Needed change

Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty are in agreement.

Pension reform for Canadian MPs is necessary.

“MP pensions are unfair,” said Hyer (Ind., Thunder Bay-Superior North).
“I think Canadian MPs should get exactly the same pension treatment as average Canadians. We need a (Canada Pension Plan) system that is adequate to live on and suits the needs of all Canadians,” Hyer added.

Taxpayers have been contributing $24 into the program for every $1 an MP puts in. Conservatives are planning to change that to an even 50/50 split when they introduce their next budget bill.

Hyer said the process should be done in the House of Commons and be an open process.

“It should involve public opinion,” he said.

Rafferty (NDP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River) said he thinks the pension reform should be looked at by an arms-length independent body and doesn’t think the federal government should be deciding how the reform happens.

While Rafferty says the changes are needed, he think it should be a separate piece of legislation and not part of the upcoming omnibus budget bill the Conservative government is planning to release.

“I think Canadians want to see how their MP votes on pensions and pension reform. If it’s in the omnibus bill, I can tell you there’s bound to be things in that bill I’m certainly not going to support,” he said.