Login / RegisterParliamentary budget officer claims he was intimidated by senior government officials
Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page said some astonishing things earlier today on CTV’s Question Period program.
In an interview with host Kevin Newman, Page revealed that he came very close to quitting after the Harper government cut his budget by one-third and demanded that all of his office’s work be kept confidential.
“It definitely was intimidation,” Page claimed.
His five-year tenure, which is about to come to a close, was also marked by some highlights. He called out the government for drastically low-balling the cost of the F-35 fighter-jet program, only to have his estimates largely confirmed in a subsequent auditor general’s report.
Unlike the auditor general, Page has a mandate to analyze Parliament's spending decisions and make determinations before the money has gone out the door.
Question Period also aired a clip of him telling Ottawa public-administration students that parliamentary watchdogs are under attack. He mentioned that the situation is the worst that he’s seen in the past 30 years.
Page is one of several officials who've been vilified or fired by the Harper government for questioning its decisions.
Others include former RCMP complaint commissioner Paul Kennedy, former veterans' ombudsman Pat Stogran, former military police complaint commissioner Peter Tinsley, Statistics Canada's former boss Munir Sheikh, former nuclear-regulatory commission head Linda Keen, and whistle-blowing diplomat Richard Colvin.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet are not known to brook dissent of any kind. It's amazing that after this record of muzzling and firing watchdogs, a claim of government intimidation by the parliamentary budget officer is still greeted in most quarters with a simple shrug of the shoulders.
StatsCan information crippled.
Scientists muzzled.
Pre-vetted media questions.
MPs cannot speak without PMO approved responses.
Any critic of government actions demonized/harassed.
And PM's created budget watchdog is not allowed to do job.
Thank you Kevin Page for all you tried to do and especially for not brown nosing.
I strenuously object to use of the sign "A Strong Canada" picture at the head of this piece. The rest of the world, the UN, the OECD know better, but some readers may not.
Harper is a poster child for corporate malfeasance and corporate power, just sort of dismantling everything that’s good about Canada. So he’s the kind of species that rises to political power and is utterly subservient to corporate interests at the expense of the citizenry.
Yeah, he’s a pretty venal figure.
http://www.straight.com/article-732826/vancouver/chris-hedges-harper-ven...
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The story makes it clear that Mr Page was not actually intimidated at all. And good for him.
Harper is not terrorising immigrants ,its a BC company and okyd by the city of Vancouver to do their filming So blame the mayor for terrorising ILLIGAL people.
First nations arnt getting anything held back,they just want more,30mil for an 80 people band per year is enough would you think?
Should we not be a strong CANADA I think so.
Now lets talk BC gov.Where do we start?.Then the LIBs. for 40 years .
And Jeff.Rather have Chretzian back or trudo .Learn politics not swearing.
Nadine Stop smoking whaky tobac before writing.
You are SO wrong! Vic Tuews signed off on filming the 'raid'. Goes all the way to the PMO, dude. Another propangandistic 'photo op'. Aren't we tough guys.
May as leader do you know what she stands for? Close the oil sands,shut down all polluting industries,go live on a farm or in a cave.
I see the so called bright poss. voters not knowing what is going on,you read a headline and right away its all Harpers foult
Read Evaluuna as to who is to blame for the filming,and you all were going to blame someone else,get your facts streight before you throw stones.
Tell me wether the LIBs or The NDPs have done any better for OUR CANADA ,Think about that a wile.
Who on earth is voting down the intelligent, concerned responses to this excellent article? -5 on the Hedges (brilliant!) quote? Nasty Konzervativ party trolls prowling the site for some democratic debate to attempt to squelch? Scary.
Thank you, Straight. Thank you, Charlie Smith. Godspeed, Chris Hedges. As for SH and his sphincter-lingual robofascist enthusiasts, may your karma ripen quickly and decisively.
Since then it's been win at any cost for Harper Cons. Prorouge parliament--twice, robo calls to 31,000 voters on the eve of the last election, intimidate scientists and academics.
Let's never forget who we are dealing with people!
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