Auditor General to speak to RCMP on Liberals’ misuse of funds

A misuse of public funds has Nova Scotia’s opposition party in hot water.

Auditor General Kim Adair plans to file a report with RCMP after her investigation into the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia.

Adair says a former employee’s misuse of travel claims, and a party credit card led to their resignation and the reimbursement of more than $194 thousand.

She says she’s concerned about how this was addressed, and how the association delayed reporting it in 2021.

“We question why they made an easy to fulfill information request a costly endeavour for our office. We spent considerable time and resources dealing with this matter, and it delayed our ability to report to the House of Assembly,” said Adair.

She said they have evidence that the association sought to conceal and delay disclosing the misuse until after the 2021 provincial election.

Her recommendations say the Liberal Association should file formal complaints to RCMP and cooperate with their investigation, and to give the Chief Electoral Officer in Nova Scotia authority to deal with similar issues in the future.

Churchill responds:

Meanwhile, Liberal leader Zach Churchill is thanking the Auditor General for completing the report, and fully supports her recommendations.

In a statement, he says he inherited the situation and is taking it very seriously.

Churchill says he advised RCMP within a day of reading the report.

He adds the party office has experienced turnover in staff and they have implemented stronger financial supports to ensure this doesn’t happen again.