Parliament Resumes with Budget Officer Hearing and Audits

OTTAWA — Members of Parliament returned to the House of Commons on Monday, where the government faced scrutiny over a range of issues, including the nomination of a new parliamentary budget officer, fresh auditor general reports and Canada's stance on the escalating conflict in Iran.

Annette Ryan, a veteran public servant and current deputy director at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, appeared before the Commons finance committee in the afternoon to answer questions as part of her confirmation process for the role of parliamentary budget officer. The cabinet selected Ryan earlier this month to fill the non-partisan position, which requires approval from both the House of Commons and the Senate. The office has remained vacant since interim budget officer Jason Jacques's term ended on March 1, halting its ability to issue reports or respond to requests from lawmakers.

Some opposition members, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, advocated for extending Jacques's appointment, citing his six-month tenure's focus on analyzing government spending decisions. Ryan, a Rhodes Scholar with degrees from Acadia University and the University of...