Toronto, November 2, 2023—Today, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario confirmed Jeffrey Novak as the province’s next Financial Accountability Officer. His appointment is effective November 3, 2023. He becomes the third person to assume the position since the establishment of the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) in 2013.

Mr. Novak was appointed by Order of the Legislative Assembly after being unanimously recommended by a panel of MPPs chaired by Speaker Arnott and composed of Rick Byers (PC) and Catherine Fife (NDP).

"The function of the FAO is vital in our parliamentary system," remarked the Hon. Ted Arnott, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. "Mr. Novak’s extensive background with the FAO will no doubt be an asset in his new role."

The Financial Accountability Officer is an officer of the Legislature who is appointed by, and reports to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and is independent of the government of the day. Their role is to provide the Legislative Assembly of Ontario with non-partisan analysis on the state of the province’s finances and trends in the provincial economy.

Biographical notes follow.

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Jeffrey Novak

Jeffrey Novak recently served as the FAO’s Acting Financial Accountability Officer. He previously served as the Chief Financial Analyst and Deputy Officer, also with the FAO. Prior to that, Mr. Novak held senior positions in the Ontario Public Service (OPS), including at the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Research and Innovation. He began his career as a financial services lawyer with the national law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. Mr. Novak holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Queen's University, and a Juris Doctor (Law) and Master of Arts in History from the University of Toronto.

For further information, please contact:

Office of the Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

(416) 325-7435

© Legislative Assembly of Ontario