New PBO says two requests for budget info from federal government fell short

OTTAWA – Canada’s new, interim parliamentary budget officer is having the same problems as the old one: being snubbed by the government.

Sonia L’Heureux said Monday that some federal departments have failed to meet two deadlines for information so she could analyse the 2012 federal budget.

Some departments complied partially with her first request in April, she said, but a second deadline came and went last week with no luck.

The previous PBO, Kevin Page who retired in March, clashed frequently with the Conservative government.

Page contradicted the government’s spending assumptions and cost estimates, prompting accusations that he had exceeded his mandate.

Last month, the Conservatives killed a private member’s bill introduced by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, which would have given the watchdog more teeth, making it a full-fledged, independent officer of Parliament.