Watching the Numbers

In March 2008 I became Canada’s first parliamentary budget officer. It was a great honour. Truth be told, I did not want that honour. I do not think most governments want more accountability. They talk the game but they do not walk the walk. This is true of the current Conservative government.

It was the best five years of my public service career. It is funny how life works. You take a job you do not want and it turns out to be a great experience. I got to work with a very strong team of public servants who wanted to build a true legislative budget office for their parliament, for their country. They wanted to reshape ideas about fiscal transparency and analysis to support decision making.

It was a five-year appointment. I was effectively appointed by the prime minister to watch over his budget making on behalf of Parliament. I would work “at pleasure” of the prime minister. This does not make sense. The purpose of a legislative budget officer is not to...