Kevin Page

Canada's Conservative government came into power in 2006 in the wake of a Liberal government spending scandal. The new government promised better accountability, as as part of that promise, established a Parliamentary Budget Officer responsible for ensuring all parliamentarians had reliable financial information on government policies and programs. This is the story of Canada's first PBO, Kevin Page.

Mr. Page explains how the office was established and how it did its work. He details the challenges he faced as the government now in power was less keen on facing the kinds of checks and balances it demanded when in opposition. This is a thoughtful work, looking at implications of the current state of Canadian government on the public service and on broader accountability to citizens in a democracy. Well worth reading if you are interested in Canadian politics or in public sector management more broadly.

I think he may have been a bit hard on the public servants who are working in a challenging environment. However, I congratulate Mr. Page on his honesty and the ongoing concern he displays for Canada's future governance.… (more)