Madam Speaker, if we are talking about a class act, I would say that we would not be debating this issue if members of the official opposition had conducted themselves in a class act fashion in the past. We would not even be discussing this.
I brought forth a private member's bill to change the pension plan. Oh, yes. They are smiling. My private member's bill did change the pension plan. I had asked that no one be entitled to a pension until the age of 60, and the government lowered it to the age of 55. Others can take all the credit they want, but it came through my private member's bill.
When I listen tonight to the comments being made by the official opposition about money being wasted, I have to say that 90% of those who are sitting in the House when they leave will not get a pension until the age of 55, if they have been here for six consecutive years. Some of them will have a long wait. Some members of the official opposition probably have about 25 years to wait before they will get anything.
When we talk about taking all of this money from the taxpayers, that really is not painting the picture that should be painted.
My hon. colleague, who is not in the House right now, who comes from the southern end of the province, mentioned that if I were to go out on a pension it would be $21,000, but it would not. If I were to go out on a pension for the length of time that I have been here, it would be about $17,000, probably a little less than the vice-principals of our schools back home would receive.
That is fine. That is very fine with me. That does not bother me one bit. However, I want to say this. I listened to the quotes that were made, the things that were said about the people here who have given from their hearts and souls to do what is right for Canadians from coast to coast. I heard the things that members said. They called us names.