The reviews are in

Greg Weston:

In the past year, (Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin) Page has been at odds with the Harper government on just about every major economic prognostication, from the size of the projected deficit to the anticipated depth of the recession.

So far, he seems to be batting a thousand, while the Conservatives are proving no more honest with their numbers than the Liberals were.

Clearly, the PM and his control freaks could not allow this sorry state of integrity to continue.

While any successful attempt to stifle Page would be the public's loss, there is something far more dire and dangerous at play here.

Fact is, the meddlesome budget office is only the latest target in a sustained and systematic assault on dissent, led by a prime minister who brooks no criticism from within government.