Parliamentary Budget Officer
Jean-Denis Fréchette
Jean-Denis Fréchette was appointed by the Governor in Council to serve as Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), effective September 3, 2013.
An economist with the Library of Parliament since 1986, Jean-Denis was recently Senior Director of the Economics, Resources and International Affairs Division of the Library’s Parliamentary Information and Research Service. During his career at the Library, Mr. Fréchette has led and supervised research and analysis activities to support the professional needs of individual parliamentarians and some 40 standing committees, in both Houses of Parliament.
Mr. Fréchette was educated at the Université de Montréal where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He also earned a Master of Science degree in economics specializing in public finance, regional development and international trade.
PBO Staff
Mostafa Askari
Mostafa Askari is Assistant PBO. He is responsible for leading the development and management of a centre of expertise engaged in providing information, expert advice and analysis on emerging and current trends and the outlook regarding the national economy and the finances of the federal government. He is further responsible for developing and preparing regular reports and other documents related to economic and fiscal matters and developing responses to queries from parliamentarians and parliamentary committees on national economic and fiscal issues.
Mostafa came to the PBO from Health Canada where he held the position of Director General, Applied Research and Analysis. He previously held a number of positions at the Federal Department of Finance, including; Senior Chief, Economic Analysis; Chief, International Policy Analysis; Chief, Economic Forecasting and Chief, Model Development and Policy Analysis. He also served as a senior advisor to Canada's Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund, worked at the Conference Board of Canada and taught economics at Trent University.
Mostafa has a PhD. in economics from Queen's University.
Philip Bagnoli
Prior to joining the PBO, Philip was a Senior Economist with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in both the Environment Directorate for 6 years and the Economics Department for 8 years. Before that Philip had been with the Economic Studies and Policy Analysis Division at the Department of Finance for 5 years, and the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC for 5 years. He has also done brief stints at the Bank of Canada and started his career in the private sector with Shell Oil.
Philip holds a PhD in economics from the University of Toronto, and an Honours BSc in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario.
Nancy Beauchamp
Nancy Beauchamp is the office manager for the PBO. During her 15-year career in the federal public service she has held administrative positions in a number of government departments and organizations, including Canadian Heritage, Public Works and Government Services Canada and the House of Commons.
Govindadeva Bernier
Govindadeva.Bernier@parl.gc.ca
Govindadeva Bernier is a Financial Analyst. Prior to joining the PBO, he worked as an economist for Emploi-Québec at the Lanaudière Regional Office, as a Project Manager for Invest Quebec in the Tax Measures Division and as a Tax Policy Officer at the Department of Finance in the Evaluation and Research Group within the Tax Policy Branch.
Govindadeva holds an MSc in economics and a BSc in economics and finance, both from the University of Quebec in Montreal.
Jason Jacques
Jason Jacques is the Director of Fiscal Analysis. Prior to joining the PBO, he worked with various departments of the Government of Canada, including the Privy Council Office, Finance Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat and Bank of Canada.
Jason holds an MA in economics from Queen's University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CMA), and a Chartered Financial Analyst Charter holder.
Mark Mahabir
Mark Mahabir is General Counsel and Director of Policy for PBO. Prior to joining the PBO, Mark worked as an Analyst in the Library of Parliament within the Economic and Trade Policy Section where he provided assistance to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Prior to joining the Library of Parliament, Mark worked as Legal Counsel to a medical device manufacturer.
Mark has an Honours B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Waterloo, a M.Sc. in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto, a LL.B. with a specialization in taxation from Osgoode Hall Law School and a LL.M. in Law and Technology from the University of Ottawa. Mark is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Carleigh Malanik
Carleigh Malanik is a Financial Analyst on the Expenditure and Revenue Analysis team. Prior to joining PBO, Carleigh worked as an economist at Health Canada within the Applied Research and Analysis Directorate. Previously she was employed with the Rural Secretariat at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, providing analysis on issues facing Canada’s rural and urban areas.
Carleigh holds an MA in Economics from McMaster University, and from the University of Manitoba an Honours BA in Economics and a BA in History.
Chris Matier
Chris Matier is Senior Director of Economic and Fiscal Analysis and Forecasting. Prior to re-joining PBO in November 2014, Chris worked at the Bank of Canada as a Research Advisor in the Canadian Economic Analysis Department. Chris was Senior Director at PBO from August 2008 to August 2013 and previously worked for 14 years at the Department of Finance Canada in the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, serving as Senior Chief in the Economic Analysis and Forecasting Division prior to joining PBO.
Chris has a Master's degree and an Honours BA in Economics from Queen's University.
Tim Scholz
Tim Scholz is an Economic Analyst on the Economic and Fiscal Analysis Team. Prior to joining the PBO, Tim worked at Finance Canada on international policy analysis and economic development.
Tim holds an MA in economics from the University of Guelph and a BSc (honours) in economics from the University of Windsor.
Jocelyne Scrim
Jocelyne Scrim is an administrative assistant who joined the PBO in July 2010. Over the past 25 years she has worked in administrative positions including municipal, non-profit, private sector business and academic environments.
Trevor Shaw
Trevor Shaw is a Financial Analyst on the Economic and Fiscal Analysis Team. Most recently, Trevor worked at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Trevor has also worked at the Privy Council Office, Finance Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Trevor holds an MA in economics from the University of British Columbia, a BA (honours) in economics from the University of Winnipeg, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a financial analyst with the PBO. Prior to joining the PBO, Alex worked as a research analyst at the Parliamentary Information and Research Service, within the Library of Parliament. He supported the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He was also a performance auditor at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada for several years.
Alex has a Master of Arts degree in public administration from Carleton University and a PhD in philosophy from York University.
Rod Story
Rod Story is a Financial Advisor-Analyst on the Expenditure and Revenue Analysis team. He joined the PBO after completing his PhD and MBA. Prior to returning to school he worked for over 20 years in telecommunications as a manager, software architect and designer. He has worked for both large and small firms and has co-founded several start-ups. He has been awarded four patents for his designs.
Rod has a PhD in Management (Finance) and MBA from Carleton University and a BASc from the University of Waterloo.
Peter Weltman
Peter Weltman is Senior Director, Costing and Program Analysis. Peter has over 25 years of experience in business management and investment analysis. He is the President of the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Cost Estimating and Analysis (ICEEA). Within the government, Peter has held positions of varying degrees of responsibility with Industry Canada, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Treasury Board Secretariat. Peter came to the PBO from HRSDC, where he assisted in the development and implementation of an investment management process to undertake due diligence on large departmental investments, and prior to that, worked with an analytical team at the Treasury Board Secretariat engaged in the due diligence and oversight of major government-wide projects and fiscal pressures. Prior to joining the federal government, Peter spent a number of years as an investment analyst and financial advisor and has extensive experience in small business management, having held a variety of positions with a locally-owned food retailer.
Peter has an Honours BA in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.
Nigel Wodrich
Nigel Wodrich is a Research Assistant with the PBO. Prior to joining the PBO, Nigel worked with the Jean-Luc Pépin Research Chair and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on economic and fiscal analysis.
Nigel has a B.Soc.Sc. (Economics and Political Science) from the University of Ottawa and has studied philosophy, politics, and economics at SciencesPo Paris.
