Mr. Speaker, the government's weak-kneed attempt at MP pension reform is a slap in the face to every taxpayer in the country.
Despite the government's rhetoric this is still a gold plated pension plan for senior politicians. For example, under the old plan the Deputy Prime Minister would receive a base pension of $48,300 a year and collect $3.3 million by age 75 if she retired in 1997. Under the new plan the Deputy Prime Minister will receive a base pension of $48,300 and still receive $2.7 million by age 75 if she retired in 1997.
I have a question for the President of the Treasury Board. How can the government ask taxpayers to tighten their belts in the budget on Monday night when senior ministers continue to feast at the MP pension trough?