Conservatives perform acrobatics on PBO and fiscal transparency

Conservative Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board Andrew Saxton has been caught performing a volte-face in the House of Commons on the PBO.

Behold the government’s position on the NDP’s practical proposals for strengthening the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) from 2010:

Andrew Saxton, Hansard, November 22, 2010:

“The government supports referring this bill to committee” “We think that this legislation needs a closer look, which is why we support having the bill referred to committee for study.”

Compare those clear statements to what Conservatives are now saying about the NDP’s PBO bill.

Andrew Saxton, Hansard, April 29, 2013:

“Why do we need to change the mandate and governance structure of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer?” “Our intention is to leave well enough alone”

It’s clear that the priority now for Conservatives is less accountability and a weaker PBO.

Today, Conservatives have another chance to show they still have a shred of commitment to fiscal accountability left. New Democrats are urging them to put Canadians ahead of their own narowa partisan interests and support Tom Mulcair’s PMB to strengthen the PBO

Or else, it will be just the latest of a long line of broken promises and staggering flip-flops on accountability and transparency.

Canadians deserve better.