New Brunswick’s premier says he could ask Auditor General Kim MacPherson to investigate financial irregularities in the office of the lieutenant-governor.
Global News confirmed on Thursday that the RCMP received a complaint about potential irregularities on Aug. 2, the day Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau died.
“Depending on the result of the RCMP investigation, we may consider asking the auditor general to look into the matter,” Higgs said in a statement.
“Where this is an ongoing RCMP investigation we won’t be making any further comments.”
READ MORE: New Brunswick RCMP investigating report of ‘financial irregularities’ in Lt.-Gov’s office
Higgs was not made available for an interview.
The auditor general’s office did confirm they are aware of the investigation but refused to comment further, only saying that they are not currently leading the file.
The RCMP is also not commenting on the investigation, only that they received in on Aug. 2.
WATCH: N.B premier says auditor general could be tasked to look into financial irregularities in Lt.-Gov’s office
In a statement to Global News Friday evening, the Department of Canadian Heritage confirmed a joint audit was conducted with the Office of the Comptroller of New Brunswick and brought this issue to the attention of the RCMP.
Canadian Heritage would not comment further, citing an ongoing investigation.
The investigation comes as the lieutenant-governor’s position has remained vacant for an unprecedented period of time.
READ MORE: N.B. lieutenant-governor Jocelyne Roy Vienneau dies after battle with cancer
It has now been 21 days since Roy Vienneau passed away, making this by far the longest amount of time New Brunswick has gone without a lieutenant-governor. It’s unclear at this time if the delay is related to the investigation.
It is the responsibility of the federal government to appoint a new lieutenant-governor, but requests for comment on the RCMP investigation have gone unanswered.