MPs to debate stripping convicted politicians of their pension
OTTAWA — Parliamentarians this week will consider the merits of a private member's bill that would revoke the pensions of misbehaving colleagues.
The bill — Protecting Taxpayers and Revoking Pensions of Convicted Politicians Act — is the brainchild of New Brunswick Tory MP John Williamson.
It's inspired by a similar bill the Nova Scotia legislature passed last summer in the wake of a spending scandal that rocked the province.
Williamson's bill, to be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday, would strip a politician of his/her pension if convicted of an indictable offence committed while in office that results in a sentence of two or more years in prison. It would be retroactive to last June.
Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau are under RCMP investigation. Former senator Mac Harb is also under investigation.
No charges have been laid and no allegations against them have been proven in court.
Duffy, Wallin, and Brazeau were suspended without pay in November because of expense claims the Senate deemed out of bounds.
In 2012, MPs passed a bill that reformed their platinum-plated nest egg so that they will each pay just under $39,000 a year by 2017, nearly quadrupling their current pension contributions. The bill also raised the age of eligibility for a full pension from 55 to 65.
Last year, a Canadian Taxpayers Federation report revealed taxpayers chipped in $23 for every $1 an MP contributed to the pension plan.
MPs to debate stripping convicted politicians of their pension | Canada | News | Calgary Sun
I don't want to go so far as to have hope but.....at least someone's willing to talk about something for a change.
And yes, that's $23 that we contribute for every $1 they contribute. We are told to save for ourselves and not be reliant on the taxpayer in retirement though. What a colossal ****ing joke.
OTTAWA — Parliamentarians this week will consider the merits of a private member's bill that would revoke the pensions of misbehaving colleagues.
The bill — Protecting Taxpayers and Revoking Pensions of Convicted Politicians Act — is the brainchild of New Brunswick Tory MP John Williamson.
It's inspired by a similar bill the Nova Scotia legislature passed last summer in the wake of a spending scandal that rocked the province.
Williamson's bill, to be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday, would strip a politician of his/her pension if convicted of an indictable offence committed while in office that results in a sentence of two or more years in prison. It would be retroactive to last June.
Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau are under RCMP investigation. Former senator Mac Harb is also under investigation.
No charges have been laid and no allegations against them have been proven in court.
Duffy, Wallin, and Brazeau were suspended without pay in November because of expense claims the Senate deemed out of bounds.
In 2012, MPs passed a bill that reformed their platinum-plated nest egg so that they will each pay just under $39,000 a year by 2017, nearly quadrupling their current pension contributions. The bill also raised the age of eligibility for a full pension from 55 to 65.
Last year, a Canadian Taxpayers Federation report revealed taxpayers chipped in $23 for every $1 an MP contributed to the pension plan.
MPs to debate stripping convicted politicians of their pension | Canada | News | Calgary Sun
I don't want to go so far as to have hope but.....at least someone's willing to talk about something for a change.
And yes, that's $23 that we contribute for every $1 they contribute. We are told to save for ourselves and not be reliant on the taxpayer in retirement though. What a colossal ****ing joke.
