Office of the Auditor General
December 13, 2006

Auditor General Releases Report on Audit of Financial
Statements of Province for Year Ended 31 March 2006

John L. Noseworthy, CA, Auditor General, today released his Report to the House of Assembly on the Audit of the Financial Statements of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for the Year Ended 31 March 2006.

The report provides information on the financial condition of government and comments on government's compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and adherence to principles of sound financial accountability.

Report Highlights

Financial Condition of Government � For the year ended 31 March 2006, government recorded a surplus of $199 million � the first annual surplus since 1998 � debt expenses totalling $947 million and a net debt of $11.7 billion. Compared to other provinces in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • had the highest net debt per capita of any province in Canada � approximately $23,000 for each Newfoundlander and Labradorian;
  • had the highest net debt as a percentage of GDP of any province in Canada at 54.4 per cent;
  • was included in the lowest credit rating category of any province in Canada;
  • had the highest interest costs as a percentage of total revenue at 17 per cent; and
  • had fewer resources to allocate to programs and services as a result of the "interest bite."
  • In 2006 the province recorded a surplus of $199 million, the first annual surplus since 1998. However, consider the following:

  • the Province would require a surplus of $300 million each year for 40 years to eliminate its existing net debt, i.e. to be debt free.
  • oil revenues are highly volatile to changes in oil prices and oil production. To illustrate this volatility, government's projected surplus of $6 million for 2006-07 was revised in November 2006 to a deficit of $40 million. The change in economic outlook resulted for the most part from oil production issues outside of government's control.
  • the province remains heavily reliant on transfers from the federal government to help pay for the costs of such programs as health, education, and social services - $1.9 billion or 34per cent of total revenue for 2006 resulted from federal transfers.
  • health and education expenses are increasing and for 2006 amounted to $3.0 billion or over 57 per cent of total expenses in 2006, an increase of $1.0 billion or 50 per cent over the $2.0 billion total expenses in 2001.
  • In addition to these factors, there are others which could result in changes to the annual surplus or deficit, including an aging infrastructure, an aging population, out-migration, interest and currency rate fluctuations, changes in GDP, and demand for government programs and services.

    Mr. Noseworthy stated: "Because of the annual recurring theme of deficits in the province, there has been much discussion and focus on deficit reduction and elimination. However, the province still has billions of dollars in debt along with the resulting significant interest bite. Continued annual surpluses and a reasoned plan of debt reduction will be required if progress is to be made in eliminating this debt� prudent fiscal management has to continue and a debt reduction plan has to be developed and followed before the financial condition of the province is turned around."

    Retirement Benefits

  • Pensions - While the province's unfunded pension liability as at 31 March 2006 of $2.201 billion decreased significantly from $3.934 billion as at 31 March 2005, it continues to represent a significant debt for government. The main reason for the $1.733 billion decrease was the decision by government to use $1.953 billion of the proceeds from the Atlantic Accord (2005) agreement to reduce the unfunded pension liability of the Teachers' Pension Plan. Mr. Noseworthy stated, "Although interest costs in future years should decrease as a result of the reduction in the overall unfunded pension liability, addressing the liability should remain a priority for government."
     
  • Group Health and Group Life Retirement Benefits - The liability for group health and group life insurance retirement benefits has added to the already considerable debt load of the province and is expected to increase in each of the next four years. The net liability as at 31 March 2006 was $1.265 billion (2005 - $1.159 billion). By 2010 the net liability is expected to total $1.607 billion if action is not taken to address it, an increase of $622 million or 63 per cent since it was first recorded in 2003. Mr. Noseworthy stated: "Government should carefully manage its liability relating to group health and group life insurance retirement benefits."
  • Internal Audit - Internal audit in government is not sufficiently resourced to adequately perform the duties expected of a modern and effective internal audit function. In recent years, standards of practice for internal auditing have prescribed increased duties and responsibilities for the internal audit function in such areas as accountability, governance, risk management and assurance. Internal audit within government is currently comprised of only three positions - in 1991 there were 21 positions. The lack of internal control and management safeguards at the House of Assembly establishment which led to excess claims and questionable payments to companies highlights the importance of independent scrutiny. An effective internal audit function can help ensure that preventative and detective controls are implemented and functioning. Mr. Noseworthy stated: "Government should ensure its internal audit function is sufficiently resourced."

    Environmental Liabilities � Although government has started to capture information on contaminated sites, there is still no complete central inventory of such sites in the province. Furthermore, although the province's environmental liability relating to remediation costs for contaminated sites may be a significant amount, only $10.7 million has been recorded as a liability in the province's financial statements. Mr. Noseworthy stated: "Government should be more proactive in identifying all contaminated sites in the Province for which it is potentially liable, determining the estimated liability associated with remediation costs, and recording the resulting liability in the province's financial statements."

    Transparency and Accountability Act � On 29 November 2004, government tabled the Transparency and Accountability Act which received Royal Assent on 16 December 2004. However, nearly two years later, the act has still not been proclaimed and, therefore, is not in force. Mr. Noseworthy stated: "Although government has been diligent in having annual reports tabled for departments and Crown agencies, the reports provide only general information on the operations of the department or agency. The reports do not provide the information necessary to hold each entity accountable for its performance, including fiscal performance, in relation to its approved plans, using established measurable criteria. The Transparency and Accountability Act should be proclaimed." Furthermore, government should require that appropriate accountability information be included in annual reports tabled in the House of Assembly.

    Mr. Noseworthy�s report is available on the Office of the Auditor General Web site at //www.gov.nl.ca/ag/reports.htm

    Media contact:
    Nina J. Goudie
    Director of Information Resources
    709-729-2346

    2006 12 13                                 10:40 a.m.


    SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


    All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
    Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement