The speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature won't be asking police to investigate former ombudsman Fraser March, despite an independent report that used words such as deceitful to describe March's actions surrounding questionable travel claims.

Speaker Roger Fitzgerald said Wednesday the government had grounds to fire March in December 2005, but Fitzgerald said March didn't have criminal intent.

In a report released this week, retired appeal court judge John O'Neill said March held a position of high authority but his conduct regarding his expenses was not honest.

March was fired from the job as citizen's representative by a vote of politicians in the house of assembly.

Provincial Auditor General John Noseworthy had earlier raised questions about March's travel and cell phone expenses, and he noted March did union consulting work while holding the government position.

Fitzgerald said neither O'Neill nor the auditor general suggested referring the matter to the police. Fitzgerald also said the amount of money involved was not significant.

March has denied doing anything wrong. In response to O'Neill's report, March told CBC News this week if he were charged he could at least defend his position in court.