Mr. Chair, I feel like I'm in the House of Commons.
Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today. I'm pleased to be here for the first time before a House committee since being appointed Parliamentary Budget Officer, thank you, upon resolution of the Senate and the House of Commons. I started assuming my function duties on September 4, 2018.
I am here today with Jason Jacques, senior director of costing and budgetary analysis.
As you know, when the Parliament of Canada Act was amended last year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer was recognized as an officer of Parliament. The September 2017 order in council brought that change into effect and confirmed the expanded mandate, which now includes the costing of parties' election platforms. In addition, the PBO is now responsible for providing analysis services to senators, MPs, and parliamentary committees.
In accordance with the PBO's legislative mandate to provide impartial, independent analysis to help parliamentarians fulfill their constitutional role, which consists of holding government accountable, my office will continue to prepare reports and analysis of the estimates of the government and the budget, in addition to other pertinent federal government documents relating to the nation's finances or economy. Following the tabling in Parliament later this fall, my office will publish a report on the 2018-19 supplementary estimates (A).
That will conclude my remarks, as I understand you may have questions for me and Mr. Jacques.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We'd be happy to answer questions.