March 15, 2006 Department of Justice - Yassin Choukri, Deputy Minister Department of Family and Community Services - Don Ferguson, Deputy Minister March 16, 2006 Department of Transportation - David Johnstone, Deputy Minister Department of Public Safety - Louise Lemon, Deputy Minister March 17, 2006 Department of Environment and Local Government (2003-04 & 2004-05) - Hermel Vienneau, Deputy Minister March 22, 2006 Executive Council Office (2003-04 & 2004-05) - Maurice Bernier, Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission - Léandre Desjardins, Chief Executive Officer New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth (2003-04 & 2004-05) - Melissa Cameron, Chairperson

10 March 23, 2006 Labour and Employment Board - George Filliter, Chairperson Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat - Patrick Francis, Deputy Minister Department of Justice (continued from March 15, 2006) - Yassin Choukri, Deputy Minister New Brunswick Advisory Council on Seniors - Sister Anne Robichaud, Chairperson March 24, 2006 Department of Family and Community Services (continued from March 15, 2006) - Don Ferguson, Deputy Minister New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women - Ginette Petitpas-Taylor, Chairperson Your Committee wishes to thank the many government officials who appeared during the public se ssions a nd w ishes to ac knowledge the ir co operation i n p roviding foll ow-up information.

And your Committee begs leave to make a further report. Eric Allaby, MLA Chairman