N.B. PCs bypassed due diligence for Christian rehab centre: advocate [Video]

FREDERICTON –

New Brunswick’s child, youth and seniors advocate says there was a lack of accountability and due diligence in government funding of a private, faith-based drug rehab centre.

In a report published Thursday, Kelly Lamrock expresses concern about “politicized” decision-making by the provincial Regional Development Corporation. His report is titled, “Express Lane: How a Faith-Based Addictions Program Jumped the Queue During a Shortage of Services.”

Under the previous Progressive Conservative government, led by Blaine Higgs, the corporation gave $1.5 million in September to a Christian group, Village of Hope, to expand its services in Upper Tracy, about 45 kilometres south of Fredericton.

The Regional Development Corporation is a provincial Crown corporation that plans and implements economic development initiatives.

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In his report, Lamrock said he was concerned that approval processes varied across different government departments. He said the development corporation …