Only half of auditor general's past recommendations put into practice

Half of New Brunswick Auditor General Kim MacPherson's recommendations from 2013 to 2015 have still not been implemented.

MacPherson's review, released Thursday, found that 49 per cent of her recommendations from past reports have been implemented by provincial departments.

She said she is not satisfied with that rate and wants departments to be more transparent and consistent in reporting how they're implementing what's been recommended.

In herreport, MacPherson wrotethat only six of her office's 11 recommendations in its 2013 audit of foster homes were implemented by the Department of Social Development.

Among the areas that still need work, her report says, are the concerns about standards for contracting with foster families,compliance with foster home standards, and publicly reportingthe effectiveness of the Children's Residential Services program.

MacPherson's review also found that six of 13 recommendations on bridge inspection and capital maintenance have still not been implemented by the province.

Additional work is needed on defining life-cycle costs for bridges and on the system for choosing which bridges or other projects need work, her report says.

MacPhersonalso noted that the province needs a comprehensive long-term infrastructure plan "to ensure the sustainability and safety of all essential infrastructure in the province," which was recommended in 2012.

However, she said her office is "disappointed" that there is still no long-term approach by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to budgeting for maintenance work on its assets.

Among other areas:

• Three of nine recommendations from MacPherson's 2013 audit of the procurement of goods and services have been fully implemented.
• Two of nine recommendations that came from her 2013 review of the collection of accounts receivable have been implemented.
• Her recommendationto NB Power on the refurbishment of thePoint Lepreau Generating Stationhas been fully implemented.