Legislature braces for latest report from N.L. auditor

Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general is warning that his next report, to be released Tuesday, will detail "excess constituency allowance claims by members of the house of assembly."

John Noseworthy issued the warning on Monday, months after herocked the province's political circles in the summer with reports on overpayments of allowances allegations that have already ended one former cabinet minister's political career.

The provincial government asked Noseworthy in July to broaden the scope of his investigation. Apart from examining constituency allowances back to 1989 when the current system was developed Noseworthy was also asked to conduct comprehensive audits of the accounts of the house of assembly for five fiscal years, starting in 1989.

In June, Noseworthy began releasing audits of the use of constituency allowances, which are tax-free payments made to members of the house of assembly to cover office and related expenses.

In those reports, Noseworthy found that four politicians Tory Ed Byrne, Liberal Wally Andersen, New Democrat Randy Collins and former Liberal MHA Jim Walsh had together received more than $1 million in constituency allowances beyond their entitlements.

Byrne, who was forced to resign his cabinet seat as natural resources minister in June, announced last week that he is resigning from the house effective Jan. 1.

The politician, who had attended only one part of one day's session at the legislature since the fall sitting began, said he could not continue his constituency work while under a cloud.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary opened an investigation after Noseworthy completed his first series of reports.

Those investigations also included findings that $2.82 million of legislative funds were paid to companies for such things as fridge magnets, pins and gold rings.

Among other things, Noseworthy's latest investigation covers the period from 1999 to 2003, when the auditor general's office was prohibited from reviewing the records of the house of assembly.