Bill C-572: An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer)

C-572 Third Session, Fortieth Parliament, 59 Elizabeth II, 2010 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-572 An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer) first reading, September 30, 2010 Mr. Dewar 403205 SUMMARY This enactment provides for the appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer as an officer of Parliament. Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca .vis1 {position: absolute;display:block;} .vis2 {position: static;} 3rd Session, 40th Parliament, 59 Elizabeth II, 2010 house of commons of canada BILL C-572 An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer) Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: SHORT TITLE Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Fiscal Transparency Act. R.S., c. P-1 PARLIAMENT OF CANADA ACT 2. Subsection 75(4) of the Parliament of Canada Act is replaced by the following: Other officers and employees (4) The officers, other than the Parliamentary Librarian and the Associate Parliamentary Librarian, and the clerks and servants who are authorized by law and required for the service of the Library may be appointed in the manner prescribed by law to hold office during pleasure. 3. Section 78 of the Act is replaced by the following: Duties of Librarians and staff 78. The Parliamentary Librarian, the Associate Parliamentary Librarian and the other officers, clerks and servants of the Library are responsible for the faithful discharge of their official duties, as defined, subject to this Act, by regulations agreed on by the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament and concurred in by the joint committee referred to in section 74. 4. Section 79.1 of the Act is replaced by the following: PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICER Parliamentary Budget Officer 79.1 (1) There is hereby established the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer, the holder of which is an officer of Parliament. Appointment (2) The Governor in Council shall, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint a Parliamentary Budget Officer after consultation with the leader of every recognized party in both Houses of Parliament and approval of the appointment by resolution of those Houses. Qualifications (3) In order to be appointed under subsection (2), a person must have (a) experience and knowledge of the federal budget process; and (b) an appropriate educational background, including a graduate degree in economics, finance or accounting. Tenure (4) The Parliamentary Budget Officer holds office during good behaviour for a term of seven years, but may be removed for cause by the Governor in Council at any time on address of the Senate and House of Commons. Reappointment (5) The Parliamentary Budget Officer is eligible to be reappointed for one or more terms of up to seven years each. Remuneration and expenses (6) The Parliamentary Budget Officer shall be paid the remuneration and expenses set by the Governor in Council. Interim appointment (7) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or if that office is vacant, the Governor in Council may appoint any qualified person to hold that office in the interim for a term not exceeding six months, and that person shall, while holding office, be paid the salary or other remuneration and expenses that may be fixed by the Governor in Council. No other office or employment (8) The Parliamentary Budget Officer shall engage exclusively in the functions and duties assigned to his or her office under this Act or any other Act of Parliament and may not hold any other office under Her Majesty or engage in any other employment for reward. Deputy head 79.11 The Parliamentary Budget Officer has the rank of a deputy head of a department of the Government of Canada and has the control and management of the Parliamentary Budget office. 5. (1) Section 79.2 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 79.2(1). (2) Paragraph 79.2(1)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following: (a) provide independent and proactive anal- ysis to the Senate and to the House of Commons about the state of the nation’s finances, the estimates of the government and trends in the national economy; (3) Section 79.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1): Release of reports (2) Any report that is prepared by the Parliamentary Budget Officer pursuant to the mandate set out in subsection (1) shall immediately be made available to the public and to all members of the Senate and the House of Commons. 6. (1) Subsection 79.5(1) of the Act is replaced by the following: Powers to contract (1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, in carrying out the work of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding or other arrangements. (2) Subsections 79.5(3) and (4) of the Act are replaced by the following: Staff (3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may employ any officers and employees and may engage the services of any agents, advisers and consultants that the Parliamentary Budget Officer considers necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. 7. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 79.5: Estimates to be prepared 79.6 (1) Prior to each fiscal year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer shall cause to be prepared an estimate of the sums that will be required to pay the charges and expenses of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer during the fiscal year. Inclusion in government estimates (2) The estimate referred to in subsection (1) shall be considered by the Speaker of the House of Commons and then transmitted to the President of the Treasury Board, who shall lay it before the House of Commons with the estimates of the Government for the fiscal year. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada