The Liberal opposition tabled a bill this morning to create the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer.
What does a parliamentary budget officer eat in winter? It simply gives the correct picture of the state of public finances in a neutral and independent manner.
It allows parliamentarians to have access to macroeconomic analyzes and quality data, thus improving decision-making and its process.
It can, during elections, look at the real costs of electoral promises.
In short, it acts as guardian of the quality of the figures provided to us and watchdog of the transparency of data in matters of budgetary policy.
- Listen to the political meeting with Yasmine Abdelfadel and Marc-André Leclerc via QUB :
Unanimity
The Liberals have not invented anything, many political parties have called for years for the creation of such a position: the ADQ, the PQ, QS and…. the CAQ!
Moreover, by delving into the archives, we can find this tasty quote: “I think that it is in the interest of all citizens that we stop playing with the figures and that we present the reality of finances public, because, honestly, when we talk about a hole of 1.6 billion dollars, that’s a lot of money.”
No, it was not Marc Tanguay, nor Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, nor Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. It was François Legault who, on October 23, 2012, asked the Marois government to create a position of parliamentary budget director.
Photo Stevens Leblanc
2012 c. 2024
He was also devastated that in 2012, the government could record a deficit of 1.6 billion dollars during the same press briefing. The situation was serious, according to François Legault of yesteryear.
Imagine what Mr. Legault version 2012 would have said about François Legault version 2024. Ouch!
Eleven billion deficit (record!), still no parliamentary budget officer, postponement of the return to a balanced budget, capitulation to the unions, etc.
There is still time to do well, Mr. Legault. Everything is not over, the government must call the opposition’s bill to study it and adopt it, as quickly as possible. This is the first step in restoring Quebecers’ confidence in public finances.