New Democrats are accusing the minority Liberal government of stalling on the hiring of an independent watchdog to keep an eye on spending in the wake of the $1.1 billion scandal over cancelled power plants.

While legislation was passed earlier this fall to hire a “financial accountability officer” similar to the Parliamentary Budget Officer in Ottawa, time is running out to get the job done by a year-end deadline, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Wednesday.

“The odds are pretty slim. I fear that Christmas will be upon us and we won’t see the FAO up and running, which is a failure of the Liberal government to live up to their commitment,” she charged.

“This is a government that doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to wastefulness and not keeping their eye on the dollars and cents,” added Horwath, who wants the officer to keep tabs on spending for the Pan Am Games.

The legislature is yet to strike an all-party hiring committee of MPPs to advertise for the post — agreed to by the Liberals as a condition for NDP support of their spring budget — and conduct interviews with applicants.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa denied the government is dragging its feet, and said the Liberals are ready to move ahead. Details will be discussed Thursday at a meeting of the house leaders for all three parties.

“I’m hoping we’ll be able to get to work on it,” he told reporters, noting the legislation to create the new post was his first item of business in the fall.

“We’re game to go. Let’s get at it . . . as quickly as possible.”

Sousa said he remains “hopeful” the hiring could take place by the end of December.

Setting up the new office will cost $2.5 million a year.

Concerns have already been raised about financial accountability at the Pan Am Games secretariat, where executive expenses and bonuses have come under fire.

The two power plants cancelled in Liberal ridings in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election and moved to new locations in Sarnia and Napanee came with a $1.1 billion tab.

Opposition parties charge the Liberal government, then headed by former premier Dalton McGuinty, axed the plants to save Liberal seats in the southwest GTA in the election that reduced him to a minority.