A former Liberal cabinet minister in the Newfoundland and Labrador government is on administrative leave from a federal agency while the province's auditor general investigates politicians' spending claims.

Jim Walsh is on paid leave from the federal Transportation Safety Board, The Telegram newspaper reported.

Jim Walsh will be on paid leave from the federal Transportation Safety Board.
(CBC)

Walsh, who became a board member in May 2004, will remain on paid leave from the TSB until the situation is resolved, agency spokesman John Cottreau told the paper.

On Thursday, Walsh became the fourth Newfoundland politician to acknowledge that he is being investigated by Newfoundland and Labrador's Auditor General John Noseworthy.

Vernon French, Walsh's lawyer, met with Noseworthy. He said the auditor general claimed Walsh was overpaid about $75,000 in each of two years for his constituency allowances. Walsh's limit each year was $30,500.

Walsh served as tourism minister in the early 1990s for less than two years. He was forced to resign Feb. 22, 1994, because of revelations of cash campaign donations. He was vindicated in a subsequent investigation.

However, he did not return to cabinet until February 2003, when then premier Roger Grimes appointed him as minister of works, services and transportation.

He was a member of the House of Assembly from 1989 to 2003, when Walsh was defeated by Tory Dianne Whalen.