OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques to immediately be appointed to a full seven-year term, arguing that his lack of job security compromises his ability to hold the Liberal government to account for its fiscal profligacy.

Poilievre said in an open letter sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday that he suspected this was by design.

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“To silence the watchdog, you’ve kept him on a short leash with a term that expires in 166 days, after which you could either renew or fire him, meaning you could fire him for telling the truth,” wrote Poilievre.

Jacques was appointed to a six-month term as interim PBO on Sept. 2, just as predecessor Yves Giroux’s seven-year term ended.

Officials signalled at

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