New Brunswick Auditor General Paul Martin to Retire After Five-Year Term

a neat stack of official government audit documents, a metal pen, and reading glasses resting on a wooden desk in a quiet office, a window in the background sho

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Paul Martin to Step Down as New Brunswick Auditor General

Paul Martin, the Auditor General of New Brunswick, has announced his retirement after completing five years out of his appointed ten-year term. Martin, who has served in the role since January 2022, shared his plans to step down at the end of 2026, expressing his intention to spend more time with his family.

Reflecting on a Five-Year Tenure

Martin’s decision to retire comes as he nears his 67th birthday. In an interview, he stated, “I will be 67 at the end of this year, and it's time to go home and spend time with the grandkids and my wife.” Martin emphasized that he has no regrets about his time in office, saying he does not feel he has left anything unfinished in his role.

Career in Public Service and Oversight

Prior to becoming auditor general, Martin held the position of government comptroller and served as president of the New Brunswick Institute of Chartered Accountants. As auditor general, he reported to the legislative assembly, overseeing investigations into public spending and resource allocation, with findings shared through publicly released audits.

Proudest Achievement: Travel Nurse Contracts Report

Among his accomplishments, Martin pointed to his audit on travel nurse contracts as a particular point of pride. The report examined agreements signed with a private company during a period when the Vitalité Health Authority faced severe staffing shortages. Although he recognized that officials acted in response to operational needs during COVID-19, Martin was critical of certain aspects of the contracts which, he said, resulted in significant costs for New Brunswickers. “There were some fatal issues with the contracts that were signed that cost New Brunswickers an enormous amount of money,” he noted.

Martin’s work on this issue gained recognition from Paula Doucet, president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, who stated that his audit “really blew open the discussion on where taxpayer dollars go.” Doucet added the report prompted health authorities to take action aimed at retaining nurses in the province.

Other Notable Audit Findings

Martin has issued several other influential reports during his tenure. Green Party Leader David Coon highlighted Martin’s work on collaborative care centres, which revealed a lack of planning regarding their location and cost estimates. Martin has also published audits addressing N.B. Power finances, the Tantramar gas plant decision, student literacy targets, issues in the child-death-review process, court legal aid availability, and methods for determining highway repairs.

Commitment to Government Accountability and Collaboration

Throughout his service, Martin emphasized the importance of accountability and constructive relationships with government departments. He asserted that government officials often strive to do the right thing, but pointed out systemic gaps, such as not always asking critical questions about the effectiveness and value of public programs. “There's accountability here and a need to step up and do the right thing sometimes when it's the hard thing,” he said. Martin characterized his relationship with departments as collaborative, working together to find solutions and implement meaningful recommendations.

Martin is preparing to file one final report in December before his resignation takes effect on December 31, 2026. Looking to the future, he expressed hope that strong candidates from New Brunswick will come forward to take on the role of auditor general.