Give her some of your pension.
Lost her last election, in 2004, with 26% of the vote.
Members Of Parliament Retiringallowances Act June 8th, 1995
Give her some of your pension.
Wentworth Consolidated Elementary School June 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, recently I had the wonderful opportunity to present a new Canadian flag to the children at Wentworth Consolidated elementary school.
As we stood around the flag pole in the beautiful spring sunshine, we talked of the importance of the flag as a symbol of nationhood, the respect and care that our flag deserves, and the great price paid by our veterans to make our nation so great and free.
Inside the school the children showed me a giant aquarium in which they watched baby fish grow from eggs caught from the nearby fish hatchery. When these young fish are big enough the school children transport them to the Wallace River for restocking.
Today I congratulate the principal, Dr. Gordon Jeffrey, the dedicated staff, and the students of the Wentworth Consolidated elementary school for their environmental awareness and their community projects.
Petitions June 1st, 1995
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I would like to present a petition this morning, which has 922 signatures.
The petition pertains to the Ministry of Human Resources Development and the objection to improving the social security policy in Canada, which is unacceptable to these nearly 1,000 students of my riding.
Tourism May 18th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of National Revenue.
Tourism is a substantial industry, worth billions of dollars to the Canadian economy. On Sunday the minister announced the opening of a new facility at the Vancouver international airport to assist foreign travellers. Would the minister tell the House how the new facility will help the economy and the thousands of cruise ship passengers travelling through Vancouver?
Petitions May 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise in this House to present a petition with 263 signatures.
The petition is from residents of Cumberland-Colchester wishing this government not to force the departure of Mr. Richard Carroll of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia from this country unfairly into the United States.
Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act May 4th, 1995
I hope I live long enough to get it, with the long days we put in seven days a week. I believe the constituents in my riding knew they were getting a hard worker which is why they elected me. It was not because of the pension plan. It will be in addition to or will supplement investments I have made. I remind the House that I still have children in university. Who knows what is ahead of any of us down the road?
This is an equitable and very fair plan. We have kept the promise to the people of Canada that we would reform. We have set the age limit which was an important factor in this country. We have reduced the luxury of this pension plan in relationship to the salary that members of this honourable House are paid and the package that is there, those who will attain it.
I must remind the member also that more than 50 per cent of members who come to this House never receive a pension. That is a very important factor to keep in mind.
Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act May 4th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, in response to the first part of the hon. member's question, from the annual reports of the Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia, the salaries of the CEOs are quite significant. If the hon. member checks them out she will find they are substantial. The average salary for an elementary school teacher, as I understand it, is approximately $55,000 to $58,000. I do not think it is appropriate to use the time of the House to go down the list of salaries.
In terms of my previous life, my background was in science and research and I was a business woman. This is my first experience with a pension plan. I have always invested-
Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act May 4th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to remain objective when we wonder what motivates others.
The pension plan is equitable for all members who are serving this honourable House. We have fulfilled a promise according to the red book to the public of this country and they are satisfied.
The hon. member refers to a bank manager. The bank managers I read about in most of the annual reports are earning something like $350,000 or $500,000 a year. Hon. members of this House earn $64,400 a year. That is the salary of hon. members of this House.
The pension is equitable for the amount of fairness in the system and in equation to our frozen salaries and is meeting the needs of the economic recession we are in. We have done the reform that badly needed doing. We have responded to Canadians and Canadians are satisfied.
Any Canadian who elects someone or throws someone out of office of this hon. House will not do it on the basis of the pension plan.
Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act May 4th, 1995
They have come to serve their country. Let me give members a personal note as to why I am here.
Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act May 4th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that hon. members who have come here have not come looking for a pension.