The result of today’s vote on the role of the parliamentary budget officer is bad news for Canadians and parliamentarians who count on this independent analysis of the country’s finances.
A majority of Conservatives voted against our motion aimed at reaffirming the essential role of the PBO and making this position an independent officer of Parliament.
The NDP also called for the extension of the current PBO’s mandate, Kevin Page, whose term ends at the end of next month, until a competent replacement is named.
Unfortunately, we still don’t know if the government will keep this key position or proceed to dismantle it. The Conservatives were the ones who created this important position out of concern for transparency, a transparency that is quickly eroding.
The NDP believes the watchdog role of the budget officer is essential. Page’s analyses shed light on several issues and led to the abandonment of certain policies that were too costly or unjustified.
The NDP will continue, like the PBO, to call for more transparency on the part of the Conservatives and continue to hold them to account.
