A former parliamentary funds officer says it’s “just wrong” to recommend that the federal funds are unsustainable and is publicly disagreeing with the present fiscal watchdog.
Kevin Web page — who was Canada’s first parliamentary funds officer (PBO) beginning in 2008 — informed CBC’s Energy & Politics that he disagrees with the language of the present PBO, Jason Jacques.
“I think the language from the current parliamentary budget officer, Mr. Jason Jacques, is just wrong and he should walk that back, quite frankly,” Web page informed host David Cochrane.
“I think it’s definitely inflamed certain passions around Canada’s fiscal situation that I think are not consistent with the numbers.”
Jacques — who was appointed interim PBO final month — just lately described the state of Canada’s funds as “stupefying,” “shocking” and “unsustainable.”
“I think everybody should be concerned,” Jacques informed MPs on the federal government operations and estimates committee final week.
WATCH | PBO’s phrases of warning about Canada’s funds ‘just wrong,’ says predecessor:
PBO’s phrases of warning about Canada’s funds ‘just wrong,’ says predecessor
Former parliamentary funds officer Kevin Web page calls out interim PBO Jason Jacques for his warnings a few ‘stupefying’ and ‘not sustainable’ fiscal image final week. Web page says Jacques’s language is ‘just wrong,’ that Canada’s funds are sustainable and that Jacques must stroll again the feedback for the nice of the workplace.
We’re hoping, and positively anticipating, the federal government as a part of funds 2025 to obviously point out what the federal government plans to do to handle … this downside.”
Web page, who now heads the Institute of Fiscal Research and Democracy on the College of Ottawa, stated the language Jacques used isn’t typical for somebody in a non-partisan place.
“You wouldn’t see a governor of the Bank of Canada or the auditor general use that kind of language,” Web page stated.
He stated he expects to see much less of that form of language from Jacques going ahead.
The PBO is a non-partisan officer of Parliament, offering impartial financial and monetary evaluation to the Senate and the Home of Commons.
“I think they recognize it’s a mistake,” Web page stated. “I think they have to walk it back.”
Jason Jacques is the interim parliamentary funds officer. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
The latest report from the PBO — which provides a baseline heading into the Nov. 4 funds — tasks the federal authorities will submit an annual deficit of $68.5 billion this yr, up from $51.7 billion final yr.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated the deficit might be larger than the final, citing the impact of U.S. tariffs and extra spending introduced by his authorities.
Web page didn’t disagree with the latest PBO report, however he argued Canada is fiscally “in a pretty good place” relative to different G7 nations.
“It’s not shocking to see a deficit go up because the economy is slowing and we have NATO commitments. To me, it’s sustainable,” Web page stated.
