Description: The Province of New Brunswick certainly seems to have its share of fiscal challenges, after having run deficits for several years. Last week the Province began looking at another cost-cutting measure: reducing the number of independent legislative officers. Legislative officers include the Auditor General and the Ombudsman. New Brunswick has nine of these officers while most other jurisdictions have fewer than that. Policy expert Donald Savoie recommends reducing the number to four.

Source: cbc.ca

Date: November 11, 2015

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-legislature-watchdogs-review-warned-1.3314016

Discussion Points:

1) What’s your opinion on this discussion? Would you recommend a reduction in the number of officers?

2) In 1918 the Province of NB eliminated its auditor general office and it did not reappear for 50 years (see https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/JNBS/article/view/24246/28032 for a detailed account of this change). Do you thing the government should make any changes to the auditor general’s office as part of this current review?

3) How should Canadian governments disclose money spent on legislative functions in their financial statements?