N.B. audit notes $500M surplus, mental health services problems

New Brunswick’s net debt is at its lowest point in nearly a decade, according to the auditor general’s report.

Auditor General Paul Martin released financial and performance audits for the province on Tuesday. He found New Brunswick had a $501 million surplus in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

“Net debt decreased for the fourth year in a row and is at its lowest point in almost a decade,” the report reads. “Overall, the Province’s financial condition has remained stable since 2023.”

The report notes provincial expenses have grown by $1 billion and $4.4 billion in debt is expected to be repaid across the next four years. The province’s net debt is $11.8 billion compared to $12.3 billion in 2023.

The report further notes the 2023 surplus was roughly $1 billion and it attributes that drop to the increased provincial expenditures (such as health, education and social development) outpacing increases in total revenues.

The report found the Department of Health was 18 months behind in preparing and issuing invoices to pharmaceutical companies to recover some costs under the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Plan Price Listing Agreement. The unissued invoices are valued at $97 million.

The report also expressed concern with NB Power’s ability to sustain its operations without government support. It noted the organization’s elevated debt levels, operating challenges and lack of profitability as problematic areas.

Performance audit

The second report looked at New Brunswick’s child death investigation process, access to addiction and mental health services, hotel accommodations policy and implementation of performance audit recommendations.

The report’s findings say child death investigations, inquests and death reviews are not completed in a timely manner, and some inquests lack proper documentation. It also found that 34 per cent of coroners did not have all required e-learning courses completed.

“The loss of a child is a profound tragedy that strikes at the heart of families and communities in New Brunswick,” the report reads. “In the wake of such an event, it is crucial that every aspect of the investigation, inquest (if applicable), and subsequent Child Death Review Committee review is conducted with the utmost diligence and integrity.”

Looking at mental health and addictions services, the auditor general determined wait times exceed established targets. As of April 12, 5,019 referrals were waiting for such services.

The report also says that of the 63,291 referrals from April 2022 to March 2024, 33 per cent of them were closed without treatment, often due to a client not attending, the department being unable to locate a client or a client withdrawing.

The report examined past audit recommendations and found 57 per cent of them from 2020 and 71 per cent of them from 2022 have been completed. One-hundred per cent of the recommendations from 2021 have been implemented.

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