The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole in order to receive Annette Ryan respecting her nomination to the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Senator K. Wells: What steps would you take to ensure equal service to all parliamentarians regardless of party? For example, here in the Senate, we have non-affiliated senators who are not part of any group.

Ms. Ryan: Thank you, senator. I will pull my punches a little bit in terms of what steps I would take because I want to understand how work plans are set inside the PBO right now to make sure the balance is set between the House and the Senate, between committee work and work that is favoured by the opposition parties.

I appreciate the question about how to respond to blocks rather than parties. With respect, I’ll leave that as read today, rather than propose a specific method, if that’s okay.

Senator K. Wells: Thank you. My next question involves the following scenario: If your analysis contradicted a major government claim shortly before an election period, how would you handle timing and communication?

Ms. Ryan: I would handle it with transparency to the utmost degree and with timing that would prove useful for the election and the ability of Canadians to make that decision.

There are precedents. For example, the Congressional Budget Office is very good at sharing all its assumptions on how it comes to its conclusions. Canada is blessed with many interested and talented analysts outside of the PBO, who could then formulate their own opinion about whether the government’s or the PBO’s analysis is more accurate.

Senator K. Wells: Great. Thank you.