OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper has put his Conservative caucus on notice the government is about to begin gradually chipping away at the generous pension plans enjoyed by Members of Parliament.
Pensions for MPs, which far exceed what most people collect in retirement, have become a political liability when Harper is asking Canadians to wait longer for Old Age Security eligibility in the future and pensions for federal employees are being scaled back.
“They need to lead by example,” said Gregory Thomas, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “There’s no doubt that they plan some pretty serious tinkering” with the current system, he said.
The new MPs’ pension arrangements are still being discussed with Harper’s 163-member caucus, some of whom are concerned about losing future entitlements, according to Tory insiders. But changes to retirement benefits are expected within a few weeks when a second budget implementation bill comes before Parliament.
To enlist the support of Conservative MPs, the new plan is expected to be phased in, meaning today’s MPs will not lose any of the future pay-outs that have accrued so far.
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Stephen Harper tells Tory MPs that generous pensions will be trimmed - thestar.com
Pensions for MPs, which far exceed what most people collect in retirement, have become a political liability when Harper is asking Canadians to wait longer for Old Age Security eligibility in the future and pensions for federal employees are being scaled back.
“They need to lead by example,” said Gregory Thomas, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “There’s no doubt that they plan some pretty serious tinkering” with the current system, he said.
The new MPs’ pension arrangements are still being discussed with Harper’s 163-member caucus, some of whom are concerned about losing future entitlements, according to Tory insiders. But changes to retirement benefits are expected within a few weeks when a second budget implementation bill comes before Parliament.
To enlist the support of Conservative MPs, the new plan is expected to be phased in, meaning today’s MPs will not lose any of the future pay-outs that have accrued so far.
more
Stephen Harper tells Tory MPs that generous pensions will be trimmed - thestar.com