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 Cardozo: Welcome, Ms. Ryan. First, how would you handle disagreements with departments and agencies over data access? It’s an ongoing problem.

Second, in terms of public accounts, how do you see the roles of the Senate and the House of Commons as being different?

Ms. Ryan: Thank you. I think your question about data access is similar to one that was posed earlier.

There are ways to meet people where they are and listen to what their constraints are regarding data access, for example, if it’s a privacy issue, a cybersecurity issue and so on. What are the options to work through that to allow the analysis to happen and so on? You can meet the departments in good faith and try to work through these issues.

There will inevitably be areas where they will not be forthcoming with data, information and so on. I think that, in those situations, what is called for is to first name it: that they do or do not respond to requests from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, which has a standing in law. There is always a way to inform the question in a way where perhaps the department or agency would see merit to bringing forward the numbers. I think there are different ways to get at the question.

If I may, sir, could I ask you to repeat the second question?

Senator Cardozo: It regarded the different roles we have in the House of Commons and the Senate vis-à-vis public accounts.

Ms. Ryan: I will respectfully say that I will inform myself about those different roles and look forward to building some means to support both.