Canada's New , Open and Transparent Govt.
Now if that is not enough to turn a dog away from a gut wagon- or cause massive gagging within the Canadian Public.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Page
Before being appointed to the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer, on March 25 2008, Kevin Page had for twenty-seven years worked as a civil servant in the Canadian government with experience in central agencies and line departments including: Finance Canada; the Treasury Board Secretariat; the Privy Council Office; the Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.[4][5]
The Parliamentary Budget Officer, is an independent officer of the Library of Parliament who reports to the Speakers of the House of Commons and Senate.[6] The Parliamentary Budget Officer's responsibilities include providing an independent ****ysis of the state of the economy, the nation's finances and the government's expenditure plan, and an ****ysis of the expenditure estimates of any government department or agency when requested to do so by a Parliamentary committee that's reviewing those estimates. The officer is also mandated to provide an estimate of costs for any proposal that falls within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada.[7]
His approach of questioning government estimates and issuing reports that are at odds with official government forecasts has created controversy. "There are former parliamentarians saying I should be held in contempt of Parliament and should be fired, but I’m okay with them saying that. That’s just part of the debate."[8] He has been unapologetic about his desire to give the Parliamentary Budget Office a significant role in informing Parliament and Canadians about government finances, saying "I went to the OECD, and they said the Americans have the best budget office, bar none. Why can't we be the best in five years? If that's overstepping my mandate, then I'm earning my money." [9]
Budget watchdog says he is willing to go to court to get information on federal cuts - The Globe and Mail
There’s a showdown looming between the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
Kevin Page has given officials in 56 departments and agencies until Wednesday to provide information about cuts and savings in the federal budget.
On Sunday, he told CTV’s Question Period he’ll take his fight for information to court if need be.
“The information we’re asking for is the information that’s actually fundamental for MPs to do their jobs,” Mr. Page said.
“If we cannot get this information from deputy ministers, we may have to seek this kind of clarity. But it was never our first option.
“We would go to court if we have to.”
But the Conservative cabinet minister in charge of the cuts wants Mr. Page to butt out.
Treasury Board President Tony Clement told CBC Radio’s The House this weekend that Mr. Page is operating outside his mandate — an argument he says he’s willing to make before the courts.
“When you look at the words in his mandate — the finances, the estimates and the trends in the national economy — it’s not about money not spent, it’s about money spent,” Mr. Clement told CBC.
Mr. Clement says it’s the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s job to look at what the government spends money on — not what it doesn’t.
“There’s lots of work for him to do inside his mandate and he should stick to that,” he said.
He said the government is accountable to Parliament through estimates, quarterly departmental reports and public accounts documents.
However, Mr. Page told CTV it’s his office’s job to look at both spending and cuts.
“We think we’re very clearly within our mandate. And it’s very important to look at austerity,” Mr. Page said.
“Sometimes what you don’t spend money on is just as important as what you spend money on.”
Now if that is not enough to turn a dog away from a gut wagon- or cause massive gagging within the Canadian Public.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Page
Before being appointed to the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer, on March 25 2008, Kevin Page had for twenty-seven years worked as a civil servant in the Canadian government with experience in central agencies and line departments including: Finance Canada; the Treasury Board Secretariat; the Privy Council Office; the Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.[4][5]
The Parliamentary Budget Officer, is an independent officer of the Library of Parliament who reports to the Speakers of the House of Commons and Senate.[6] The Parliamentary Budget Officer's responsibilities include providing an independent ****ysis of the state of the economy, the nation's finances and the government's expenditure plan, and an ****ysis of the expenditure estimates of any government department or agency when requested to do so by a Parliamentary committee that's reviewing those estimates. The officer is also mandated to provide an estimate of costs for any proposal that falls within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada.[7]
His approach of questioning government estimates and issuing reports that are at odds with official government forecasts has created controversy. "There are former parliamentarians saying I should be held in contempt of Parliament and should be fired, but I’m okay with them saying that. That’s just part of the debate."[8] He has been unapologetic about his desire to give the Parliamentary Budget Office a significant role in informing Parliament and Canadians about government finances, saying "I went to the OECD, and they said the Americans have the best budget office, bar none. Why can't we be the best in five years? If that's overstepping my mandate, then I'm earning my money." [9]
Budget watchdog says he is willing to go to court to get information on federal cuts - The Globe and Mail
There’s a showdown looming between the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
Kevin Page has given officials in 56 departments and agencies until Wednesday to provide information about cuts and savings in the federal budget.
On Sunday, he told CTV’s Question Period he’ll take his fight for information to court if need be.
“The information we’re asking for is the information that’s actually fundamental for MPs to do their jobs,” Mr. Page said.
“If we cannot get this information from deputy ministers, we may have to seek this kind of clarity. But it was never our first option.
“We would go to court if we have to.”
But the Conservative cabinet minister in charge of the cuts wants Mr. Page to butt out.
Treasury Board President Tony Clement told CBC Radio’s The House this weekend that Mr. Page is operating outside his mandate — an argument he says he’s willing to make before the courts.
“When you look at the words in his mandate — the finances, the estimates and the trends in the national economy — it’s not about money not spent, it’s about money spent,” Mr. Clement told CBC.
Mr. Clement says it’s the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s job to look at what the government spends money on — not what it doesn’t.
“There’s lots of work for him to do inside his mandate and he should stick to that,” he said.
He said the government is accountable to Parliament through estimates, quarterly departmental reports and public accounts documents.
However, Mr. Page told CTV it’s his office’s job to look at both spending and cuts.
“We think we’re very clearly within our mandate. And it’s very important to look at austerity,” Mr. Page said.
“Sometimes what you don’t spend money on is just as important as what you spend money on.”
Last edited:
