By The Canadian Press

Poilievre says he has reservations about Carney’s suggested fiscal watchdog

Mar 5, 2026 | 5:33 PM

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he has “serious” reservations about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s suggestion for a new parliamentary budget officer and is calling for the latest interim watchdog to get the job.

He suggested that he has been told the name of the appointee, but did not disclose it in a letter to Carney he made public on social media Thursday.

Interim PBO Jason Jacques was appointed to a six-month term in September that ended Monday.

With no budget officer installed, the office itself can’t publish any reports or accept new work requests from parliamentarians.

It will continue to work on existing requests while waiting for a new officer to be named.

Poilievre said he only heard of Carney’s suggested appointment on Sunday and that the office “cannot provide oversight and transparency” until a new budget officer is appointed.

Poilievre said Jacques “rang the alarm bells” and that Carney should appoint him on a permanent basis.

Laura Scaffidi, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said Jacques was appointed on an interim basis for six months to allow for an “open, transparent and merit-based selection process” for a permanent parliamentary budget officer appointment.

“The government has put forward its nominee for the full-time permanent parliamentary budget officer and has been engaging with recognized parliamentary parties since Sunday on that nominee, per the Parliament of Canada Act,” said Scaffidi.

“Once consultations have concluded, the government will table its nominee in the House of Commons and in the Senate.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026.

— With files from Craig Lord

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press