Economists Demand More Data from Federal Budget Office

This year, Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) will see interim officer Jason Jacques either replaced or made permanent, alongside a forthcoming OECD review, which has received positive feedback. Economists suggest enhancing the office’s objectivity by reducing commentary and increasing peer reviews of reports. Criticism arose from Jacques’s recent remarks labeling federal finances as “stupefying,” prompting calls for neutrality in language from predecessors like Kevin Page. While some experts see Canada’s finances as currently sustainable, they warn of potential risks from external shocks.