The highest honour that the Canadian Taxpayers Federation can give is its TaxFighter Award. This year the award went to former Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Kevin Page.
“Kevin Page won the respect of taxpayers, public servants and political leaders of all partisan persuasions,” says the Federation’s Federal Director Gregory Thomas, by giving “a more accurate understanding of how the federal government spends our tax dollars.”
The position of Parliamentary Budget Officer was created in 2008 by the ruling Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to fulfil its election promise of accountability when it came to power in 2006. Kevin Page was the first PBO.
Pictured, left to right, Troy Lanigan, President of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), former PBO Kevin Page, Gregory Thomas, CTF Federal Director (Photo: Canadian Taxpayers Federation)
But his diligence in digging up figures that reflected the true nature of the government’s policies and spending practices brought criticism from the government that appointed him, and found cabinet ministers suggesting he misunderstood his mandate.
Page had almost 30 years of experience in the Department of Finance, at the Treasury Board and the Privy Council Office, before his appointment as Parliamentary Budget Officer.
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Gregory Thomas about the TaxFighter Award and the reasons that motivated the federation to honour Kevin Page.
More information:
Press release – Canadian Taxpayers Federation to Award its Highest Honour to Former Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page – here
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