Government must comply with PBO’s information request on National Defence cuts

OTTAWA – Conservatives must comply with the PBO’s information request on cuts to DND, New Democrats demand.

“For almost a year, the Harper government has evaded accountability on their cuts to National Defence, but the recent court decision on the powers of the Parliamentary Budget Office obligates the Conservatives to comply with PBO’s information request,” said NDP Defence critic, Jack Harris (St. John’s East). “It’s time for the Conservative government to come clean with the PBO and with the Canadian public on the impact of their cuts.”

Combined budgetary reductions will amount to $2.47 billion or a 12.4% reduction to DND’s budget by 2014-1015. These cuts will undoubtedly have an impact on military communities across the country and on operational readiness of the Canadian Forces. The PBO sought out to study the impact of these cuts however its request for information has been stymied by the Conservatives for almost a year.

“This matter should never have come before the courts, but now that it has, the Conservative government can no longer hide from the Parliamentary Budget Office that they created” said Harris “The Conservative government’s attempt to hide from the PBO and from the Canadian public is one more reason why a Conservative government has become synonymous with unaccountability, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency.”