Pierre Poilievre says he has serious concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s reported plan to appoint a new Parliamentary Budget Officer and is urging the government to instead make the current interim watchdog permanent.
In a letter released on social media, Poilievre said he has reservations about the potential candidate being considered by the prime minister. While he indicated he has been told the name of the proposed appointee, he did not publicly disclose it.
The Conservative leader called on Carney to appoint Jason Jacques to the role on a permanent basis.
Jacques was appointed interim head of the Parliamentary Budget Office in September for a six-month term that expired earlier this week.
With no permanent Parliamentary Budget Officer currently in place, the office cannot release new reports or accept fresh work requests from parliamentarians. However, staff will continue working on projects already underway until a new officer is appointed.
Poilievre said he only became aware of the prime minister’s proposed choice on Sunday and warned that the absence of a confirmed watchdog limits the office’s ability to provide financial oversight and transparency.
He also noted that during his interim tenure, Jacques had raised concerns about government spending and fiscal management, arguing that his work demonstrates he should be given the job permanently.
The government has not yet announced when a new Parliamentary Budget Officer will be formally appointed.