A long time New Democrat who has held key executive positions within the party is publicly denouncing Darrell Dexter's government.

Pamela Harrison has written a letter to the premier telling him how disappointed she is in his government and that she no longer considers herself a member of the party.

"I had the simplistic idea that once a "good party" was elected, that party would understand and exemplify the difference between politics and governance, and that their claim of a government that would be open, transparent and accountable was actually a commitment, instead of simply campaign rhetoric," she writes.

"I am no longer a New Democrat."

Harrison has been a provincial treasurer for the NDP and a president of a riding association. She has been a staffer on three election campaigns — two provincial and one federal — and has participated in several party committees.

"Disappointingly I don't see openness, transparency, respect — which is what I had hoped for beyond anything else with this new government," she told CBC News after she released her letter.

"The things that cost nothing have not been done, and the things that cost — I have no doubt — will not be done either."

Harrison said she began writing her letter to Dexter in December but held off sending it, to speak with other New Democrats.

After this week's revelations by Nova Scotia Auditor General Jacques Lapointe, she said it's time to speak out.

"It's a relatively new government but they've been practicing for this for 10 years," said Harrison. "They've had the chance to know and think about how they would do things differently."

The premier's office confirmed they had received the letter but declined to comment on its contents.

Harrison said she will likely lose friends over her stand but it is a price she's willing to pay.