[8] Harper said that he refused “to get into a lengthy debate on numbers.”[9] In February 2012, the PBO released an analysis of the projected cost over the next 70 years of benefits to the elderly.

It concluded that those costs would rise for a number of years relative to GDP, then fall back very close to current levels (slightly less than 15 per cent of total federal program spending).

[10] In June 2012, Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird said in Question Period that PBO Kevin Page had overstepped his mandate after Page sought a legal opinion on whether the PBO is entitled to all financial and economic data from federal departments, should it not be protected for privacy or confidentiality reasons.

[11][12] Other members of Parliament defended the PBO, arguing that it is difficult to vote on a budget when details aren't known about how significant cuts will affect government services and programs.

In March 2013, after departing as PBO, Kevin Page said the Conservative government was sending a "very strong signal" that it's "moving to unwind the office.

[15][16] The Liberal Party's 2015 election platform committed to making the PBO “truly independent of the government” and “accountable only – and directly – to Parliament”.

[17] The Liberals disputed some of the findings, with a Treasury Board spokesperson saying that the problems arose from confusion surrounding the budget process.

This analysis relies heavily on the use of econometric and statistical models and includes broader research on macroeconomic and fiscal policy.

This work often involves financial analysis and ‘due-diligence’, assessing business cases and developing cost methodologies.