moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.
Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased to participate in the third reading stage of the bill. My comments will be very brief.
I thank all hon. members for their contribution to the debate. I also say to hon. members that whether or not they avail themselves of the privilege of buying back previous contributions is their decision. I hope they all do so. Whether they do or do not is their business. On an individual basis that information is quite appropriately confidential.
More important, as the House leader of the New Democratic Party said quite eloquently yesterday, we have put a page behind us with regard to issues of MP pensions, salaries and so on.
Recent reports have indicated quite clearly that members of parliament are not overly paid. Anyone who was ever a high school teacher, high school principal, director of education and so on, would obviously know that salaries of MPs are not out of line compared with those professions. Many other professions are paid even better. We all know that is the case.
I remember in the 1993 campaign when it became fashionable for some people to say “Vote for me and I will reduce my salary”, and so on. I resisted that and I took the following position. I was asked if I would take a pay cut and I said “No. If you do not think I am worth the salary there are five other people on the platform with me. Pick the one who is. Do not debase the currency”. My majority went up in that election campaign so it is not an issue that necessarily brings a higher level of support. I do not believe that it does, if that is a concern of some people.
What is more important is what is right, and what is right is to have not a compensation package that makes members of parliament rich but one which is sufficient to attract a high level of candidates to participate in public life.
The report of the Blais commission told us that on average a Canadian parliamentarian earned less than 40% of the salary of a member of the U.S. Congress. Of course, we are not here to become rich, far from it. But one should not claim that our compensation and benefit package is generous. It may be adequate, but it is certainly not generous, and I would not claim it is.
I just would like to say that, in my opinion, what parliamentarians earn is far from excessive. Benefits provided under this bill are not excessive either. They are reasonable, no more no less, and I strongly recommend them to the House.
I hope all parliamentarians will vote in support of the bill at third reading. Finally, as the bill will be sent to the other house after the debate in a few minutes, I hope members in the other place will be able to pass it without delay. This is my hope.
I thank my colleagues from all political parties for their support for what a believe is an excellent bill, not only for us as individuals, but also, and more importantly I believe, for this institution we so dearly love, the parliament of our country.