Jim Flaherty wants new PBO to be his buddy

In an interview Sunday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty lamented the fact that Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page had spent more time pointing out when things went wrong than listening sympathetically to government plans. Flaherty said the PBO should be:

“Sort of being a sounding board, a testing board… But (Page) is kind of wandering off and going in other places."
– Jim Flaherty, Global, January 28th 2013

Since Page was appointed five years ago he has brought to public attention Conservative government fiscal mismanagement on:

• Botched procurement of F-35 fighter jets
• Old Age Security cuts
• The fact there would be a deficit

No wonder the Finance Minister has declared his intent to change the Budget Officer’s mandate and install a loyal Conservative friend in there. Because friends don’t let friends point out when they’ve mismanaged the nation’s finances.

Dismantling the Accountability Act and avoiding fiscal transparency. That’s the Conservative record.