Mr. Speaker, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, we were discussing the benefits of MPs. The hon. member invoked the rule of relevance, and perhaps discussing what some MPs are worth, particularly the Reform kind, is not really a relevant issue. Perhaps there is some merit to what the member said. However, let us get back to the central issue of the debate. We are discussing how MPs of any political party should be paid.
The salary I get for being an MP is about the same as that of a high school teacher in my constituency. That is fair game. I knew the salary before I got into this, and I accept it. I think I work somewhat longer hours, but that is okay. That is certainly acceptable in my book. I do not ask for anything more. However, I do resent those people who come here and say that we are worth less, that our salaries are too big and that the benefit package
offered to members is too high. These people do the same kinds of things in terms of getting backdoor salaries.
I also resent people who pretend that MPs somehow get too much in the way of pension when they or their own colleagues are getting federal government pensions at the same time as they are sitting in the House of-