Finance committee  I cannot remember at the moment. The language requirements for people appointed by the governor in council are not set in the same way as the language requirements for the public service as a whole. When the selection criteria are stated and the positions are announced, the government establishes language requirements, in other words, whether a certain level of bilingualism is preferable or required.

Finance committee  Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that.

Finance committee  I don't know, because the Library of Parliament has assumed responsibility for the process.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  I don't know whether that was part of the requirements, but...

Finance committee  And there are crown corporations in which the vice-presidents are paid more than the CEO.

Finance committee  It's a maximum of a five-year term for that position, and it's renewable. Yes, it is.

Finance committee  The answer is no.

Finance committee  Since the issue was one of relativity, I imagine the question consists in determining whether the Parliamentary Budget Officer could report directly to the Clerk, or to the speakers of the two houses, rather than to the parliamentary librarian.

Finance committee  In fact, the pay level for the position has not been established by Parliament. Under the act, the Parliamentary Budget Officer receives the pay and benefits established by the governor in council. That is established as the appointment order is issued.

Finance committee  A higher pay scale is still a possibility. The governor in council has broad discretionary authority in this.

Finance committee  The only reservation I would express on that would be regarding the Parliament of Canada Act provisions governing the parliamentary librarian position, since the subordinate reporting relationship is required. When we received the position description, we discussed required qualifications and other considerations with people from the parliamentary librarian's office.

Finance committee  With due respect, Mr. Chairman, our position is perfectly in compliance with the provisions of the act. The act provides that the Parliamentary Budget Officer must be an employee of the Library of Parliament. If Parliament wished to establish a position similar to those of other parliamentary officers, that is to say, a completely independent position with an independent office outside existing structures, we would have had our orders and the position would have been clear.

Finance committee  With regard to the hierarchical aspect of the position, in other words, whether it is a position that comes under the parliamentary librarian or not, the level in our view is based on the wording of the act, in that the Parliamentary Budget Officer must be a member of the Library of Parliament and the Parliament of Canada Act provides for the position of parliamentary librarian.

Finance committee  No, once the appointment is made, our role will be completed.