The Opposition Education critic says Memorial University has a “major problem” and says it remains to be seen how changes will be made to stem what Barry Petten calls lavish spending at the university.

The Auditor General says there was no oversight and policies on things like compensation were either lacking or non-existent.

While Memorial University has agreed with all eight of the AG’s recommendations, Petten says the people making the decisions haven’t really changed, and a “cultural shift” is needed.

While he acknowledges that former President Vianne Timmons is no longer there, “it’s the same Board of Regents, same Chair….and I don’t know if the current leadership are the ones who do that shift.”

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell told the House of Assembly this week that MUN’s Board of Regents has a large number of new faces.