Mr. Fréchette, you have presented your April 2017 economic and fiscal outlook. If Bill C-44 unfortunately passes, would it be possible for you to present a similar outlook in a future Parliament?
Specifically, section 79.14(1) of the bill provides that:
Before each fiscal year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer shall prepare an annual work plan [...]
Further on, section 79.14(2) of the bill stipulates that:
The annual work plan is subject to the approval of the Speaker of Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons [...]
Moreover, you have stated, loosely translated, that:
I am more apprehensive about the Speaker of the Senate than the Speaker of the House of Commons [...]. The Speaker of the Senate is appointed by the Prime Minister's Office, while the Speaker of the House of Commons is elected by his peers.
So could a document such as the one we are examining today still be prepared, despite the affront contained in Bill C-44?