moved for leave to introduce Bill C-572, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer).
Mr. Speaker, I present to the House an bill to strengthen fiscal transparency.
On numerous occasions, parliamentarians are asked to make decisions without being provided any information about the fiscal and economic implications of the choices before us. The government created the Parliamentary Budget Officer. However, the design had major flaws.
Although the officer's mandate is broad and strong, the position does not have the tools and independence necessary to deliver that mandate. This bill would address those flaws by making the Parliamentary Budget Officer an independent officer of Parliament, with the same powers as Parliament's other officers. This is in keeping with the spirit of the Federal Accountability Act.
I hope to have the full co-operation of all hon. members, particularly the government, in advancing fiscal transparency and accountability in our country and in Parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)