This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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All opposition parties have unanimously demanded that the government shall get a move on finding a replacement of the current parliamentary watchdog, and in the meantime at least extend the employment period of the current officer. Almost two months are left in the five-year term of Kevin Page as the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and so far the government has made no appear ant progress towards finding or announcing any replacement.
The Leader of NDP, Tom Mulcair, addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper requesting that the government shall expand the appointment period of Page until a replacement is found “for the sake of accountability.” The letter states that “given the importance of the Parliamentary Budget Officer to the work of parliamentarians, I believe it would be sensible to extend Mr. Page’s appointment until such time as a thorough, transparent and competitive search for his replacement can be completed and a new PBO appointed.” Mulcair further added that “It is crucial that parliamentarians, who are responsible in the coming months for providing oversight on the government’s annual budget, continue to have access to the PBO’s valuable advice.”
Liberal MP, John McCallum, answered the question about Page not being replaced on time, saying that there’s a possibility that parliamentarians will “be deprived” of key information needed to make spending decisions. He alleged that “It’s important to replace him and time is running out,” and “If they don’t have an official replacement by the time his term ends, the only option is an interim PBO, which I guess is better than nothing.”
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