CTF Calls on Leaders to Cooperate on Gold-Plated MP Pension Plan Reform

OTTAWA, ON: Responding to public outrage over $111.5 million in pension and severance benefits for MPs defeated and retiring after Monday’s election, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has written Prime Minister Harper and Opposition Leader Leader Layton, calling on them to reform the gold-plated MP pension plan.

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“Only a privileged few in Canada can work for six years and then retire at age 55 with a lifetime pensions courtesy of the taxpayer,” said Derek Fildebrandt, CTF National Research Director. After releasing calculations of estimated MP pension and severance payments, CTF offices were overwhelmed with emails and phone calls from upset taxpayers. “We can feel real momentum behind us in our long push to reform MP pensions,” continued Fildebrandt. “It seems the only ones defending these gold-plated plans are the outgoing MPs who are benefitting.” Fildebrandt sent two, similar letters to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Opposition Leader Leader Jack Laytonstating, “Let’s start something new today. Enact a specific, concrete action in cooperation with other parties that demonstrates sincerity of purpose and commitment to do politics different in our great country.” The CTF will be encouraging its 70,000 supporters to pressure party leaders and MPs to reform the plan. Those in support of reforming the pension plan can sign the CTF’s petition . “Canadians pressuring MPs and leaders worked when it came to auditing MP expenses. We hope public pressure will help do it again for reforming gold-plated MP pension plans,” concluded Fildebrandt. The CTF supports a reasonable pension plan and severance package for MPs commensurate with norms in the private sector. Since its founding in 1990, the CTF has consistently advocated for the introduction of a matching dollar-for-dollar defined-contribution pension plan – as the CTF successfully campaigned for in, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The current federal defined-benefit pension plan requires taxpayers to cough up $4 for every $1 contributed by an MP.

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