Ontario's top budget watchdog has resigned from his role due to personal reasons.

Stephen LeClair was selected by a bi-partisan committee to be the first Financial Accountability Officer in 2015. He left a high-ranking position in Yukon's finance ministry to inaugurate the role.

LeClair had returned from medical leave five months ago, but gave his notice on Sept. 19. No further details were made available.

In a statement, Finance Minister Charles Sousa said:

Over the years, Stephen LeClair has provided fair, independent assessments of provincial initiatives. As the first FAO in Ontario, he showed an unrelenting commitment to public service, further improving fiscal accountability and transparency. We thank Mr. LeClair for his service to the province of Ontario and wish him well.

Finance Critic Vic Fedeli echoed LeClair's commitment to the role and to the public service.

I want to sincerely thank Mr. LeClair for his credible contributions to the fiscal policy debate in Ontario in terms of the added information and analysis he’s been able to provide regarding the government’s financial claims. On a personal note, ‎I will miss Stephen's thoughtful and affable demeanor. He really cared about Ontario's future, and it showed in his work.

By legislation, the Financial Accountability Officer serves a five-year term with an option for a five-year extension. The next Officer will be selected by a panel that will include the Speaker and one representative of each of the three parties. There is no timeline for when that process will take place.

Happening: Stephen LeClair leaves FAO role he founded

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